Minister Ayalon calls on PM to invite Hamas to regional summit

You just inadvertently put forth the strongest possible argument for Israel and its policy of not talking to Hamas unless it meets the precondition of abiding by all signed agreements. Your sarcastic remark that Israel should only talk to Hamas if it "defers all of their decision making to Abbas", implicitly suggests that Israel should negotiate with Both Abbas and Hamas seperately. Are you suggesting that Israel should come to the negotiating table, sign an agreement with the Palestinians (represented by both President Abbas, and Hamas), but then it would be ok for one party of the other side (Hamas) to say we are not bound by the agreement? Ive never heard of such a type of agreement before? It is an implicit precondition of any agreement that the parties reaching such agreement agree to abide by it. That is what Ayalon is saying; if Hamas participates in the negotiation as a co-representative of the Palestinians, then they must accept the terms to which the Palestians sign

Rueben, best post ive seen. Your analysis is spot on. Finally, there is a smart, "thinking out of the box" Israeli leader. Worst case, this would be a Machiavellian move for Israel and would put Hamas in a difficult position. Best case, who knows, it might help lead to a softening of Hamas's positon, and a peace agreement. Either way, it would be a smart move by Israel. It is like the old saying, "Keep your friends, close, and your enemies closer." And, I second Ruebens challenge to all the posters accusing Ayalon of treason, stupidity, etc, what experience do you have that you would know better than a former admiral and head of an elite Navy Commando unit, and head of Shin-Bet??

abstract 'right' to exist but it does recognised that israel exists as a concrete fact.(2) it won't sign the oslo or any other capitulation on the part of PLO;it will most likely sign the PLO Declaration of Independence,1988,which calls for the Partition borders of 1947,the right of refugees to return(Res.194) and Jerusalem as capital.(3) It will not lay down its arms until a deal is reached.No self respecting Resistance Movement does that.Nor will it demilitarise.No sovereign state does that.They may enter into an agreement with the state of israel on progressive dismantling,but from both sides.Nothing unilateral.They have offered a 10 year hudna,which might include all of the above.israel has no choice except to deal with Hamas.Any agreement signed with abbas only will not be worth the paper it is signed on.But Minister Ayalon does make a point:Hamas should be invited,and we'll have to see where it goes. Misha asked if they would go to the summit.reply:Will considerit,if& when invite

I agree. You make peace with your enemies. If hamas declines it will show the world that they are only interested in fighting and will legitimize harsher responses by the idf!

Ayalon says to Hamas: "We will let you sit at the table if you will defer all of your decision making to Abbas". I agree with Israels most rabid supporters for the first time. Ayalon is a fool.

you can get a deal with abbas and the day next expect another qassam missiles in your cities you can see it or hide it but u must face it abbas is not the problem , and it doesn't matter whether he's a peace man or not u must talk to us coz we have the missiles not abbas and by the way we donnt like abbas either

is that inviting Hamas is a win-win siutation for Israel. Either they attand and therefore accept a more moderate stance or they decline, sparking an internal debate between the more moderate and reactionary wings of the party (which do exist) and also showing the rest of the world that they are not willing to make peace. Also, for the right wing dtractors of this statement from Ayalon I ask this: What is it you have done that makes you think you know better than a former admiral and head of the shin-bet?

Hamas shoots rockets and Minister Ayalon sends back KISSES. As an American talk show host says" Liberalism is a mental disorder."

Even if they make the most ambiguous verbal contortion to partake in the summit. BTW, Iran won't let them anyway. Wanna bet? Tzipi Livni shaking hands with Mahmud A-Zahar? Ayalon lost the Labor race, and is loosing a sense of reality too, it seems.

-- and the envelope please -- the winner is....Ayalon!! (music) Ayalon: This is a great honor. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.

It's amazing how Haaretz always manages to get the Liberal Anti-Israel stories included on its web pages but totally disregards the USA's biggest stories like the incredible Wild Fires that are burning in California. One Million Americans have been uprooted, and thousands of houses are being destroyed by fire. But Not One article in Haaretz; shameful! And if you now add one, I'm sure you will allow every terrorist to add a comment of how glad they are that these fires are burning. Israel is a very strange place that is typified by the Haaretz web site that allows so much Anti-Israel content that one thinks they are reading Al Jazeera.

Did Ayalon concoct this rubbish knowing that some newspaper short of real news would pick it up.He knew what he was doing as " Poopmaster " or HaAretz as it calls itself gave the crafty Ayalon some airtime.I think that Ayalon should take a trip to Gaza if he wants to speak to these terrorists and leave the rest of us out of it.

HAMAS should attend the Annapolis summit, so long as Gilad Shalit accompanies the HAMAS delegation.

He's correct in inviting Hamas representatives if indeed they've moderated. You make peace with your enemies, because if you miss this opportunity, perhaps the future will be more bleak for the region as well as in the Diaspora. Hamas must accept the agreement reached between Olmert and Abbas, recognizing Israel and work together with President Abbas in formulating an independent Palestinian state. The time has come to make realistic moves by both sides.

if he could. Yes,help Hamas break its isolation and provide financing,they need it to improve Qassams to hit Ayalons mansion too.

the three requirements demanded of it by the entire international community: 1)Recognize in principle Israel's right to exist, 2)Adhere to signed agreements with Israel, and 3)Cease all acts of terror and violence and the preparation for such acts. In additon, Hamas would be required to release without any pre-conditions the abducted Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. Can Hamas meet these requirements and by so doing turning its back to its Charter that calls for the annihilation of the Jewish state of Israel through acts of terror? I suspect not, so, whether Hamas is or is not invited is really of little importance.

the u.s.-israel cabal.