Is the end in sight?
By Tia Peterson

An answer for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is far from the present, far from sorted out and far from over.

It may be difficult for some to understand how a conflict can last so long and be so destructive, but History/Humanities/ Government Department Chair Dr. John Swails, an expert on terrorism and the Israel-Palestine situation, offered his own explanation for the conflict.

According to Swails, who has been studying the situation for over 30 years, the conflict between Israel and Palestine will not be settled by peace negotiations.

As for the recent military action Israel has undertaken in Ramallah, Palestine, Swails said, "This is not an issue about an occupation. The Palestinians are interested in destroying Israel. Israel is simply defending [itself]."

Swails' analysis of the situation is different than what members of the Associated Press have been reporting, and there is a reason for that.

Swails believes that much-but not all-of what we hear over news stations such as CNN and ABC is not only wrong but also misleading. He also contends that many people are ignorant of the real truth in the situation between Israel and Palestine because of this. "[It] comes from the lies you hear," Swails said of ignorance surrounding the whole situation.

Swails recommended choosing different sources for Israel-Palestine conflict news, such as the Jerusalem Post and Hart's Daily, which, he says, give much more of the truth than what you can find on CNN, other news shows or the Associated Press.

According to Associated Press reports, Yasser Arafat agreed to work toward an immediate cease-fire with Israel. However, if Palestine is truly interested in the destruction of Israel, as Swails said, that cease-fire could be short-lived or a lie completely.

Whether or not Arafat truly desires an end to the violence, it continues. On March 27, during the Arab summit in Lebanon, a Palestinian suicide bomber walked into a hotel dining room in Netanya, Israel, detonating a bomb that killed 20 people. This occurred on the eve of Passover, a traditional time of gathering for Jewish families.

In return Israel set up tanks around Arafat's West Bank office in Ramallah on Mar. 29 in order to isolate him. The Israeli military also took measures to ensure that electricity, water and phone lines were cut off. The press has reported that the isolation is to convince Arafat to pressure his people to end terrorist attacks.

In response, there have been more suicide bombings such as those in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and small gunfire exchanges, and every day the death toll for Israelis and Palestinians grows.

The Arab peace summit in Lebanon that occurred on Mar. 27-28 reached a peace resolution that, as of press time, was wholly accepted by the Arab leaders and may be accepted by Israeli leaders.

The peace negotiations called for the return of the 3.5 million Palestinian refugees to Israel, which was summarily rejected by Israel. The negotiations also asked for the establishment of normal relations with Israel and the Arab states, among many other things.

Swails believes that there are more complications with Palestine and Arafat than are being dealt with currently. He feels there are connections between Palestine, Iran and Iraq. Iraq, for its part, has been eyed with suspicion by the U.S. and other countries. The U.S. government has stated that Iraq is storing up weapons of mass destruction.

However, Swails said there is an end to the conflict. "It can't go on much longer," he said. Yet he also believes the situation may get worse before it gets better.

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