Lots of problems lately have been solved by throwing ginormous mounds of money onto them. I propose that a similar approach might be used to settle the problem of Gaza. Not that many people live in Gaza - wikipedia says 1.5 million. I propose that each and every person in Gaza be given $5000 and an offer to resettle somewhere far from Gaza. This would cost 7.5 billion if each one took the offer and would render families pretty flush with cash. That is much cheaper than bailing out AIG and probably equals the status quo cost of a few military expeditions and continuing UN subsidies.
Emigration locations could be anywhere. As is usually the case with mass immigrations, the locations would be those happy to accept folks flush with cash and the new immigrants would form enclaves. I could imagine HIV-depleted areas of Botswana, population-poor regions of former soviet republics, or Japan, or Detroit as possible sites for these immigrants.
Now would be an especially good time for such an endeavor, since the Gazans are powerfully motivated to leave.
Removing Gazans from Gaza by offering them a better alternative would be humane and effective, and end the conflict by emptying the region. One might then refill it with refugees from other regions who are currently stuck in camps, since there is nothing wrong with Gaza as a piece of property except it has been kicked around a bit. I am sure these refugees would be happy to do the jobs in Israel that Gazans used to do.
Everyone wins.-- bungston, Jan 08 2009 The buyout begins. http://edition.cnn....02/mideast.clinton/Glad I could help. [bungston, Mar 02 2009] $5000 per person is not what I'd call flush with cash. I think something like $500,000 per person would be a fairer figure.-- xaviergisz, Jan 08 2009 If I can't have $500,000 they can't either.-- Spacecoyote, Jan 08 2009 //Lots of problems lately have been solved by throwing ginormous mounds of money onto them// - "solved" may be a little optimistic.-- hippo, Jan 09 2009 Mass resettlement is what caused the problems, I'm not optimistic about solving them in the same way.-- wagster, Jan 09 2009 We could always outlaw religion throughout the planet. I'm sure that would work.-- wagster, Jan 12 2009 Thanks for the laugh, bungie. +-- blissmiss, Jan 12 2009 I like your choices of location, Botswana, empty areas of Russia, Japan (all full) or Detroit.
Even if I ideologically supported this, many Gazans won't take it, if they wanted to leave they probably would have some time in the last 40 years.-- Germanicus, Jan 12 2009 halfbakery