Time for Israel to take risks for peace

The PA is weak and appears on the brink of collapse. In light of the changes in the region and the results of Pillar of Defense, the US and Israel should face facts and recognize that Hamas is not going away. However, both countries can still work to limit Hamas' influence. The US and Israel could undermine Hamas and bolster the PA by supporting Abbas' UN bid. As it stands, Hamas' position of strength vis-a-vis the PA means they have no reason to seek reconciliation with the PA/Fatah. If trends continue, Abbas and the current PA will collapse and Hamas will be the defacto Palestinian government. The best hope to save the PA is to provide them the boost that would allow them to negotiate with Hamas in forming a unity government. UN recognition would provide the necessary boost to the PA and would preserve a fair degree of moderation in a unified Palestinian Authority. However repulsive, the US and Israel need to recognize the new dynamics and players in the region. The sooner they do so, the better they will be able to adjust.

the article above by douglas is the frst real truth told i have heard if the violence is to be ended isreal must end its occapation now give all its lands back to the palistinians then the rockets will end all this is causng resentment among the moslems even more every day to the jewish people all this violence will never end thousands more will be killed on both sides for truly to end this justice should done without justice it will never

no risks should be taken for peace.Hamas is a bloody organisation lynching their people and hauling their bodies behind motorcycles in the streets of gaza.The british establishment is no friend of Israel and its media arm is viciously biased against the idf.We had to listen to this tripe in Northern Ireland from Blair et al now we have killers in a gvt that is so undemocratic that has no opposition and choice for decent people.This Scot should keep his nose out of Israel`s affairs and spend his time trying to extract our poor troops from the mess which Afghanistan

Its much closer than people think. Time to get my house in order because God will have no mercy on Israel's enemies

Go ahead and give Palestinians a state. Then, when they continue their attacks against Israel they can suffer the full consequences of their actions because nobody at the UN can then deny that a member nation has attacked another member nation. Unfortunately, this situation will likely take political AND military solutions before any kind of armistice can happen...wishing for just a political solutions seems like burying one's head in the sand, to me.

Biased as usual, another reason why i will not be voting for our shadow foreign secretary, I doubt he even bothered to see the state of 'schools' on the Palestinian side of the wire or if they even have any, let alone any protection from the 105mm artillery shells that were being constantly fired into highly concentrated urban space this week by the heroic Israeli military. Any one will tell you that shelling a civilian area with 105 shells is something truly barbaric - you cannot be sure of accuracy with artillery and into a built up area... words fail me. Why doesn't our honorary member of parliament look into the reasons why the these people are fighting? Could it be because Israel's government controls their electricity, water and gas - frequently cut off for days and how they keep the people in a virtual concentration camp, no employment and horrendous sanitation - if they treat people like animal are they really surprised if they act like them and fight back in any way they can? I really don't think the average Israeli even looks on a Palestinian as even human. Its disgusting and even more disgusting that the media don't say it as it is. A political solution is the answer but this must be forced upon Israel by America withholding the funding with which the entire Israeli economy is underpinned until UN recommendations are implemented.

Perhaps the IDF can uproot another quarter million Jews from their homes (like they did in Gush Katif) and surrender even more land to terrorists firing rockets into civilian population centers!

Have Jews not learnt anything?

The truth of the matter is, in order for there to be long term peace, the people of Gaza need to be empowered, hope given, and find something to do for the 60% unemployed youth.. Hamas must stop firing the rockets and Israel must stop the settlements...

The world has neglected to press Israel to accept the 2002 Arab League Peace, the only just, right, and possible solution. This all must be acknowledged, and changed.

Israel took a risk for peace by withdrawing from Gaza. In return, it go Hamastan and 12000 rockets. This kind of article is scary because it makes clear that the British Foreign Secretary's Office has no idea what it is talking about.