WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The UPI Think Tank Wrap-Up is a daily digest covering brief opinion pieces, reactions to recent news events, and position statements released by various think tanks.
Institute for Public Accuracy
(The IPA is a nationwide consortium of policy researchers that seeks to broaden public discourse by gaining media access for experts whose perspectives are often overshadowed by major think tanks and other influential institutions.)
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
With Israeli tanks back in Palestinian population centers and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Washington, the IPA analysts made the following comments.
-- Ed Mast was in the West Bank in August with the International Solidarity Movement to End the Occupation. He witnessed firefights on the streets of Bethlehem.
"These so-called 'invasions' are part of the continuous Israeli attempt to terrorize a civilian population into submitting to apartheid. They go in, beat up and shoot people, and then go back to their military outposts. Can we call it 'invasion' when the Israeli tanks only move in a mile and a half from where they always stand waiting?"
-- Yvonne Haddad, professor with the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.
"Part of the effect of Sharon shelling places like Bethlehem and Beit Jalla is to pressure even more of the Christian population -- which used to be 20 percent and is now only 1.8 percent of the Palestinians in the West Bank -- into leaving. This would have the net effect of making the conflict more of a Jew-Muslim one."
