Barak: Peace process failures greater threat than Iran nukes

I learned something from both of you..that's good.. Another point, Natallie, you said "no right of return," which is very thorny issue. Therefore some negotiations with Lebanon, Syria and Jordan is needed for compensation or something for the 000's thousands of Palestinians in those countries as refuges with no status.. Secondly, the joint teror fighting force is a great idea..it would be a tough sell for Israel.

It's right here: "Defined, secure borders would not only make Israel safer but also the rest of the world." Noble sentiments, but to a politician like Barak Israel has the right to UNILATERALLY "define" where those "secure borders" will be, and it is the job of the Pals to turn up, sign off on it, and walk away with the scraps. That's the entire rationale behind using "settlements" to create "facts on the ground", and there is no sign whatsoever that Barak opposes that policy. He wants Israel to annex everything behind the wall, and he bemoans the fact that the Pals will not accept that "offer". S: "Finally someone in the Israeli political elite is seeing what the rest of the world does." No, he's simply moaning, groaning and wringing his hands because he is greedy for something but he can't work out a way to get his pudgy little hands on it that ISN'T stealing.

BA: "The likes of Barak and Peres are just as much killing of the two state solution as their more 'rightwing' colleagues Netanyahu and Lierbman." Not in his mind, because Barak has no time for your definition of a "two-state-solution". Yours would includes the words "independent", "sovereign", and "contiquous". Barak's would have none of those i.e. his "vision" would see Israel annex everything behind the wall, and the Pals can then call the disjointed scraps that are left over "a state". Win/Win for everybody! That's why his "Ariel University" play is perfectly consistent with his "two-state-soultion", precisely because under HIS plan Ariel will be "in Israel". After all, to Barak's mind everything that has a settler squatting on it will be "in Israel". Becasue that's what passes for "left-wing thinking" in Israel i.e. to a leftie Israel steals what it wants, and then discards the rest. A right-winger would steal everything, be it valuable OR worthless.

I agree with Natallie - a peace plan based on June 1967 borders - say June 30, 1967 ? Doesn't matter - Nutallie is in La La Land if she thinks Israelis will agree to put their personal security in the hands of some joint committee when it comes to terrorism. Wassa matter Nut, you don't think the Palis and Gazans would agree to accept a state of their own if they actually GAVE UP terror - not merely RENOUNCED it in words? Well Israelis of the breathing type don't believe it either. Tell ya what Nutallie, maybe Israel will consider giving back the West Bank and Gaza to the Palis and Gazans when you pick up your Mexican passport in Tijuana after Pres BHO agrees to give back Los Angeles and California to Mexico. If he did that, ya think the Democrats would win in 2012? They wouldn't have YOUR vote because wetbacks can't vote!

Finally someone in the Israeli political elite is seeing what the rest of the world does. The continued denial of the Palestinian right to self-determination legitimises the Iranian push to nuclear armament. If you take that away, they lose the one fight that unites an otherwise divided muslim world. The actions in the occupied territories continue to undermine any moral high ground that Israel takes. Defined, secure borders would not only make Israel safer but also the rest of the world. Anyone that analyzes it pragmatically can't fail to draw the same conclusions. Carry on like this and there may still be hope for all of us.

Barak can't join dots. Take down Iran nuke program, and Palestinians will come straight to the negotiating table. Otherwise not.

Israel is only occupying our own land. Judea and Samaria have belonged to Israel for more than 3,500 years. Your claim that Israel would be better regarded in the world if Israel retreated from her heartland is naive at best. Israel was far more respected before we began the cursed "peace process". Until the Oslo Disaster, Israel was respected, by friends and foes alike, as a gutsy little nation. Oslo changed all that. Israeli retreat is ALWAYS a recipe for diaster. Always has been and always will be.

Let's examine what a "peace process failure" means. It means Israel retains Jerusalem. It means Israel retains our heartland. It means most of Israel's cities and towns will be safe from terrorist rockets. It means Israel won't be inundated by hostile Arabs. It means no eight mile waist for Israel... However, "success" in the "peace process" means exactly the opposite - the destruction of Israel within a decade. The "peace process" is likely a greater threat to Israel than Iran nukes.

you mention that there will be land swaps in any peace deal...which is to say, that some of the main settlement blocks will be involved in these said land swaps, right? then you tell me, did barack hussein obama mess up the whole peace process by insisting on a total freeze even on natural growth in these blocks which will be included in the final land swaps? He gave the pals carte blanche to do NOTHING! It was most definitely a huge mistake. they have been trying to walk it back now but the stupid pals who dont have a state are sitting on their humus eating arses! I believe Obama created this mess due to the ideological fervour he's been brainwashed to believe by his mentors like khalidi, baker, brzezhinski, reverand wright, power, miller, etc..etc...

Israel's biggest enemy is the false belief of many Israelis that the World wants to destroy Israel. They ignore the role of the UN in creating Israel. The one major problem is the WB. Most in the world who believe in human rights condemn Israel for its actions in the WB. If Israel evacuated the settlements (except perhaps for agreed land swaps) and stopped the occupation, most of Israel's critics would no longer condemn it. Israel would be in a much better position in the World. Yes, there are countries and groups that hate Israel and will always want to destroy it. But they are a minority and lack the capacity to harm Israel. On the other hand, if Israel continues its policies until the US gets tired of protecting this spoiled brat from the consequences of its actions, the world, acting through the UN, can make things very rough for Israel. Making a just peace with the Pals would increase Israel's security thousandfold.

Universitizing Ariel was zig, this pearl of wisdom is zag, next stop will be zig again. He's not headed anywhere. Israel needs a good strong lightning conductor to take a direction again.

No wonder he has wires screwed up

Then we may yet assume, that even if Tehran has a nuclear weapon, they will not be so nuts to use said weapon against Israel. Then again, they may well find some other use for the above weapon. Something akin to N.Korea. Having said all that, what are the next steps.? Freezing settlements.? Defining borders.? A road map? Contentious politics are at play.! No doubt a two state solution is on the menu. The question remains, who are the diners.? That depends entirely on the head chef, PM Netanyahu and his unwilling guest Mr.Abbas. Good night from snowy Swiss Alps.

It is in the interests of both Iran and Israel to pretend that Iran is building nuke weapons because of Israel. Iran benefits because it is in excuse that makes it harder for the Sunni Moslem world to fight Iran nuclearization, even though the Iran nukes are primarily aimed against Pakistan and other radical Sunni states. Israel benefits because it reaps huge political benefits amongs "joe-six pack" americans, who hate and fear Iran and are pro-Israel only because they hate Israel's enemies, particularly Iran. Even Russia has more to fear from Iran nuke weapons than Israel does. Anyone who thinks that Iran really cares about the interests of the palestinian people is an idiot.

Normally I don't spoon feed my responses to people, but your request was so civil that I must help you out. In my personal opinion, a good deal for the Palestinians would be two states based on the 1967 borders, no land swap, no reserved settlement blocks, no right of return, no Israeli presence in the Palestinian state. Terrorism to be addressed by a joint force having authority on both sides of the border. Israel would never willingly accept this deal. America and the Palestinians would, with some reservations. This deal would have to be forced upon Israel by America. In Israels preferred deal, Israel keeps major settlement blocks, reserved roads, maintains authority over Palestinian lands. Israels deal is keeping the status quo except the Palestinians stop all resistance. Israels reputation with America and the world continues to drop over time. Eventually, there will be enough motivation to sanction Israel. That's when Israel will not be able to dictate peace terms.

If the mistranslations, fabricated evidence and lack of real evidence weren't enough, the statements by Livni in her private quarters remarking that Iran really isn't a threat and Barak should suffice to open the eyes of some of the right-wing Israelis who really think they are under threat by Iran. I had hoped common sense would be enough, but hey, people like to live like Chicken Little. THE SKY IS FALLING ! AAAAAAAH!

Before *b*en alof and Bangor and North Wales, there was ISrael. During ben alof and Bangor and North Wales, there is Israel. After ben alof and Bangor and North Wales, there will be Israel. Israel IS REAL. O I forgot! Before/During/AFter the UK there was/is/will be Israel!!!!

That tin pot dictator, Mubarak, is an affront to humanity. He has sold to the Americans and Israel.

It's quite clear that the majority of Israelis do not want peace. All you have to do is to read the talk-backs on this article. Barak is pointing out your biggest problem. If you think Iran is getting nukes to destroy you, you couldn't be more wrong. Iranian leaders might look like dictators, but they are not stupid. They know that if they strike Israel with a nuke, you will retaliate with your nukes (who by the way, are just as illegal as theirs). So Israelis, please get back down to earth. You don't have to invent threats. There is huge threat right in front of you. It's the arab demographic bomb, much deadlier than any nuke.

Great question, it may not only be Egypt among the Arab states who side with Israel?

Well I agree with Natallie because east jerusalem will not be in Bibi Mouth.. So anything they said will be bad is usual. If it was good so the press get the word out, they will make sure to do something to go back to their word. your goverment is good for that, we saw it over and over.

try san remo 1920 ehud youll know where the real borders are !

Barak couldn't be elected for dogcatcher today. If anyone thinks that Judah can be cede for an Arab handshake without civil war they are plain crazy. Barak is crazy and faithless to God's Promise.

Got headache following your logic: If Israel agrees to a deal it must automatically be bad for the Palestinians, so you recommend to them rejecting it, promising a better deal later (on what authority? you mean after Obama, this right wing fanatic has left office?). But if Israel then agrees to this better deal, then, by your logic, It has been proven ipso facto that the deal is bad for the Palestinians, so they need to decline again, and you will promuse them am even better deal? Following this logic (if it can be called that way 2 things would happen): 1. The Palestinians will never agree to anything the Israelis agree, and thus will not achieve anything, 2. You will continue to fight until the last Palestinian.

Better times are coming. The problem (logical problem) is how you define "better". For Durson, "better" is a mathematical value that means something when the equation is written indicating clearly in one of its sides " zero Israel".

That is a smart man. Everyone including Barak, knows that Hamas capabilities in Gaza, their affiliates in the West Bank and Hizbollah in Lebanon, backed by new Iranian rockets will shower Tel Aviv with more rockets than have been launched into the ground in the Negev desert. In the Negev, to hit anything, they have to be accurate, which they are not. However, in Tel Aviv, accuracy is irrelevant, they are going to hit people or something of value. This isn't going to be another "cast lead" instead you will be casting your own destruction.

How soon Ms. Durson, how soon?

the Zionists reason???. funny thing Abbas is not and the zionists are. Beats me.

Going back to the historic borders of israel as the base of any arangement with our palestinian neighbours. Let us understand by that the biblical borders with a mixed population of various religions and ethnicities, just as it was sometimes over two thousands years ago AND LET US AGREE ON CALLING IT THE HOLLY LAND.

don`t worry about those peace talks because the only one can resolve THE IMPASSE IS OUR NEW MESSIAH THE ANTI-CHRIST JAVIER SOLANA OF GLOBAL UNION NOT BARACK OBAMA OF THE US!

I beg your pardon! Israel relinquished the Sinai, Gaza, N. Samaria & S. Lebanon. I think that their record is close to excellent, though not perfect. What have the Arabs relinquished? near zero I think. Israel has tried hard. The Arabs have not tried anything. Israel has relinquished land it won fairly in wars. The Arabs have only taken what they wanted to give away. For the sake of attempted peace Israel was willing to compromise. TYhe Arabs have not not!!

I beg your pardon! Israel relinquished the Sinai, Gaza, N. Samaria & S. Lebanon. I think that their record is close to excellent, though not perfect. What have the Arabs relinquished? near zero I think. Israel has tried hard. The Arabs have not tried anything. Israel has relinquished land it won fairly in wars. The Arabs have only taken what they wanted to give away. For the sake of attempted peace Israel was willing to compromise. TYhe Arabs have not not!!

Very strange behavior from Egypt. What are EGypt's true colours??????????????????

Barak is wrong. Iran nuke threat is more dangerous for Israel and the World than the peace process with the scoundrels. Religious fanatics the like of Atta, Bin Laden, etc can destroy the world with nukes without any qualms. Peace process with the scoundrels who do not know peace and are not nation builders is nothing in comparison.

are the greatest threat to Israel. And why should Abbas hurry to the table to make a deal of your choosing to save Israel,s ass. If I find a kitten caught in a trap, I will do everything to save it. But a poisonous snake---I think not. Sit back and enjoy Abbas. I know I will. Oh by the way---didn,t Barak tell us just the other day that Iran was Israel,s greatest threat. Anyone know where I can buy a copy of Israel,s "Daily threat Roster".

Barak was voted out, yet seems to have so many opinions as though he were prime minister. Can't help but wonder why he is so unfaithful to Israel's present policies. Big mistake giving him power.

Not much is left to bargain for.

Peace benefits Israel since condition s in the West Bank are improving without peace the Palestinians see no need to negotiate since negotiations with Israel means surrender. If Israel wants real negotiation being the controlling power in the West Bank they can tutn on the pressure to any level they want to on the Palestinians, both economically and daily life, forcing the Palestinians to run to negotiate peace. As far as #10 stated that Israel is being delegitamized. Israel is being criticized, as long as the people of any country want to call themselves a country no one can claim they do not exist. I only hear Jews themselves stating Israel is not a legitemate state.

... but he's equally capable of following up with something blatantly radical... ... let's wait-and-see... the question is, where is Barak ultimately headed...?

Declare Palestinian state now with 67 borders and E Jerusalem as capital Plus right of return of plas Plus Financial compensation to pals Prosecute Israeli war criminals at the Hague, just like the nazi criminals were held accountable

Barak is correct. Now all he needs to do is to solve the problem. Unfortunately, he (and his right-wing associates) are the problem. Granting status to a make-believe "university," being a key player in a government committing to a unified Jerusalem, etc. are obstructionist tactics. He seems to be taking "fig-leaf" lessons from Peres so that he can become his eventual replacement.

""The lack of a solution to the problem of border demarcation within the historic Land of Israel - and not an Iranian bomb - is the most serious threat to Israel's future," - Ehud Barak Ehud Barak, his fear-mongering leader Bibi Netanyahu, and Avigdor Lieberman have spent the last year doing everything they could to destroy the peace process and now we have crocodile tears from Barak the Barracuda. He is one of the men who decided that there could be no negotiations last winter. He is one of the men who told the entire world - by their actions even if some times they said otherwise - that there could be no Palestinian state, and there could be no compromise on Judea and Samaria. Yet now, sob, he is deeply concerned that without a solution Israel is threatened.

Barak continues to have minimal understanding of reality. Israel will continue to be delegitimized even with borders.Even if Barak gives up his opulent penthouse foer 'peace' we will be delegitimized.

America and Israel and their Egyptian toady are pressuring the Palestinians to quickly agree to any deal that Israel is willing to offer. Naturally, this is a huge red flag. The rule is that if Israel agrees to a deal then that deal is bad for the Palestinians. If Israel is pushing for a deal, then don't even talk to them. Better times are coming in which the Palestinians can get a fair deal. All they have to do is tell Obama, Netanyahu and Mubarak to go play oppressive games elsewhere.

this is a statement designed to fly in the PM's face. It's not the kind made by anyone other than state policy, made by the PM.Barak works for the PM, and he wouldn't be there except for Netanyahu.

Only last week readers who paid attention learned that the defense minister, who as the head of the Israeli army considers himself the "sovereign" ruler of the occupied Westbank, decided to facilitate the application process of Ariel college to become a University. The likes of Barak and Peres are just as much killing of the two state solution as their more "rightwing" colleagues Netanyahu and Lierbman. Likud or Labour, at the end of the day they are just as Zionist. I actually prefer the straightforward rightists who don't try to cover up their brazen attempts at stealing land over the hypocritical duplicity of "leftwing" Labour Zionists. It was under Labour that the colonizing project in the Occupied Territories really got underway.

NOT to the people of the State of Israel. Selfish hedonistic idiot!

The worst attacks have been prevented. I can live with that. But trigger happy folks with nukes are another story.

Is Barak saying that the war of attrition which the Palestinians never stop fighting is worse than a weapon that would destroy all? A foolish comment at best.

... neither side has recently shown any real interest in making a deal worth making. There's no point to going through a "process" for decades if the only result is more underhanded sleaze on the one hand or more internecine warfare on the other...

if israel is really genuine and willing to return to the negotiating table, why the continuous cheating from mr netanyahu and his government? let israel become and prove to be really sincere.

Assad,Harrari,Obama and all the Islamophants that are willing to feed the alligator and hope that it kills them last.