Palestinian official: Still not ready for direct talks with Israel

Allowing that means that the only sensible policy for Israel to pursue is to ensure that the talks fail. Because the longer they can delay a final agreement then the more entrenched will by the Israeli "facts on the ground". That is a much better result for Israel than any agreement, and so that is the sensible policy for them to pursue. But if you freeze construction and you tell the Israelis that it won't thaw until an agreement is reached, well, that changes the dynamic completely as far as the ISRAELIS are concerned.... The latter is therefore the only sensible option for the Americans, and relenting on that demand simply dooms the talks.

The Palestinian official is waiting for Yasser Arafat to call in for a conference call.

...it's still in force. The PLO recognized Israel years ago. In other words, it's a dead issue. A non-starter. It's just a magical incantation dreamt up by the Bibi administration to drag out a settlement as always. On the other hand, the Likud Charter reads just like the Hamas Charter. Learn the material before spouting off.

Is it just possible that the (right wing) Israeli majority and the (Jewish) Diaspora have been correct all along...??? While Israel is certainly not (entirely)perfect, it is (quickly) becoming obvious that the Palestinians are not (currently) interested in peace...:) At least that is my (current) observation...:)

Pals dont want peace? Pals want to destroy Israel? Not if you care to pay attention. Even Hamas has said that they will accept a Palestinian state within pre-67 borders. Funny, no mentions of that from posters! Israel wants peace only if it means they can have all of Jerusalem, continue to raid the West Bank, keep all their settlements, take more land from the Palestinians, take over Hebron, kick the Israeli-Arab citizens out of Israel (or force them to go with the many discriminatory practices there), etc. Does that mean they want peace?

Israel do not won't peace. Israels want to have an low intens conflict. In this way Israel can continue it's settlements with less critics from the world.

the bedouins are waiting for their shia brothers in iran to push the button, but these fools dont get it they will be nukeing there SO-CALLED Pal/bedouin brothers as well as a holy site to islam the blue dome? Is there any end to their MADDNESS. After the nuke fallout how long must the bedouins wait until they loot the WHOLE country? This is rational thinking right. PEOPLE PLEASE PULL your heads OUT of the sand. To M. Deagan Please have Bibi do the RIGHTOUS THING NOW Chales/SHALOM

Mitchell should be demanding, not requesting that both sides provide him with maps of the proposed borders so he and Clinton and Obama can start to fix a bridging proposal on borders. That should include resources like water and a chunnel-like structure to connect the West bank contiguous area to Gaza. And if Israel proposes to keep places like Ariel, they should propose a chunnel-like structure to connect it to Israel, with a 50 meter wall at the border of the city (no farmland). Time to get 'er done!

Israel needs direct talks with palestinians about as much as a fish needs a bicycle. Not that such talks would be a problem, as long as Bibi is in charge, but israeli/palestinian peace talks are just a waste of time. Better to keep the obamites busy pretending to be intermediaries. Meantime, Bibi needs to work on closer relationships with the Russian Empire, since it is the only long term alternative to the Iranian Empire as the dominant power in the region.

Not in my lifetime, that is for certain.

We will be ready for peace talks in 3009.

so repetitive:the parties refuse to talk until they each yield to the other's requests, and nothing happens. so, again, we have to go to psychology to try and understand the benefit they are both getting by NOT talking. and the answer is they can sustain their illusions: the Israelis entertain the fantasy of endless settlement, even tho they returned sinai and gaza, and no doubt will have to evacuate many of the settlements they now deem permanent. and the Palestinians adhere to an absolutist vision that they are a people capable of governing themselves, even as they are in a civil war with each other. neither egypt or jordan wanted palestinians, and for a reason. for both israelis and palestinians to negotiate they each must surrender their favorite unrealistic fantaies, and they are not ready to do that. the dream is often better than the reality, ask any drug or soap opera addict. the folly continues until there is a mutual wake up call and concessions........................

is that the Palestinians don't want peace! Their refusal to recognize the State of Israel continues to be at the forefront, regardless of their numerous excuses. Their charter still refers to Israel as a "criminal Zionist entity that needs to be destroyed." They still attack any notion of compromise (hence the term negotiations) with a constant set of preconditions that reflect the dictates of their charter - ie: the end of the State of Israel! Israel must finally come to terms and unilaterally declare an end to this fiasco, withdraw to secure lines (since the Palestinians won't talk, unilateral definition), and end all exchanges, including trade, employment, infrastructure, and health and education!