Norman Finklestein is a great person. My take on Israel/ Palestine issue is different though. There is no denying that there is an extremist tendency in Israel and they have failed to provide adequately to occupied territories, but this affair also has two other powers with their own agendas.
1. America: USA wanted a bully in Middle East and they pampered Israel for the same reason. They have to have the prior knowledge that after being a bully for too long Israel will become a liability and this role is not in favor of Israel itself. To understand American dynamics see how it treated Pakistan even when there was resentment at local level. Some people think after having bases in Iraq the importance for Israel has reduced thats why we are seeing public statements of American displeasure. Jews in America are already distancing themselves from Israel so your hear many talks about Zionism as a political ideology.
2. Muslim Countries: Muslim countries in Middle East wanted the bully of Israel and it fit in with their planning. No Muslim country tried to provide real aid to Palestine and rather then treating this issue as a humanitarian or Ummah issue used it for political gains. It was understood by all the only Palestinians will become cannon fodder which they did. It was also understood that Israel will become a pariah in the long run as is evident now.
Both parties have achieved what they aimed for, Israel has served America and Muslim Govts good and is now a pariah in the world, for me it is unfortunate that this has to be accomplished on lives of many Palestinians. (Thats my take might be wrong (bigsmile))
