Olmert tells Blair that he is ready to meet Abbas

Raise your right uhhh. Oh forget it! Selah!

u can sit here for another 58 years and talk tough and fight and kill more from each other but at the end u gotta accept each other and co-exist weather u like it or not..the pals got the hammas and the israelis have religious extrimist parties as well...but u both ppl have to overcome both of them and get over the past otherwise the land of milk and honey will be the land of blood and tears for both ...act now before its late.

What is Olmert going to try and give away this time? Jordan Valley? All of West Bank, Jerusalem and Ben Gurion Airport? Thrown in Tel Aviv and Haifa too. Then he'll move out of Israel with the rest of his family and leave the real Jews to rot under Arab Moslem tyranny.

hOW CAN TYOU RESPECT PALESTINIANS WHO SEND CHILDREN TO BOMB OTHER CIVILIANS. OR RESPECT politicians who line their own pockets at the expense of milk, electricity and water and food for the regular palestinian. Arafat stole billions, Abbas is more subtle about it. Suha Arafat gets 20 million a year from the palestinbaion government so she can live in luxury in paris while pali children starve. Ya cant respect that now can you Darkie one.

To people who know something about British Politics Tony Blair will go down in history as a brilliant Prime Minister who also saved the Labour Party from extinction . Together with this he changed the consensus towards Israel in England and aligned with our only true friend USA. He sees the threat from radical Islam only too clearly in England and is the front line against terror . Its so sad that people in high places seem to side with the ones perpetrating the terror . Tony Blair is a true friend of Israel . I wellcome him to our country

The Palestinians are being used again and again to boost mr Blair's popularity. Poor Abbas he keeps falling for it.

Blair is losing his marble.how dare he called hamas a terrorist group.

it is about time to speak to with Abbas. after hezbollah kicked their asses, they want to negoiate now

Olmert will meet Abbas without any pre-conditions? Sounds like he's doing someone a favour! The Palestinians should refuse to meet with him until he lifts he seige on Gaza and removes all road blocks inside the West Bank. If Abbas tries to cheat the Palestinians he will find himself out on his ear. After all, currently it is the Palestinians who have no partner for peace.

While Israel can fault the Palestinians for not following the Road Map, they themselves are no better: failing to enforce a settlement freeze. Continuing settlement growth leaves Palestinians suspect that they'll end up without East Jerusalem and a viable state of their own. And that prevents popular Palestinian support for enforcing the Road Map on their end. Neither side is pulling its weight.

even Mother Quinne must shake when she will get hers. I do not what to tell. I think after all Blair was truly afraid to see US troops in Dover. Bush does not doing well and under his hands is the most powerful warm machine in human history. We, rest, must really try to gather, stop disputes and protect each other.

Do you think he feels well about it? I do not think. Abbas went with a flow and for decades Palestinian flow was just violence, grab what you can tomorrow is a new day ? Mr. Arafat?s fortune is still out of reach Palestinian people. I see now Abbas as mature man who knows all dreams can become true if you think even for 10 years is a new day not just tomorrow.

Yes I get it delivered each month.it is a very good magazine that blends "populism" with a serious degree of academic standards.Hershel Shanks really opened the whole field up to the public.yes cancel my subscription is a good indication of the frenzies so many go into at the mere suggestion of this topic. if you dont mind me saying mark, your posts used to be evry good and insightful and rational and balanced, but recently I find you are really of the deep end sometimes and have adopted a rather blinkered view.I dont mean that in a hostile way, just as an observation.Your comments about Gaza as the warsaw ghetto were a bit far out.I hope to see a return to your former style and substance.Regards

Since all my articulate posts aren't making it I'll try something basic and anti-semitic.

If israel keeps claiming that fighting is a way to get land then why shouldn't the Palestinians keep sending suicide bombers to fight to get it back. I like the other story about how GOD gave you the land. That one at least makes me laugh.

The Palestinian myth...what a maroon. How do you explain all the people in Gaza and the WEst Bank that are being killed, tortured , or arrested?? They snuck into israel in the middle of the night amongst all the indigenous jews?? Israel is the myth. Jews came from all over the place where they were not wanted(surprise) and landed where the Palestinians already were. I think you "mythed" the point.

Yes Paul there must be no return to Munich. Munich legitimised "Lebensraum" and gave political rights to one racial group at the expense of another. Munich legitimised ethnic cleansing. So Paul, if we are to learn the lesson of Munich and there is to be a unified state of Israel and Palestine, then ALL people living there have to be given the vote,both Jews and Arabs.

Too bad. Casper the friendly ghost gave it back to the Palestinians. So if you want to bring your GOD and Casper to discuss it they can work it out

won't talk to Haniyeh. WHY? He isn't a terrorist and he is the democratically elected leader of the opposition. How can you make peace if you don't talk to the other side? Abbastein is more jewish than Olmert. And asking Hamas to acept past agreements that israel continues to violate is absurd.

Well read, I suggest you keep on reading, maybe something that represents another point of view, if you can stomach that. So you have came to the conclusion that Palestine and Palestinians did not exist before the 20th century...so where may I ask did we all come from? I mean there can't have been 5 million peoople who just appeared in that location one day...who did the zionists drive out in the creation of the sate of Israel? Maybe you should read about that..I'll tell you what is a myth...that there is a little book that tells of the right of some to destroy anything in their path in the hopes of living out its prophecy...that is the myth you have been feeding the world.

"Olmert will be able to claim there was no relation to Shalit, and the Egyptians will keep quiet. Neither wants Hamas to gain a victory. They will cooperate." - Ben Gurion I hope you are right. But are you not giving Olmert too much credit for intelligent actions?

"I've said in the past that we'd be willing to make a goodwill gesture to Abu Mazen [Abbas] and even planned to free prisoners" - Olmert Israel is more reluctant to exchange prisoners for Shalit (held by Hamas) than for the Hizballah captives. After all, the Palestinians need to be completely subdued, so don't give them victory. It is a bad mindset; difficult to see a principled reason behind the distinction between Hamas and Hizballah. So here is a way to make things look good and still make progress: 1. Israel agrees to an exchange of Shalit for prisoners (via Egyptian mediation). It should be staged, Shalit released first and prisoners a few days later. 2. Olmert meets Abbas a few days after Shalit's release. As a gesture of good will, Olmert announces he is releasing Palestinian prisoners, some before the meeting and some after. Olmert will be able to claim there was no relation to Shalit, and the Egyptians will keep quiet. Neither wants Hamas to gain a victory. They will cooperate.

Asking then both sides: Palestinian myth? Then, Israeli myth?

Danite, Do you read Biblical Archaeology Review? That magazine was founded by Hershel Shanks. It is a Puckish Journal located at the intersection of Archaeology and Bible Studies. It is often the scene of major (and louod) collisions between the two. Shanks performed an outstanding service to scholarship when he dynamited the "Dead Sea Scrolls" Log Jam by publishing a concordance and reconstruction that finally forced the men who were working on them to publish their work. For a hoot, check out Shanks's book "Cancel My Subscription."

poor folks are scavenging the rubbish dumps, gaza under seige, humanitarian crisis. Wasn't it two momths ago that they declared they only have 3 days food and water? Horror of horrors how can such a situation be allowed to continue? Help and aid is of utmost urgency. Any minute now the world is going to turn around and look at gaza with new eyes. yeah right. The fact that it's a self-imposed seige, the fact that the arabs have a very easy way out of the seige has not been lost on anybody but the arabs. The arabs hold what they feel is a Trump card, of course, there nabbing of this card is what precipitated the seige is all but forgotten. Just another page in the arab policy of entanglement, hit Israel and then cry out to the world at the consequences.mmmmm the tears get wiped away so quickly and are replaced with laughter and joy, firing into the air and candies all around if there is a prisoner exchange. Begin executing the prisoners.

The First Poodle has a boyish smile on his face. Olmert has a satisfied look. I wonder if the First Poodle gave him one of his famous Bush Jobs?

Blair and Bush are Olmert are all two faced. They are the real axis of evil today in the world today. They have caused more harm and killed more innocent people than Al Queada or any other terrorist group to- date with their 21st century warfare. Did anyone see the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon wage a war against anyone? Yet they declared war on all those innocent people. What a bunch of war criminals. They all should be tried at the Hague for crimes against humanity. History will not let them off the hook nor will their innocent victims. Their stories will be recorded and their falsehoods exposed. They will shame the world and us for allowing their deceit to occur. Dutch

This whole sorry affair is only hurting the palestinian people - The militants shoud release Israel's solider and be done with it. What good will come of holding him. The palestinians should not look to the USA or the UK for help or support as they are clearly in the bag for Israel. They need to make their own way with the constructive help and support of the Arab world for money and suppoty - not terrorism. Israel has a racist blood running through its veins. They clearly hate the Palestinians and Arab peoples and wants them eliminated. All the money and US support will never accomplish this - the demographics are clearly in favor of the palestinians and arabs. Israel is in a state of ruin and self destruction and has lost its moral authority and standing in the world. If the palestinians really want to rally the world they need to start showing maturity - if the solider is freed it will further expose israel for what it really is.

why does the world have to pay the salaries of the pals anyhow.if they would have invested some of the moneies given to them into something other than weapons for destroying israel,maybe they could have built a functioning society,and all you pal supporters dont blame israel for all your woes,when in fact their to blame also.when you support a man"arafat"unconditionally,when in fact he has stolen billions from his people,says a lot about the mentality of middle eastern countries.then they elect a group,whoes members have comitted horiffic terrorist acts against israel.the pals are not the only muslims whoes leaders are intune to only their own selfish agenda,instead of whats good for their people.why dont u guys take your countries back,quit being so 7th century,and join the rest of the world,and quit looking for a hand out!

Wishful thinking... Blair learns of more videos and tapes from Foster before the items below. Blair converts officially to Judeo-Zionism. Or Cherie to Islam. Blair eats the same substance that poisoned Arafat. Blair gets the same 'accidental' end of so many British citizens and peace protesters at the hands of the IDF.

blairs delusions have undermined himself and his country. the israelis only listen to the americans, and what credence blair had with the arabs in general and the palestinians in particular, is severly eroded. he'd be better off going for a holiday to chequers.but some people cant see the writing on the wall.

PM. Blair will be vindicated for his support of Israel. The world will soon notice that only by supporting Israel will peace assert itself and bring harmony, to an otherwise unstable rocky world.

Haniyeh is right about the onesidedness,only problem it was not on his side.

"How often do You normally travel to Gaza, or the west bank,or Israel for that matter?" (you) "....Israel should talk to the leaders of Hamas, fairly and democratically elected by the Palestinian people." (Clickfool) I'm far from defending Clickfool, a defender of democratically elected Israel-haters, suicide bombers, qassam-shooters, and I would dearly like to extend his sentiments to some kind of humanism that includes the Israelis. But I wonder if the fact that I and maybe Clickfool also don't have the money to fly around in the middle east, is a reason to cast us from the talkback (if needed, Haaretz does that by itself). From a historical point of view, it's impossible to separate Israel from English history and in a darker way from German history. But the evil wanted that German culture exists and although it hurts, Germany is no altogether weak country and must be included in your calculation. It's a point for Clickfool that he reads Haaretz. How many like-minded don't?

Isn't this great? Progress at last! Selah! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=404132&in_page_id=1770

Quote " European Union list Hamas as a terrorist organization and have boycotted its government since it took power in March. " Terror Hamas is no different from Terror Hezbollah , they both have Governenment's represntatives , they Don't recognize Israel ' they reserve the Right to Attack Israel under Any Excuse . They both Launch rockets at Israel civilans population and Infrastructure to force Israel to give lands that it is not theirs , Shabaa Farms is under Syria UN registry , Gaza and west bank belong to Israel Following Peace Treaty with Egypt and Jordan. They Force Prisonners Exchange for terrorist Sentenced for their Crimes , they both have tunnels and Bunkers for their terrorist Agenda., they both have Terrerists States Sponsors, the recorded list of terror goes on and on .... Flagrant Europe's Double Standard to benefactor Terror Hezbollah and their terrorists sponsors states.

Reading this article, I would say that I don't think we would see any peace in the middleeast, at least in the next 10 years. Israel is dictating to every one and that's not the road to peace. The road to peace is negotiations and definitely with the enemy not with the friends.

He should.

A group of cylists have travelled through many countries in the name of peace. They were welcomed everywhere, but when they tried to enter the West Bank and Jenin, the Israeli's refused to allow them in. The standoff continues and maybe it will last until tomorrow when Mr Blair might have it for breakfast, as the British Consulate in East Jerusalem has been asked to intervene. Does this very familiar type of Israeli reaction have a ring of peace about it? Of course not! Blair has been deemed persona not grata by the people of Ramallah, so I hope they are able to make their voices heard if he persists in visiting Ramallah although he is not welcome!

It is a mistake to assume that talking to Palestinians in a stressed stituation will make them more compliant. Gaza is worse than it has ever been. Prominent UK newspapers - the Guardian, Times and Independent have all run horrifying articles about the situation this week - the fact that Gaza is completely sealed on all sides, or that people are now scavanging the rubbish dumps. Perhaps Livni is more astute than her colleagues. Maybe she realises that any minute now the world is going to turn around and look at Gaza with new eyes.

Yes I agree Israel must adopt more realistic postions vis a vis the end game with the palestinians and the Palestinians have got to get their s..t together.How can anybody negotiate with an entity whos ruling party has its own militia and pursues its party based foreign policy while it claims to pursue the govts policies.It is absurd.As for the book, my pleasure "Ancient Israel,revised and expanded,edited by hershel shanks.You can find on Amazon.You will really like it,it is real quality work.Regards PS I also read the book Ceasars Legion very good one too.

So is Condi Rice. Bet they wouldn't be alone with President Katsav! Selah!

How often do You normally travel to Gaza, or the west bank,or Israel for that matter? Since You are such an expert on the the way people live in those regions

It looks like Ms. Livni is getting bored. Perhaps she should occupy her time getting a tutor who can teach her some English. She may then be able to understand what is being said to her.

Hi Danite, If this post makes it up, it will be the first to you from me that I've seen since your hiatus. I've tried several times but my timing was poor, I guess. I give no free passes to either the PA or Israeli governments. The PA government is at best disfunctional. It has no common positions yet that I am aware of. The fact that Meshal, unelected, can negate any effort by an elected official is intolerable and must be dealt with by Haniya or Abbas, soon. The PA problems mirror many of the problems the Lebanese have, a weak to ineffective central government, no coherent army or law enforcement mechanism, and multiple militias. As with the Lebanese, they have to find a way to achieve unity so that any deal they purport to make is accepted by a supermajority of the Palestinian people. On another note, I lost the name of the other book/author (history of ancient Israel). I hope you would not mind providing it again. I really did get alot out of Halpern's book.

The right hand and the left hand - I think you had them backwards. The upshot of it is this. Livni gets headlines and no negotiations occur.

I think Tzipi Livni is not right to turn down the proposition the Lavrov for an international conference on peace. Now our hopes are focussed on Tony Blair, who at the end of his reign will come with a far reaching peace proposition: Starting with a correct financial compensation to each Palestinian family that was expelled in a unlawfull way from their properties in 1948. He thinks about sum in the order of $100,000 per family. He thinks that peace between Israel and Palestina including unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank will be obtained easely . The money involved is brought up by various sources: the strongly reduced IDF budget, money coming from American jews, money collected as compensation for the WWII atrocities, etc. Blair does this because he dont want to enter the history books as a liar. Indeed such an exceptional step makes that honest Tony will become the last in the Nobel Peace price series: Menahem Begin, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin and Tony Blair. Its almost inbelievable!

Is their anything the palestinians could be doing to help things along, or do the eternal victims of Zionism get a free pass to do whatever the hell it is they want to do no questions asked, no consequences engendered.

Yeah, right. Deal now with Palestinians who will never be satisfied until Israel has been destroyed. Livni is a fool among fools. Damn, I wish the whole bunch of crooks and/or nitwits would leave the scene.

Ben, Arabs call for international conferences not for negotiations but for PR and to impose conditions that are unacceptable. I dispute, obviously, your fundamental perspective that Arabs who call for international conferences involving their European, Russian, and, who knows, Iranian allies are looking for mutual exchanges--for me, Israel does not have a sufficient margin of error to accept outcomes that are considered unacceptable from the beginning. For me, yes, Arabs are required to discuss accommodations outside of territorial retreat by Israeli Jews--Arab and Islamic propaganda explicitly demands territorial concessions to reverse "Judaized" territories (PA spokespeople use this Nazi-origin term freely, as in "Israel wishes to Judaize Jerusalem"--a monstrous public relations catchphrase that means *exactly* what it seems to mean) and I have no remorse over calling the Judenrein spade what it is. This must not occur.

THE RIGHT HAND LIVNI: There should be no conditions set down for a meeting with Abbas. THE LEFT HAND PERES: The meeting with Abbas must be on the condition that Shalit must first be released. This is a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. Heaven help Israel.

Mr Freedman, You are already laying down conditions of negociations and presuming the outcome at the same time. And I am surprised you use explosive expressions like Judenrein. Moreover, making peace is a human process following different rules!! And negotiations can only be succesfull when - in the right mindset -both parties are taking the other party seriously. Only than the outcome might result in mutually acceptable conditions and thus creating a lasting peace.

Why not just concede everything at once and get it over with already?

Does anyone realize that there is no consensus within this government about anything- let alone vital interests of the state? Tzipi, should we talk to the PA before or after we give them 800 prisoners? Shimon, should they release Gilad Shalit before or after Ehud meets with them? Ehud, should we just do nothing about anything while you contemplate what to do? No wonder your children abandoned Israel.

The Palestinians have no illusions about Israel making a serious peace effort. They go through the motions occassionally as if throwing a bone to the Americans and Europeans. There is always a list of preconditions to even begin the talk and always a reason to reject the proceedings and break off talks. Israel is in no hurry to have an independent Palestinian state next door. Peace will not come until there is an American president with enough chutzpah to whack the Israeli PM on the seat until he gets serious with all those American tax dollars on the table for a bargaining chip.

Even if he truly wanted to make peace with the Palestinians, Mr. Olmert will be too paralized. He will be too afraid to give to much and alienated the Israelis especially after his debacle in Lebanon, or giving too little look as the one who is the obstacle to peace.

Action is much more expensive.

"With all it conditions and preconditions, is anybody in Kadima willing to engage anybody seriously on peace?" - Mark of Lewiston The only "piece" the Likud and Kadima are interested in is more pieces of the west bank turned into settlements. Livni is just making pretty talk so Olmert can glad-hand the First Poodle and give him the bum's rush.

Miss "Must", as in "Nasrallah must realease..." "The Iranians must realize..." "The Syrians must understand..." "Hizbollah must disarm..." .... is changing her tune. Her new theme is timekeeper. "It's time for... blah blah blah". And speaking of "time", when she was on the Charlie Rose Show in NYC she answered about 6 questions with "It's too early to tell, Charlie. We have to wait and see". He then asked another question. And to her dimpled smile, he smilingly answered his own question with her catch phrase, …”it’s too early to tell…”. I guess now she thinks it TIME. She’s right, “its time” when this intern of Foreign Affairs “must” step down.

Who was hiding the Militants and their Rockets, Can you please explain how can a katioucha be used next to a carton house or Building, Or please show us where are the Katiousha Bases which were hit next to the Bodys of Children in KANaa, you are pathetic and if you want number well these are number Israel 140 Killed 75% IDF Lebanese 1400 Killed 95% Civilians When u did hit a target it was not By Accident Neither did we

to go home --to the PLO/Hamas areas --that is where they all belong. Peace process , like no other you have seen before, and Blair is there to establish command. Why they are trying so hard to appease PLO criminals is beyond everybody. But one thing is sure,not for the sake of Israel. Solution will come in October,where the bunch of Israeli government crazies will be hopefully removed .We don`t know what will come instead ,but something else is better than what you see from the present idiots.Continue to listen to Blair ,and have him sell gaz that belongs to Israel to Israel and the rest of PLO crap to Israelis.The only thing that obvious is slow demise of Israel and its soverehnity, that this government accelerated like a timed device that doubled its speed.

It doesnot means that Israel must agree to all the Palestinians demands, but it is always better to fight around a table than in the street. Israel will also gain on reinforcing Abbas against the Hamas leaders. And may be, after very long negotiations, we will be able to compromise and to reach a peace agreement.

Nothing compared to your nose in Nasrallah's

Ben, unfortunately territorial concessions do not work. In our work lives we often come across problems when processes or applications that should work according to the manual just don't and this is one. If the Arab populations that are Israel's neighbors wish to discuss peaceful co-existence the basis will have to be something other than Israeli territorial withdrawal. A Judenrein Palestine is only a prelude to a Judenrein Israel and Israel has wasted enough time negotiating over one state for the Palestinians and a second state called Israel that, voila, turns out to be for the Palestinians too. There are peaceful arrangements other than partition to be discussed--perhaps another war will intervene.

crudity of thought--the passe ironiccolloquialism of your contempt is not earned by the paucity of thought behind it.

clowns and buffoons

....Israel should talk to the leaders of Hamas, fairly and democratically elected by the Palestinian people.

Can you count the contradictions in the following statement? "Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Friday it was time Israel talked to the Palestinians, adding no conditions should be put on meeting President Mahmoud Abbas. But Tzipi Livni said that unless militants in the Gaza Strip freed Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, the moderate Abbas should expect nothing from talks."

"Not much room to negociate.." It depends. If you listen selectively, you apparently have your reasons stick to your convictions. But than you don't hear the moderates. From Palestinian side as well as the Arab world. Peace ouvertures from the Arab States are being made occasionally. So Israel, why not take a calculated risk. To-day you can efford it. To-morrow the world might be much different. Perhaps Iran having its own nuclear deterrant. Or worse..

Get these Idiots out of OFFICE now. Do we really want another 1938 Munich. Where is the investigations into this goverment?

The answer that we would all like Ehud Olmet to give Blair if he starts ACTING as if he knows best is: 'KISH MIR IN TUCHAS,TONY'. It is about time someone did.

If the Lebanese had not allowed Hezbollah militants to hide in their houses, then Lebanese homes would not have had to be targeted. You cry because Israel killed 1400 Lebanese people wihout considering how many Israeli people you might have killed if your armament were competent and effective. When you DID hit a target, it was entirely by accident.

Well, now, if Israel did that to you, she'd be demanding that all Muslims convert to Judaism, that there be NO improvement ever in the lives of women and children, and that an entire people live as folks did back in the stone age. That seems to be how most middle-east dictators want their people to live. Israel, on the other hand, is busy building up what little land she has, is building cities and aquaducts and hospitals and schools. By all means, let's judge both countries by their conduct. And don't use as an excuse that Israel has bombed all your improvement back to the stone ages.... you've done the same thing to Israel and she still manages to survive and prosper because she is a democracy and can make use of the talents of ALL her people.

I have to laugh when someone accuses Israel of having a double standard. Palestinians send in suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices into Israel every day, killing off innocent men, women, and children - and then they cry when Israel happens to hit a house where a family is harboring a known terrorist and the family members are killed or wounded. Let Palestine stop sending bombs tied to people's bodies or planted in Israeli soil, and Israel maybe will stop trying to kill terrorists

Once again the Israeli "leadership" has refused to talk peace unless it is entirely on theirs and their U.S. counterparts terms. No to any international input that is not in their favour. When will the majority of the population see that this government can only offer more violence and unrest and the resulting insecurity. This last war should signal that now is the time for change.

A bit difficult to better themselves, Clickfool, when they live in a prison surrounded by guards determined that they won`t be any sort of economic (let alone military) threat to Israel? Well, that makes sense. But self-improvement is even more difficult when you're surrounded by enemies determined that you won't even exist, and Israel keeps trying to better itself in spite of its enemies.

Ben, what "real vital rights" do Palestinians think Israel has? And what "essential rights" is Israel in a position to grant to Palestinians? When one side of an dispute (the PAlestinans) will never want peace until the other side (Israel) is destroyed, there's not much room for negotiation, is there?

Since the Palstine Authority and Hamas and Hezbollah are well known for not keeping their word, why does Annan keep on giving them chances to do it again? When you know someone is going to steal the cookies, you don't hand him the cookie jar!

Ah, if you think peace can be won by Israel continuing to concede land to Palestinians, you've got another think coming. Israel won the land fairly in a fight it didn't start - and is entitled therefore to keep it. Giving back part of Gaza was a big, big, mistake, and I think Olmert is seeing that now.

I agree. Israel should make no more concessions whatsoever until Hamas and Hezbollah make concessions of their own. Israel has given up land and gotten even more suicide bombers. What Israel needs to do is get itself a Public Relations team that is at least as effective as Palestine's or Hezbollah's so that the world can see just who is doing what to whom and why.

Mr Freedman, A pity your comments are predictable. The brazen language is basically the same language used by official Israeli channels. Onfortunately your country has virtually no hope of celebrating its 60th birthday in peace. And if Israel is not willing to weigh its real vital rights versus the essential rights Palestinians have, and search in all sincerely for a just and mutually acceptable solution, peace will not be on the agenda for a long time. Somehow you have to come to terms with your adversaries. If you persist and follow your present agenda, you will sooner or later notice the inadequacies of you to-day's policies based on fences,your militairy capabilities and your friend(s) abroad, if you have not already. We have seen enough of Israel showing its balls. It's time for Israel to demonstrate its positive contribution to the region. May-be, may-be peace is at hand...

Quote " IMMORAL DOUBLE STANDARD POLICY??? " Your Standard Justice is double Dark. As for your Grieviance , your Terror Hezbollah representatives in Lebanon Governenment is seeking to it . Enjoy Haaretz Freedom Talckbak.

Quote " Far better for the Palestinians to provide cheap labour and a market for Israeli products, don`t you think? " . Israel will take Clickfool Idea and put Suicidal Palestinians Terrorists to be in charge of Israel Security along the Separation Wall while their civilians supporters working in the field sneak some homemade rockets to the the other side. the same goes for terror Hezbollah at the northern border.

Am disappointed about those world leaders who are rewarding Olmert for his responsibility in killing more than 1400 lebanese civilians. The first thing should be to transmit the last war file to the International Criminal Court and tell us who are the responsibles about that genocide, then to have some change in the Israelian government where we can see people with whom we can think about truce or maybe peace talks. If media only shows us those politicians each one in his castle, enjoying meeting others on behalf of our feelings, we are suffering civilians killed and tortured by stupid armies and politics. Who will hear us. A Lebanese...

I will deal with you according to your conduct, and by your own standards I will judge you!!

Look at this: Haaretz( Hezbollah: We won`t return soldiers unless TERRORIST Samir Kuntar is freed (Israel Radio). Sheesh, Haaretz likes to change Hezboallahs statement, Hezboallah wont ever call Samir Kuntar a TERRORIST. By the way, Isnt the Israeli goverment a TERRORIST one?? What about the thousands of palestinian civilians detainees/prisoners not convicted who were ILLEGALY detained in Israelis jails? You can find among those prisoners KIDS and PREGNANT women. Do you ever think about them and about their Families who are suffering?? They dont know anything about them, They have no right to visit them. How can someone repsect a state like Israel with its IMMORAL DOUBLE STANDARD POLICY???

A bit difficult, One Star, when you live in a prison surrounded by guards determined that you won't be any sort of economic (let alone military) threat to Israel. Far better for the Palestinians to provide cheap labour and a market for Israeli products, don't you think?

Well spoken! Israel, SAY NO to appeasement and Neville Chamberlain-style 'Peace in our time.'

Bush conned Blair into supporting the Iraq War with a firm promise that he would make Israel stick to the Road Map. Then he conveniently forgot his promise. Blair could, at any time, make Bush abide by it by threatening to withdraw British troops from Iraq, and meaning it. He won't. He's got his nose so far up Bush's arse that he'll have to be detached by a crowbar under general anaesthetic when his term of office as PM comes to an end.

what do you think he will do to Bush`s lap dog? Probably Olmert's staff would tell Blair to take a bath first before have a meeting with HIS MAJESTY.

Why should anybody else?

Ouch! So, now we get a lot of hot air from the politicians which doesn't go anywhere. That's just great! What are PMs Tony Blair and Ehud Olmert going to do anyway? Shake hands and smile for the cameras? That's typical. And what are the Russians doing sticking their nose into somebody else's business? Does anyone know how I can become an international diplomat with a six-figure salary? I'm afraid that I majored in mathematics not in political science, but even a baboon could do a better job of it. How long do we have to put up with these (explatives deleted) jerks?

Was there ever a Palestinian country? Is there a Palestinian language? According to Yasser Arafat, the most famous Palestinian, Jesus was in fact "the first Palestinian". How did Yasser Arafat accumulate more than a billion US dollars in his personal bank accounts? What is the big secret to his cause of death? Arafat claims to have been born in Palestine, but in fact he was born in Cairo on August 24, 1929. Arafat was a major player in promoting the Palestinian myth. I encourage you to read the history; the Palestinian myth was created in the early part of the 20th century.

tlks are always on the agenda, but when was the last time they actually happened? I doubt that Olmert or any other former Likudnik will ever arrive at more than a photo op. With all it conditions and preconditions, is anybody in Kadima willing to engage anybody seriously on peace? Is it in their nature?

I have been watching the British news all week and Tony Blair's party want him to resign, he thinks if he can get Israel to give Jewish land to terrorists heathens he will have more success back in Britain. Both Blair & Bush are not G-d neither is Olmert. This land was given to the Jewish people forever. Look and see what happens when we give land away. Gaza and Northern Shomron have become like Lebanon. Israelis do not want rockets landing in Tel Aviv and Natanya from the Shomron. The whole country has changed. People understand that Israel is tooooooo small to give land away. Jordan is Palestine and all efforts to re-home these people must take place.

This is Blair's desperate attempts to save his personal legacies in the middle of total failures of his government's Middle East policies. It would be too little too late. YOU ARE NOTHING FROM NOW ON, BLAIR (WELL, SINCE YESTERDAY).

He has no backbone to be leader. If he really thinks keeping the Sheba Farm and continue the occupation of Gaza and West Bank will make Israel strong and bring peace to its people? then I must say peace will not come to this region until Israel is completely defeated and imposed the settlement on it by International community.

Quote " Olmert spoke about the Shaba Farms and said, "if it is decided that the area is Lebanese, not Syrian as the UN secretary general said in the past, and if Lebanon implements resolutions 1559 and 1701 fully, including disarming Hezbollah, we'll agree to discuss it." . Shabaa farms are under Syria UN registry therefore Annan UNSG is irresponsible to say otherwise as he said in the past or believe any word from syria as he does now from Syria statements of an arm embargo to terror hezbollah. Quote " He repeated his offer to meet his Lebanese colleague, Fuad Siniora and "discuss all the issue with him." Such as FM minister's Siniora's governement threatening the use of force to break the blockade while not disarming with this force terror hezbollah or the immediate and unconditional release of the 2 soldiers as he accepted the UN resolution # 1701 during the war and backing off from this agreement after the war . Quote " As long as there's terror,there can be no political progress

Quote " Olmert,... . We are ready to conduct a dialogue [with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas] but only on the basis of the Road Map.... As long as there's terror, there can be no political progress," Olmert said.". It is not Reasonable to conduct talks with Abbas when he is not in control of his own chief security ( force 17 ) arrested this week on charges of terror . Liability , Accountability is a prevalent factor in a responsable context . Any talks on foreign troops is out of question , better is a path in education against acts of violence or unlawfull use of force when in disagreement .

George sent the First Poodle to tell Olmert to talk to the PA. If Olmert craps on Bush, what do you think he will do to Bush's lap dog?

The current government cannot be permitted to offer up Israel for dismemberment in order to appease the nations of the world in a reprise of Munich. If the Arabs wished to discuss peace they would have offered terms that were not liquidation of Israel in political principle and in practical stages. Their present demands and their plans to impose them on Israel in an international forum dominated by their friends and supporters, who have amply demonstrated their brazen hypocrisy in arming Hezbollah and Iran's nuclear technology. At this time, more than ever, Israel must speak with a clear and united voice with one central and unequivocal principle: no negotiations over territorial concession at all. Israel will discuss cooperation with friendly Arab populations on the ground, but has placed a fence around its core rights of national survival: no further surrender of vital Israeli rights in exchange for the worthless paper promises of the broken and corrupted princes and principalities.