Defense Minister: Israel, U.S. must draft Mideast peace plan

Israel has the right to exist any way that it chooses. It is a sovereign state. Why should they have to give up their land? Land for peace has never worked in the past and it will not work now. Plus, it is Holy land...the God of the universe will protect Israel, so no worries either way.

I believe that there will be a world government soon,and as part of the new peace deal in all the middleeast,an international treaty to ban all civilioan and military guns will possibly begin soon. Bombs also need to be banned,and chemicals that produce them kept under scrutiny by governments from terrorists not able to get hold of them. A ban on guns and bombs will bring more peace in the west and middle east,and should be voted for soon internationally. The only way to prevent more wars is for all the countries to agree on banning the guns and bombs ,together.

23 illegal outposts are still standing in the occupied territories. Israel committed some years ago that they would be removed. He restated that position only last month or so. Why doesnt he begin to dismantle them and put some substance behind all of this hot air that Israel has used for decades to stall real negotiatins from occcuring. And during that delay time, what are they doing? Taking down outposts? Hardly. They are allowing them to expand and taking more land and doing their best to change the demographic and religious character of Jerusalem. The peace plan is already there, from the Olmert administration. Netanyahu refuses to recognise that since starting from scratch will allow him further delay time to allow for "natural growth" in Israel's colonies. Is this the point on which Israel and the US have reached agreement? Any peace plan that does not discuss EJ, fnal borders based on pre 'June'67 lines and refugees is a waste of time.

Didn't Ehud Barak do that once in 2000. And everyone knows what happened.

who needs enemies?

I fear the opportunity has passed because of the lack of trust between Bibi and Obama... perhaps the only solution is now the one state solution...

Israel attempt to form a mickey mouse state for the Palestinains will not work. The US will include Palestine in formulating ANY peace plan. We know what Israel's "peace plan" looks like. No one is interested, and no one is buying it.

trying to have "security", land grabbing and a "peace" process all at the same time, you just can't do it forever.

Israeli politicians seem remarkably inept and stating any policy position that sounds even remotely fair. Here they go again. Let's cook up something with the US and then present it (ie-cram it down their throat) to the Palestinians. Great diplomacy there! Why not try direct talks with the Palestinians-and if that requires a settlement freeze, so-do it for heavens sakes--and recognize that you have to give a little if you want a little. Israel is mired in the thought that it has more now than it will ever come with through negotiations so why negotiate?

The settler population has grown at the rate of 6% per year for the last 25 years, half new immigrants, half natural growth. Jews are free the settle in Palestine; if a Palestinian goes near the fence, a sniper's bullet awaits. This is "laying the foundation" for peace?

It is not up to my country to draft a one-sided peace plan. Israel needs to get to the table and deal with the Palestinians.

Not a good idea. Too many plans and no more space on the shelf. Just pick any plan of the shelf and the Pals are willing to accept.

let's talk concrete steps & "concessions" instead of the usual general phrases. are you ready to actually take on the settler community /part of it & confront it? these people vehemently opposed to a real territorial compromise now amount to something close to a state within a state & you know there's no way to just talk your way around them. unless an israeli government actually makes a decisions to bow the will of these people (where persuasion is impossible) there's gonna be no way to make an agreement w/the pals nor to expose the pals' shortcomings for that matter. if you want a viable & strong position, change the current one which leads nowhere at all. please do it before it's too late.

Very simple, arabs go from whence you came. Go & occupy any place outside of the League of Nations Mandated State of Israel. See how much peas your arab brothers will give when you return to your legit lands....DK

As I wrote on Friday a two-part post - A poll taken between Sept. 30/09 and Oct. 1/09 indicated that 51% were satisfied with PM Netanyahu and that he will make the necessary concessions to reach a final peace agreement. 62% believe that PM Netanyahu will be able to reach an agreement, 22% stated better to rely on next leader, and 17% were undecided. Altogether, 56% of the Israeli public supports an endgame agreement as been stipulated by the parameters highlighted in the Geneva Agreement.

The quartet should make it's own peace plan based on the UN resolutions, so that no part of the occupied territories will be part of Israel. Then it should be imposed on the parties without any consideration for their silly complaints.

There is no need to draft new plans. Just honor the UN resolutions 242, and 194. End the occupation, and get the H... out of Palestine. End war crimes and act in a more civilized manner.

It sounds as if Barak needs to be reminded that he is not the Foreign Minister and that his party lost the election. The people voted for parties like Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu to reject the Appeasement Now foreign policy of Olmert, Livni and Barak. Barak was appointed Defence Minister in the Netanyahu-Lieberman government for his professional competence to run the IDF and not for his views on foreign policy. If he does not want to confine his activities to the Defence Ministry there are other equally able ex-generals in the Coalition that could take his place without trying to interfere in matters belonging to the Foreign Ministry.

finish Israel off. At Taba he offered to settle 200.000 pals in Israel ,now he wants to surpass himself , He was holding Israel's response to Qassams in order to "garner the World's support" . He never learns and despite seeing all concesions futile he still counts on "World Opinion" he could sway by destroying Israel. This inept general(yes ,he was the Most Decorated one when he was obeying orders of more able commanders than himself) is Israel's Disaster NO.1.

Haven't we seen this movie umpteen times ? What's needed is a new screen writer - and Obama ( who got my vote for the job) - obviously is opting for reruns . David

Israel has so many different Ministers making statements about peace no one knows who is who and they each have a different plans. Why do the need the US when Israel is so self serving? We covered for them so long its time they step up!!!

he has called for elections for 25 october and may not be available later....perhaps you would like to talk to Dr. Zahar?

the two sides are the zionist state and palestine, with the US insisting on peace talks....so barak talk to the palestinians and stop tryng to pre empt the talks by making agreements with USA that does not include palestinians....we are not you bully big brother but rather you benifactor which could change

This is like cat and mouse game. Barak says yes and Nethanyahu says no and nothing happens at last.