Reply #16: Well no.

[aranthus]

First of all, from a practical standpoint, Israel already has all of Jerusalem, and obviously is in a stronger negotiating position. So if anyone needs to give on this issue it's the Palestinians. Second, Israel has a stronger moral claim to all of Jerusalem that the Palestinians. Among other reasons, Jerusalem has been a capital of a Jewish state in the past, and has never been the capital of a Palestinian state. Third, the Palestinian demand for all of Jerusalem sends a message to Israel that the Palestinians are not only uncompromising, but totally unrealistic, which is not a very good way to induce the Israelis to take them seriously as a peace partner.