by Jayne Webb

Created on: January 31, 2010

From the insurgency in Yemen to the ongoing battle in Iraq to the uprising against the theocracy and the possibility of the state developing nuclear weapons in Iran, the Middle East is erupting in violence and turmoil. But, no dispute is more central to threatening or inspiring the possibilities for overall Middle East peace than the Arab-Israeli conflict. The cornerstone of the discord is the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian confrontation. If this dispute could be successfully mediated, peace could filter throughout the region such as enhancing probability of reaching resolution between Syria and Israel over the Golan Heights. Moreover, it could change the dynamics of fighting terrorism by removing any legitimacy to the "freedom fighter" argument, distinguishing Hezbollah and Hamas from Al-Quida, and potentially uniting moderates to fight extremism. Yet, as Palestinian President Abbas declines to seek re-election and the Israelis meanwhile expand settlements, prospects for peace have hardly looked worse.

The Israelis left Gaza, yet the violence not only failed to end, it escalated.. Perpetual rocked fire prompted the Gaza battle that left both Hamas and Israel charged by the U.N. with alleged war crimes. Perhaps land for peace hasn’t worked in this ongoing battle in part for one less cited reason, and in the wake of the unheeded Road Map to Peace, it may be time for a detour.

Approximately 46% of Palestinians lack sufficient food, unemployment hovers around 26%, and in 2006 the number of people living in deep poverty of 50 cents a day or less nearly doubled to one million. With extreme poverty in Palestine rampant, a massive amount of humanitarian aid flows. Yet, there is no real government social services structure. Poverty is particularly invasive in Hamas-entrenched Gaza. Although denied U.N. funding, Hamas, financially fueled by mosques and sympathizers, is often the group providing social services, leading to fertile recruitment grounds for the extremist militant approach. In the absence of real opportunity and in the midst of financial despair, the alternative route of peace is less attractive without an economic component to the equation. In addition, the problem is compounded in that once the land is turned over, there is no real accountability or mechanism to ensure the violence ceases.

Alternatively, consider a simple premise upon which to deal with the question of the settlements/occupied territory: Rent. This could work in a number of ways, in

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