Over the last 58 years, Israel is proven to be the only place on planet earth with chronic violence against the Jewish people and, in turn, the entire region is a symbol of volatility and violence. The excuse is, of course, to control arid land within a country that is about the size of a private ranch in America! It all has reached a point that cannot be logically sustained. American statesmen have put the interests of a foreign state ahead of American interests; all in a region that support's America's oil addiction.

Dangerous duty is inseparable from soldiers and policemen in any country. The latest rounds of violence hinge on a poor excuse that an Israeli soldier has been kidnapped or killed. These alarming reminders show that both sides of the conflict are prone to emotional and unstable thought and quick to a relapse. They seem to enjoy endless arguments laced with violence and kidnappings. Otherwise, how can any one justify the bombing of roads, bridges, power stations or kidnappings of democratically elected Palestinian ministers? The loss of soldiers cannot lead to collective punishment of civilians, especially in an occupied territory. The recent reminder of the Swiss Government, as the trustee of the Geneva Conventions, should sound alarms in all capitals.

Let us all look at reality in the eyes, declare both sides guilty, consider Plan B and put an end to this chronic and endless conflict.

It is probably best to revisit the UNSCOP report of 1947 and put the original UN Partition Plan back on the drawing board. That plan allowed for a 55-45 split of land between the Jews and Arabs and Jerusalem was designated as an internationally administered zone by the UN with equal access for all. A revision of this plan and resumption of the Oslo Agreement is probably the most logical way to go forward. Useful elements should be borrowed from a very successful peace scenario, the Potsdam Agreement at the end of World War II. This entails the presence of foreign troops under the UN flag with clear definition of sectors and zones to maintain the peace, decartelization and equal access to economic opportunities for all, demilitarization of both sides, and a real process of democratization. The return of refugees should be put to a referendum. Both of Gulf War I (Kuwait) and Gulf War II (Iraq) have certainly broken the taboo of American and European boots on Middle Eastern soil and thus the plan has a realistic chance.

This is of course a prescription for the long haul. Germany is an example to show us that cool heads could yield real economic wealth, sustainable peace and democracy for future generations. Unlike in 1947, the UN and the EU now have tangible experience in ethnic conflicts within small territories -- Cyprus, Bosnia and Kosovo are some of the examples. It is time to put such lessons to practice, adopt an even-handed approach and put a sustainable action plan on the table.