Dear settler, please respect Israel's democracy

So do you also admit that a West Bank divided from it's capitol (East Jeruselem) and the best of its land and most of it's water can not stand? How will a disabled West Bank ever convince it's people to live in Peace with you or to trust you

democracy. The government exists for the sake of the people and to serve and protect those who put their trust and confidence it it. There is neither trust or confidence in this government when they attack the people. When any government becomes destructive of these ends and all means of redress or correction have been exhausted then it is the duty and right of the people to abolish that government and replace it! Let the leaders of Israel be warned that a house divided will not stand.

While I think you have tried to state your views delicately and as respectfully as possible, there is one essential flaw. I'm sure that other comments have pointed it out, but I feel the need to express my findings as well. What gives Israel its identity and strongest allies is its basis on faith. Most political concepts and legal institutions come from a Torah basis. Consider also this statement from the late Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid: In a 2002 interview with Foreign Correspondent, Wahid explained his respect for Israel and posed a challenging "correction" to be addressed by his fellow Muslims: "Israel believes in God. While we have a diplomatic relationship and recognizing diplomatically China and Russia, which are atheist states, then it's strange that we don't acknowledge Israel. This is the thing that we have to correct within Islam."

Does the State of Israel have the constitutional arrangements for a popular referendum on a contentious issue such as a two state solution? The population should have the opportunity to vote on the future of settlements and a two state solution.In a democracy a minority should accept the wishes of the majority who I believe are sick and tired of repeated wars and blood shed with no end in sight.

You will find you can fulfill your desires for multi-cultural Jewish life very nicely in America in many locations. Please leave Israel to the Jews who love it for what it is - a gift from Hashem to the Jewish people - starting first with Hevron - Shechem - Jerusalem etc. Without these places there will be no Israel. Please let us not find out the hard way. You guys go live in Boston (very good schools there for "Pluralistic Judaism") and we will take care of building and developing our inheritance. You are most welcome to live in Israel and not be observant just don't throw away the country while you are at it.

An excellent article that makes clear the central issue, universal human rights as established by the French Revolution or settler values? Do concepts such as democracy, the rule of law and civil liberties mean nothing in the face of those who claim something based on their interpretation of religious texts? The modern world is based upon the former, the current situation in Israel reflects the latter, The impasse cannot last forever, Israel cannot stand alone against the world forever, evolve or become extinct!

Strenger has a completely perverted view on democracy. Elections are the cornerstone of democracy. Israel voted very strongly against the settlement freeze by decimating the settlement hating Labor and Meretz Parties. Settlers who reject the evil, racist settlement freeze are standing up for democracy.

Mr. Stengler, Very altruistic and passionate words. To whom did you address these words? To the relgious zionists? If you want to know what a "non fanatic" religeous Jew says about giving the Palestinians what they ask for,just ask the leading tora authorities. Without exception they will tell you that to give land for peace is the accepted "dat tora" i.e. tora ruling.. BUT they will also tell you that it has to be land for PEACE not PIECES, i.e. no land or peace. So Carlo, Jews, Israelis, who believe that not returning land for peace untill the Palestian authorities have accepted and recognize the "other state's" right to exist and its people to live... not just untill the moslem world and Palestinians in particular can figure out how to push the Jews in to the sea. This approach is not fanatical at all it is prudent, sane, and logical even if it comes with a price.

It's really nice for someone to put it so succintly. The Palestinians are the ones who are the victims. They are victimized by the the Israeli govt, the settlers and there own inept govt. Mr. Strenger I agree with your views 100%. Settlers need to move on and become part of the solution and allow the Palestinians to have the little bit that is left to them after the Naqba. It can never make up for being ripped from the homes, but at least it is a start towards peace.

I think the Strenger?s letter is a lesson of civilization

Dear settler, I wish to quote a piece on the aove article.. I believe that Israel will not survive if we do not leave the West Bank; I see no alternative to the two-state solution, because there are two peoples here who have a right to live in dignity. I am deeply convinced that the connection between Messianic dreams and politics is a recipe for disaster, tragedy and bloodshed, and that we all, Jews and Palestinians must speak in a universal language of international law and human rights, if we are ever to live in peace here...Unquote. "can we ever live in peace with the Palestinians with a viable two state solution"? Yes we can. However, it will take many years, for the wounds run deep, but we must have a starting block, that is where "Dear Settler" must decide. Good day. Happy New Year to all talkbackers, from snowy Swiss Alps.

In the eyes of many (force myself not to say 'most) Arabs YOU are a settler because YOU live in Tel Aviv. If in 1948 the Arabs would have left this 'shatered mini province' to be the State of Israel, there would have been peace, there would NOT have been a 'Palestinian problem (which could have been solved long ago if the Arabs would have let it), and not a shot would have been fired. So if you are looking for somebody to blame, blame the Arabs, because their goals havn't changed, they only got more sophisticated to get there.

Mr ben Kahan, #47, brings out more valid points in 2 small paragraphs than Mr.Strenger managed in his whole essay. There are religious ideals in play, but what is more persuasive is reality. The settlers are not trampling on anybody's human rights by building homes. Jewish settlers Are aiding in the security of all of the land of Israel by settling in the Land of Israel. We know this because we have seen that wherever the Palestinians have had a chance to occupy land and govern themselves, they used the opportunity to strengthen their forces to attack Jews. Perhaps it will take another war to convince people like Mr.Strenger that, in reality, the Palestinians do not want a separate state. They now have the capability to send missiles to Tel Aviv. I hope that Israelis wake up before the Palestinians have a chance to use their weapons. Human rights: Is there one Palestinian who can claim they didn't have it better under Israeli democracy than under Hamas? or Fatah?

I looooved your example of "half the apple. It answers your question precisely. Approx.75% was taken by force from the Jewish homeland,(Jordan is build on it), given to the 'Pals by the Brits. So you see, the Israeli's gave a lot more than half an apple! They gave blood, and lot's of it! About 'Palestinians living in peace 'before the jews came. Palestinians never lived 'in peace, because there where no Palestinians.There where Jews AND Arabs living in (British) Mandatory Palestine.

Split the WB 50-50 Since the WB is a disputed area, it should be split 50-50. The PA can have a police force and have land contiguity between, jenin, nablus, ramallah, jericho, bethlehem hebron. There may be a need for some bridges or tunnels. There are some very successful tunnels in the WB. The PA will have no claim to Israel proper and Israel will hv no claim to TransJordan There could be some land swaps like the triangle of um el facham, baka el jarbeyeh could join the PA state. all jewish towns must be annexed to Israel. The gaza must stay under strict surveilance until the hamas changes it`s attitude- only food, medications and basic humanitarian goods. If the hamas makes serious changes in their attitude towards peace Israel could consider in the future a gaza-hebron railway or highway

If you are my friend then I recognize you in what you say. Yes one state will bring peace. But, will the zionists ever accept it? Perhaps after the next war with Iran?

1. Clinton and Barak in 2000 offered Arafat a territorial swap, keeping main settlements in Israel. What was wrong with Clinton?s idea Mr. Strenger? 2. What happened with abandoned Israeli Gaza settlements? They became bases for launching Qassams into Israel. Do you want the same to happen near Jerusalem and Ben Gurion Airport? 3. Only a fraction of settlers are ?religious fanatics?, a much smaller fraction then among Moslem Palestinians. Would you deny humane treatment to Arab ?religious fanatics? or express the same kind of disdain towards them?

Who is more like Rosa Parks? The Jews who 60 years ago were forced from their homes in Europe, North Africa and every Arab nation who to this day have been shot at, bombed, stabbed, stoned daily and endured terrorism for the past hundred years or Arab Muslims who have been the rulers of the region for centuries, control the oil reserves of the world, have dozens of armies, 22 nations, hundreds of millions of people, wealth of the Gulf states members are richest of the world, who control a land mass of parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia and surround the tiny Jewish state. The Arab population of Palestinians have increased since Israel was established and they have flourished under Jewish rules whiles Jews live in fear and persecution in Muslim nations which most Jews and certainly Israelis are banned from. They are banned, segregated, prevented from buying Arab land in Jordan law, PA law, Lebanese law, Saudi law the penalty to selling land to Jews is DEATH!

The problem is not that too few Israeli's support a two state solution. The problem is that the arabs do not support a two state solution. All the arab rhetoric in favor of two states is merely one stage in their plan to have it all. Strenger is naive to the point of believing that the lion is willing to lie with the lamb and not devour it. Given the opportunity, the arabs would devour Israel whole. Unable to do that they are willing to settle for one limb at a time. Strenger can't convince this lamb to part with any limb; even those he considers insignificant. Then again, it is not all that difficult to tell someone else to uproot himself and family. Strenger, what will you do when an arab claims YOU are living on his ancestral land?

And most of them are in Israel. So they deserve your half apple even more. The Jews did not start the 1948 war, and they did not commit the complete ethnic cleansing committed by the Arabs. Yes, the Arab Palestinians lived in peace until they started a war, rather than leaving the Jews in peace. They also called on 7 Arab states to eradicate Israel by war, and to throw out over a million Jews who lived in the Middle East peacefully, continuously, and longer than the Arab invaders.

Strenger: Settlements ?delandem est?, Latin for "must be destroyed". That was the Roman slogan about Semitic Carthage, irrespective of the latter's attempts for peace. What is strange Mr. Stenger is: 1. Clinton and Barak in 2000 offered Arafat a territorial swap, keeping main settlements in Israel. What was wrong with Clinton?s idea Mr. Strenger? 2. What happened with abandoned Israeli Gaza settlements? They became bases for launching Qassams into Israel. Do you want the same to happen near Jerusalem and Ben Gurion Airport? 3. Only a fraction of settlers are ?religious fanatics?, a much smaller fraction then among Moslem Palestinians. Would you deny humane treatment to Arab ?religious fanatics? or express the same kind of disdain towards them?

The Palestinians lived in peace prior to the creation of Israel. If you had an apple and were forced to split it with a stranger, you will try to get that half back as soon as you have the chance. Now, the Pals realize the Israel does exist and they just want whatever left of the apple. Just think about how much pain the creation of Israel caused to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who now live in Lebanon, Jordan ans other Arab countries - why do they have to pay the price. If it took you thousands of years to re-calim Palestine, those Palestinians has just started......

The settlers are a population not grounded in reality or indeed respect for the rule of law but for a higher fanatical religious calling. Thus they have to be forced out and their settlements dismantled as the fourteen justice as the ICJ ruled in 2004. Dutch

Joseph, If one follows your reasoning Israel cannot be both a Jewish state and a democratic state unless your version of democracy means throwing those who are not Jewish off their lands so that Jews can take them over. Joseph, that isn't democracy. That is theocracy. That is ethnic cleansing.

In Carlo's justice the arabs can live anywhere they wished,in Israel and all over the Middle East, but the so called settlers "must go" because that "offends the arabs" and they cannot live in "dignity". What a bunch of nonsense.It is a really tear jerking article without any merit.I will attempt to cry for all the "arab martyrs" all night,and hope that will make them feel the dignity of killing Jews with Carlo's approval righteous. After all, the "Jews must go! Go from even behind every bush!".Carlo,open your mind to real human dignity and condemn the killing of Jews by arabs as a first step. That might be more right than this article.No,I am not a Jew,just a thinking person.If I were a "settler" by this time I would not be only talking,for sure.

Fabulously written. Fabulous.

Bravo!!! Well said, my friend. Why won't our government say it?

What's wrong with Israeli Jews living in the territories? There are Palestinian Israelis (Arab citizens of Israel), and so too there should be Jewish Palestinians (Jewish citizens of Palestine). When eventually the two-state solution happens, let the settlers decide which country they'd like to live in (and be protected by) themselves.

What an absolutely stupid statement. Do you wish to convince us that the 21 Arab nation, not all of which produce oil, members of the UN determine the foreign policy of the other 171 members of the UN because some of them produce oil? Do you contend that those 21 nations control the votes of the UN because some of them produce oil? Are you crazy? Only one Arab state currently sits on the Security Council. The Arab world hold less that 50% of the worlds oil reserves and 13.4% of gas reserves. Almost all oil producing Arab nations have no significant export product beside oil. The pressure is the other way around, you've got it backwards: if they don't sell their oil their economies will collapse so fast it will make your head swim. Go think of some other reason the international community is increasingly turning against Israel. Its because of Israel's violation of international laws, dummy.

My brother owns Itzhar's grocery (serving about 400 settlers) and... well, he just lives there because he knows his presence is what made, together with this of the fellow settlers, the Pals remain calm in the region. Relatively, except for the few families killed when he was in Beit-El, taken from there to Sanur, taken from there to Shavei Shomron and then to Itzhar. The life of a settler is not this of a slaver. It's a day-by-day struggle to protect the Jewish people. These people deserve thanks and encouragement, as long as you don't go there and help for this utterly important task.

Mr Strenger nor most of the liberals do not get it.Let us assume that a two state solution can realitically come about. Why is it impossible for Jews to live in a Palestinian State? After all a full 25% of Israel's population are Arabs. By what stretch of the world "liberalism" can one uphold the notion that it is OK for Palestinian State to ban Jews from living there? What happens to the notion of "universal human rights" without regard to religion, race or ethnicity as Mr Strenger claims to be such a devotee of. I guess it just doesn't apply to Jews, does it Mr. Strenger?

The Israeli far-left takes their minority opinion to outside sources such as the US and EU and pleads with them to overrule and undermine the elected Israeli government by imposing the far-left agenda on Israel. The far-left has little to teach us about democracy. The Israeli far-right attempts to bully through their own agenda against the will of the majority. It too has little to teach us about democracy. It's not enough that Israel must contend with external enemies, there are plenty on the inside who would undermine Israeli society to achieve their own visions.

... so how about living in tranquility within the sovreign borders of Israel...? so how about suspending encroachment of the settler-industry onto the land of our Pal neighbors...?

... or simply as a pragmatist realized the dead-end into which the settlement-industry has lead the whole of Israel... settlements and non-settlements alike...

... but it is likely to fall on deaf ears and closed hearts... since you address a population of herren-volk, who are convinced that they have rights over and above our neighbors, the Palestinians... even over and above regular Israeli citizens who are appalled by the settler lifestyle... moreover, the fear is that we will all be called upon to pay the price for this blind settler folly...

Why is it that Jews must always be 'considerate to the plight of others? Why is it that Israeli's always must 'understand what Pals feel, when they where 'torn from their homes,(which was absolutely unneccesary had they accepted the State of Israel in 1948). Why is it that we NEVER hear this 'same cry of compassion from the ARABS(and the world),after they threw out the 750 000 jews from their countries and THEIR homes, leaving behind all that THEY had. I'm NOT going to talk about the well known history of the jews 'torn out from many countries and many homes over the centuries. All those 'torn out jews, didn't became terrorists or suicide killers, didn't blow up planes, busses, trains and innocent people. You believe that there should be a 2 state solution for the Pals to live in dignity? To live in 'dignity has nothing to do with a state, but the 'mind set of the individual. You can live with dignity in a little room and be very NOT dignified in a palace.

Carlo speaks about building bridges with settlers out of one side of his mounth and callously sets these bridges on fire with his calculated condescension from the other. At no point does Carlo acknowledge that the "settlers" were invited to settle their historical birthplace on Israel's land which was no more ripped away from Palestenian's hands than the Tel Aviv suburb where he no doubt resides. At no point does he acknowledge the complexity of Israel's current security situation and the overwhelming historical evidence that every territorial giveaway - most blatently that of Gaza - reaped far more deadly violence. If Carlo really wants to dialogue, he should leave his comfie suburb and begin to really speak to the proud heros he reviles.

Jordan was set aside for the palestinians and israel for the jews. ironic that jordan kills palestinians and revokes their citizenship, egypt builds a wall; and the palestinians fire rockets into israel communities- no wonder these arab countries don't want them. while there are surely numerous good people in gaza and the west bank- do you really want to take the chance at losing your jewish state?

It seems the north wind blew too many distillates into Pearland from the ship channel. There was no 'Israel' in 1922 for anyone to occupy. Israel did not exist until 1948. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/Declaration+of+Establishment+of+State+of+Israel.htm OF course for folks under the effects of large doses of something documentation from the Israeli Foreign Ministry will make no difference.

'Alone in the middle of 150 million sworn enemie's. So, what is new here? I tell you.... THEN there where appr. 450.000 jews, NOW there are approx. 6.5 million JEWS living in that arrogant little piss-ant country, in the middle of 150 million sworn enemies. But they where always there.Those arrogant Israeli's are NOT stealing your technologie, but the Americans are BUYING theirs. For the "zillion's time....Israel spends the 'loans they get back in the US, thereby giving WORK and JOBS to US citizens. They didn't get it for their nice blue eyes but because it's usefull for the US. Bill you always say the same things. We all get it. You are NOT a friend of Israel.

Thank you for pointing out the insanity of the civil rights/Rosa Parks analogy with the settlers. It is the settlers claiming the superior "rights" of their race and special entitlements that no one else in the world recognizes and which has no substance outside of their own religion. Parks, Martin Luther King and other civil rights activists sought racial equality. The settlers assert racial entitlement - that they can take land from another race because they are Jews. The settlers' "cause" is opposite that of the civil rights movement. Parks and King eschewed violence despite great provocation. The settlers immediately resort to violence when a very small, deceitful restriction is placed on what they claim to be entitled to solely because of their race. The only comparison with the US civil rights movement is the similarity of the settlers and the white segregationists in the US, who fought viciously for the "entitlements" of the white race.

What happens when a right-leaning Prime Minister is voted in by a landslide with a pro-settler policy and then goes about carrying out the exact *opposite* policy? How is this Democracy?

yet I`m doubtful that it will reach the hearts & minds of those it needs to reach. Still good to see some sanity. Thank you.

All, Oddly, the pro-Pals, Yaacov Sullivan included, constantly call for recognition and consideration of Hamas, but reject consideration of the settlers. Clearly, even if you disagree with the philosophy and pretensions of the settlers, their interests must be included in the final settlement. After all, it is their fate that will be determined. The best way to resolve this, is to include as many 'settlers' as possible in the final borders of Israel through exchange of territory. This will separate the majority of 'settlers' with those that live in isolated settlements in the heart of Palestine. Of course, only Erakat has offered to resolve this by offering citizenship to Jewish settlers. The rest of the Pals support return to the Jordanian solution - a Jew free Palestine enforced by the interpretation of the 4th Geneva convention that defined altering the Jordanian 100% ethnic cleansing as the basis of international law. This is also part of the Saudi Plan.

I am a silentely following Iseral-Palstine conflict for a long time, closely at least for the past 10 years. I follow Haaretz regularly. But, yesterday's article compering settlment freeze with civilrights movement made me sad about the view of some Isriels. I found the article as the mother of all hypocracy. But I am also happy to hear heart warming article from Mr. Strenger. Thank you again

Two-state solution was implemented in 1922 when british administration of occupied Israel allocated more than half of Israel territory to palestinian arabs. Therefore, all palestinian arabs (there is no such ethnicity "palestinian") must be relocated to there. Enough stealing Israel land.

The settler's letter upset me so much I couldn't string together a coherent sentence. You spoke for me and thousands of others. Why do we (humankind) have to learn the same lessons over and over and over again?

'Arab' is just a proxy for Moslem ethics and primitive native arab values. I don't want to associate with their ethics and values; they are corrupting. If 'arab' is the best way to identify Moslem ethics and primitive values, then that's what I look for to AVIOD association with such persons. It's my choice to hold myself to higher values and draw a 'fence' around Torah values in my life and in the lives of our families. Agrarian arabs understand geographical boundries like rivers and mountain ridges, not artifical boundries like the Purple or Green Line; that's why Greater Israel is an absolute necessity and the settlers are on the front lines of driving out these trogdolites.

"Speak in a universal language of international law and human rights.." Dear Carlos, when will you admit to yourself that "international law" is determined by a group of Arab dictators and the western powers who rely on their oil. Let’s suppose for just a moment that you’re right in your implication that the US and Arab countries are determining international law based on the politics of oil. The principal of supply and demand often creates strange bedfellows. But using the same principal of supply and demand, I often wonder what Israel is supplying in our alliance. They sank our ship in ’67. They refuse to join the NPT. They refuse to heed any of the UNSC resolutions that they don’t like. They claim annexation of land from the wars in the 60’s and 70’s, in direct contravention of the most fundamental of all international war conventions. They’ve sent spies to steal our technologies. And they bleed us for $4 billion every year in military gear. And we’re stupid enough to put up with it. So maybe you can shed some light on the issue as I see it. Why should we invite the enmity of the entire Arab/Islamic world simply because some arrogant little piss-ant country decides it is above the international law? Further, let’s suppose that I’m right in thinking that the US – and indeed the entire rest of the world – is getting tired of the whiney little snot-nosed kid called Israel. What will you do, then, when you find yourself all alone in the middle of 150 million of your sworn enemy? Smarten up.

It doesn't happen ofter, but I must admit that Mr. Sullivan has written everything that need be said on the subject and I have nothing more to add. Well done Jake, please continue to combat the intellectual failure of Jewish bigots both her and in the States

The truth of the matter is that at this point there are three separate arab entities in Palestine ( Jordan, The West bank and Gaza). lsrael at whatever size and borders is going to be the next target regardless of any legal justification just as it always was pre 67. The only claim, basis for lsrael's existence is the bible as The League of Nations already understood which the arabs are very unlikely to ever accept. Wishful thinking is fine . To build on it is irresponsible.

Separation has only caused more violence and has empowered the radicals. Israel should of annexed the west bank in the 60's. Allowed the arabs the same rights as israeli jews and arabs have and given them the same educational systems that we in israel have, thus eliminating the radical islamic national school system that the palestinians are subjected too in the west bank. Seperation is killing us and driving us to really hate eachother, you ever wonder why israeli arabs rarely are involved in terror attacks, its not becuase they are seperate from us, its because they are integrated with us.

Dear Carlos, when will you admit to yourself that "international law" is determined by a group of Arab dictators and the western powers who rely on their oil. Yes David unfortunately its not 1948 anymore when there was only 1 voice that spoke for all arab nations in the UN and that one voice had no diplomatic experience whatsoever. The arabs have gotten educations now and are more represented. Its 2009. Its got nothing to do with oil. It has to do with justice. Over 60 years of being ignored its about time their words were heeded. If you want to live in a state of high security that is fine, I know myself personally I do not want to live like you people in Israel do for the sake of religious ideology. I want to go back to pre 9-11 days. You can live like that with soldiers and guns always in your face if thats what you want but not with my support you wont. More and more Americans are seeing why we are living in fear. Our blind support for Israel is not so blind anymore.

The peace will come when messianic "Peace Process" fanatics of Carlo Stranger type will start to love themselves more than they hate the other - the settler.

Carlo, Bravo bravo!!!! Well said. You should run for office.

The settlers may have a basis to claim their actions were in the tradition of Rosa Parks if they were fighting for the right of Palestinians to live in the now segregated settlements, to have full access to all facilities the settlers do, such as Hwy 443, and the right to buy land and build homes within the borders of pre-1967 Israel.

"Democracy is not supposed to undermine collective conscience.." Is that the collective consciousness that tells fok they can break International Law? "...under excuse of obeying orders (illegal) to commit crime against humanity and expell Jews from their land" Er that'd be expel ISRAELI Jews from NON-Israeli land. In fact any Israelis, Jewish or otherwise.

only if you accept defeat . You can refuse martyrdom without loosing dignity.

the Jewish People's Council Declared Sovereignty over May 14th 1948 and anything that might have been legally annexed to Israel since Declaration. Thus far no territory has ever been legally annexed to Israel. " Jewish State character" Is that the type of 'character' that illegally acquires other folks territories.

the UN Member States ratifying Conventions. Once a majority of UN Member states ratify a Convention, the convention becomes a part of International Law. The Law of War were ratified by the majority of League of Nations states. They were inherited by the UN and obligatory before many Arab entities existed as states. " when will you admit to yourself that "international law" is determined by a group of Arab dictators and the western powers who rely on their oil" Not so. There are many more UN Member states than the Arab States and the main oil junkies.

Yaakov, I am surprized that with a name like Yaakov you know so little about Israeli history. The majority in East Jerusalem were Jewish before the Jordanian conquest during the War of Indendence. My wife has a friend who left a pot cooking on her stove in East Jerusalem to flee the conquering Jordanians. In Hebron there had been a Jewish community since ancient times. But the Mohammedans slaughtered over 60 Jewish men, women and children in 1929. The British rulers forcibly evicted the remaining Jews. We returned after the 1967 war.

I agree with this article. Israel has the right to exists at so many levels, but not to this point. I am ashamed.

At least have the honesty, the integrity to admit you are advocating not a democracy, you never were, but rather an ethnocracy in which Jews have inherent rights that do not pertain to Arabs or any non-Jew. It is you that have taken another peoples land, the WB and East Jerusalem, and taken it from a people who now accept a two state solution. You are judaising the character of what should be their state. You are undermining any possibility of them forming a state in territory that the international community recognises as occupied. The arrogance of Israel and their smug self righteousness is unprecedented.

"Two-thirds of Israelis want the two-state solution, because most of Israel's citizens have realized that religion and politics need to be separated to the fullest extent possible." I like your article but I fear your numbers are wrong. If the Arab Israeli would vote in numbers you would need only 26% of the votes of the rest of the Israeli, so why this mess? Fact is that in the 2 state group their are many who support a very tiny second state.

Let's get something straight: you cannot have your cake and eat it too. These fanatics who claim they are dwhere they are by dinvine right, that they are the recipients of a higher law that contavnenes any other law is precisely what Islamic fundamentalists believe. These colonists are tribalists and they have nothing whatsoever but contempt and derision for those whose land they squat on. Nothing but hatred and contempt. As for religious zionism, it will prove to be the downfall of the State of Israel. You and those who support your view see democracy only for those like yourselves and you prefer to live in a pre '67 world of the ME because you need that outdated view to prop up your whole ideological structre. You simply do not know how to live in a world that is not kol haolam negdeynu.

under excuse of obeying orders (illegal) to commit crime against humanity and expell Jews from their land .

& Jewish State character .

Democracy includes respecting the rights of all members of society. It is evident that as a result of your contempt for religious, zionist Judaism and your failure to understand the root causes of the challenges that have been thrown Israel's way since her recreation, that you understand very little about democracy.

Carlo: the words will never be heeded because they contradict what Karni and the whole settlement enterprise believes with conviction in a higher law, a rigth that is divine and supercedes secular law. Secular law is looked upon as a ploy of the goyim meant to undermine the right of Jews that surpasses all other rights. For the past 43 years Israel has done everything in its political and economic power to raise these people to zionist sainthood and there is no going back. As for the majority who support the two state solution, where have they been and where are they now? Israel has been plagued by the reincarnatiion of the Zealots and the future of the country is in their hands, but they are hardly sui generis. As for their sense of betrayal, thqt too is built into their ideological stew of nationalism and religious fundamentalism.

"Speak in a universal language of international law and human rights.." Dear Carlos, when will you admit to yourself that "international law" is determined by a group of Arab dictators and the western powers who rely on their oil.

Thank you for some sanity Carlo!