An old American model for a Mid East problem ?

Obama seems to think that he now runs the world, or at least that he is entitled to order around small countries, 5,500 miles from Washington, DC. But before he commands the sovereign, independent, democratic, multi-ethnic and multi-faith State of Israel to obey his - is it now 10 ? - demands, before any negotiations have commenced, or even been agreed, he might first take a long look at what happens much nearer home.

There is a very long established US model which might fit the bill. Not only some US-imposed solution, but an actual off-the-shelf, ready-made, US solution, tried and tested by the US itself, and over many decades.

There are no less than 6 *US-Occupied Territories* containing a total of 5m Americans, in 6,000 square miles, who cannot vote for the US Senate, or [ except for DC ] for the US President, and whose only House of Representatives presence is 1 non-voting *Delegate* each [ called *Resident Commissioner* in the case of Puerto Rico ]. These Delegates may be allowed vote but only in committees, and then only under House Rules, and NOT based on the US Constitution, Federal Law, or the will of the US Senate or President or Courts.
Puerto Ricans have even been conscripted by the US to fight their overseas wars. Israel grants its 20% Arab minority full rights, but does not draft them for compulsory IDF National Service - except for the Druze community, who sought it.

In both Guam and US Virgin Islands, there is a Governor and 15 Senators, while DC has its Mayor and 14 City Councillors, as well as their city Police Department. Foreign Consulates may also operate in these un-incorporated US zones.

These 6 *US-Occupied Zones* are -
Estimated Population [Area=Square Miles ]
Puerto Rico 3,916,632 [ 5,320]
Washington DC 599,657 [68.3]
Guam 175,000 [ 212]
US Virgin Islands 108,612 [133.68]
Northern Marianas Islands 80,362 [ 179.01]
American Samoa 65,000 [76.8]


If that US model is still good enough for 5m Americans, why is not good enough for 4m Arab *Palestinians*, whose total areas [ 2,401 square miles ] are only 40% of the combined size of those 6 *US-Occupied Zones* ? If however Obama has some fundamental problem IN PRINCIPLE with that model, why does he not first attend to it in his own backyard, before imperiously commanding another State to avoid it ?

This US model, which does NOT incorporate those territories as constituent States of the Union, would give the Arab *Palestinians* 1 non-voting Delegate at the 120-strong the Israeli Knesset, which is what Puerto Rico has at the 435-strong House, for about as many people. On any equitable population-based distribution, Puerto Rico should have 6 House seats.

The British similarly have 3 un-incorporated territories, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, all 3 of which have their own internal legislatures, and local police forces, and Flags, but unlike the US model, they do not even have non-voting delegates at the UK Parliament. The UK handles both Defence and Foreign Affairs for all 3, and they also enjoy the full economic benefits of their *associate* membership of [ or External Association with ] the UK.
This Manx/Channel Islands model is another model worth considering for the *Palestinian Question*.

So also might be a Jordanian-Israeli Joint Condominium for the 11 PA Districts West of the River Jordan , with an Egyptian-Israeli Condominium for the 5 Districts in Hamas-Occupied Gaza.

The US, under Obama as under previous Presidents, has no problem whatever maintaining very close relations with very many states, like Saudi Arabia, who grant no democratic rights to their own citizens. Or with Egypt which grants very restricted rights to its citizens, and where the 10% Coptic Christian minority suffers heavily, including many sectarian massacres. Both Saudi and Egypt get massive US arms supplies. Arabs under *Israeli Occupation* already enjoy far more freedom, and rights than do fellow Arabs almost anywhere else. What PRINCIPLE really guides - or explains - Obama's underlying strategy in all this ? Appeasing fanatical Islamicist rage ? Appeasing petro-fascist tyrants ? Echoing the hate-filled pulpit-rantings of Rev *God Damn America* Wright ?
And who was that Syrian-born close Chicago associate of Obama who faced very serious criminal charges ?
It most certainly cannot be any impartial commitment to Universal Human Rights.