There are people who say that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs is the root of instability in the Middle East. That is obviously incorrect. The turmoil in the Middle East is mainly due to conflict within the Arab and Moslem world, secular nationalists versus Moslem fundamentalists, Shiites versus Sunnis, and Iranians versus Arabs. The Jews have been a convenient scapegoat since before the formation of the State of Israel in 1948. If you can blame all your woes on Israel or the Jewish people, then you don't have to take responsibility for them yourself.
However, although the Israel/Palestine question is not the cause of instability in the Middle East, creating a stable relationship between Israel and Palestine that is reasonably accepted by both sides would go a long way in promoting the interests of both. It would make Israel less isolated and open Palestine to greater financial opportunities and stability. Actually with a little compromising, the common interests of both sides are greater than their differences. The cooperation that is actually going on already between Israel and the Arab world below the radar could come out into the open and blossom. It would not stop the conflicts that exist within the Arab and Moslem world, but it wouldn't hurt.
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