How can there ever be a permanent solution if the Palestinians live in poverty without hope?

In theory if enough capital was invested in infrastructure so as to take advantage of the huge pool of labor, the general standard of living could be raised. As educational opportunities grow so would the entrepreneurial spirit. A self-sustaining economy would give Palestinians something they desperately lack now and that is a sense of possibilities.

I say in theory because there is a fatal flaw in this solution.

The Iranians and several of the Arab states alone had the resources many years ago to build out this economic infrastructure and even to supply additional lands. It did not happen because it is a feature of the mid-east strategy to use the Palestinians as pawns. It would not suit their purpose to have these people prospering. Why? Because content, well fed people with a sense of a bright future do not as a rule join terrorist groups.

I often thought that if Israel could find the resources and the land to do this on their own, starting small at first, but gradually growing in scope, the result would be much less expensive and much more productive than the current strategy of cycles of massive arms buildup followed by retaliation.