MIDDLE EAST - The Never-Ending War, Violence Intractable

As I have said many times before, the Palestinian vs Israeli conflict will continue UNTIL THE CITIZENS of each side demand their leaders stop.

"What’s making Mideast violence seem intractable" PBS NewsHour 7/28/2014

Excerpt

GWEN IFILL (NewsHour):  The latest battle between Hamas and Israel has raged for nearly three weeks, as efforts to broker a cease-fire, including Secretary of State Kerry’s whirlwind trips to the region, have fallen short.

So, why is it difficult — why is it proving to be so difficult to bring a halt to the violence?

For that, we turn to Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.  He’s written extensively about the Arab-Israeli peace process.  And Mark Perry, a writer and foreign policy analyst who’s covered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for over two decades.

Mark Perry, this renewed conflict seems especially intractable this time.  You have been in contact over the years with representatives of Hamas.  What are they saying?  Why is this so tough?

MARK PERRY, Writer:  Because their request, their demand, their conditions for an end of the conflict have not been met.  And they have one condition and one condition only.  And that’s an end to the siege of Gaza.

It’s absolutely out of the question for Israel, Israel says, to do this.  It’s what the secretary tried to get Israel to agree to.  They wouldn’t.  And so tonight, sadly, this conflict continues.  I don’t think it’s going to end in the short-term, and I don’t think Hamas is going to give in to Israel’s demands.