Don't Boycott Israel, Let People Negotiate

Boycotting isn't a solution. Part of the solution must be the security of Israel or Israel won't budge. Or maybe it'll march through Gaza at great cost to root out the bombs first and put more of Hamas out of action, perhaps even free the Palestinians from Hamas which rules without elections. And then what? How can they allow Gaza to trade when so many still want to smuggle in bombs?

Instead, let's create a solution. The problems are 3-fold.

• Hamas is in power and Israel won't deal with them, and they don't really represent the people of Gaza.
• Negotiators "negotiate" by compromising which doesn't create an enticing future.
• Negotiators represent governments with limited buy-in from the people.

The real solution to this is to allow the Palestinians and Israelis to negotiate, not just their governments, using a process similar to that which PeopleCount.org proposes for America. People vote on issues, see where everyone stands, and then can change their votes and select from more possibilities based on what their votes convey. It'd be millions of people saying what they want, saying what compromises would be acceptable in the face of what everyone else says.

This does not stop their governments from negotiating, it merely informs them of what the people want, which is what can work. At the same time, it makes their work easier since, knowing what people want, they don't have to worry that they'll look weak "settling" for a less desirable compromise.

And, the future wouldn't just be peace, but a plan to forgive, become good neighbors and prosperous. Israel doesn't want an armed neighbor that's committed to its destruction. The Palestinians don't want a future where Israel's going to decimate them or cut off their trade again. All of the obstacles to prior efforts can be overcome.

Anything's possible when adults communicate. Unfortunately, most people don't get the chance, and instead are left with their leaders' and extremists' childish strategies for asserting power.

The boycott is just more use of force, instead of putting resources behind the kind of real communication that can make a difference. So no, I'm not signing your boycott request, I'm not interested in more force. I want a real solution.

Help me make a real solution. Let's start an Avaaz campaign to demand a solution where the people of Israel and Palestine build a desired future together, leading their governments to compromise.

- Rand
Rand Strauss