Abbas wants negotiations with Israelis, but not with Netanyahu

So the detailed maps with proposed borders, offer to put international force on the Palestinian side to address Israeli security, appeals to the Israeli public for a two state solution..... .....all of that, is "not real" ?

It neither rejects the Arab Plan nor accepts it i.e. Israel merely pretends that it doesn't notice that document that is sitting there on the table....

We can create a palestinian state but its never going to be seriously viable land shortage - 22% mandate Palestine ( 5800km ) and growing population, shortage of recources, and a large chunk of the population are never going to accept any deal. Hamas say that they intend to liberate all Palestine ( Israel ) so violence will continue, what happens when palestinians start saying to themselves we were cheated and got a bad deal here we demand more and will start an intefada until Israel gives us more the conflict will never end. Abbas doesn't have the capability to end this. He doesn't speak for all the palestinians they are divided in opinion, then look at the issues. Boorders, settlements, Jerusalem, refugees, recources, travel. Its all very easy for the palestinians to say we want this but its not so easy for Israel to deliver and if Obama & Abbas think that the whole thing can be worked out before 2012 then they are deluding themselves there is no unilateral agreement on either side. Abbas doesn't speak for everybody and the Israeli government ( right or left ) can only make so many gestures before the coalition falls and then its new elections, new coalitions which include all the same faces and same issues and the government may well fall again so this is never going to be as easy as the politicians fantasize about it being and the palestinian state will never be viable in the long term and we probably wont have peace just a state.

English and Hebrew version? Remember that? Face thae fact that for you and those like you nothing would be sufficient in any language.

There's nothing about secure borders in the resolution. It says that both sides have the right to security *within* their own borders. There is however this little trinket, you didn't leave it out on purpose, did you? "Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict"

Actually UNSC 242 in 1967, calls for Israeli withdrawal from the recently occupied territories. It DOES NOT refer to renegotiating borders. In June 2010, In court, the EU advocate-general was even clearer. He said that as a matter of international law, the borders of Israel are defined by the 1947 partition plan for Palestine, and any territories outside the 1947 borders do not form part of the territory of Israel.

Not only Gaza voted for a similar approach. Hamas also got majority in the WB in the last elections. Abbas is just a stooge doing the occupier's dirty job. His tenure expired long ago. His regime is as illegitimate as can be.

Not only Gaza voted for a similar approach. Hamas also got majority in the WB in the last elections. Abbas is just a stooge doing the occupier's dirty job. His tenure expired long ago. His regime is as illegitimate as can be.

Maggie I agree with you however a better idea would be for the Palistinians to get rid of Hamas and Abbas they all top grade liers. My suggestion is to hold a ask their people of the West Bank and Gaza once and for a honest referendum Do they want to destroy Israel or go for a two state solution . For once let the Palestinian population deceide not their so called leaders

and do not miss an opportunity.The alternative is not worth contemplating.Whatever it takes to make peace(and there will be people on both sides who will seek to destroy it), Israel should do.Territory God given(?) or not, can never be as precious as life.Why are we worried about Shalit if this is not so?

of the palestinians. He is a puppet that has been imposed on them as a coalition by Condi Rice and Bush. He cancelled elections last week according to barghouti, because fatah would lose.

There is no scientific basis for the heredity of greed or arrogance. These kinds of comments have no place in discourse, whether against Jews or Palestinians.

This is what Jews have to deal with on a daily basis. I bet you think the Protocols of the Elders of Zion is the source for the history of the Jews.

You just go ahead call me and my family arrogant and racist even though you have never met of spoken to me.

And you don't think arabs, black people have to face racism on a daily basis ? Stop complaining and victimizing for a start ! One makes an absurd comment and you generalize..........that conforts you it seems.

Israel has a prime minister to which Mahmoud Abbas should talk. It is not the journalists who will sign a peace treaty. As long as Mahmoud Abbas is refusing to talk to Netanyahu everything is stuck.

Israel also has a people, who the prime minister is supposed to represent. There is definitely a reason to talk to the people when the PM isn't interested in peace.

abbas is not as friendly as you think. all of these "don't let me lose hope" and "palestinians are losing faith in a two state solution" are veiled threats. there is no hint of compromise on the most important issue - the right of return. if abbas wants to go back to the 1967 borders, including removal of all the settlements, he must say that the palestinians will not settle their people inside israel proper. he is not saying this. this will still be the poison pill in the 'peace' package, and they may try to hide it in as much apple pie as they can, but it is there in the saudi peace plan and it will be there at the end of any negotiations...land for peace does not mean land and refugees for peace. Bibi knows that making a deal with the palestinians now is not in israel's interest.

"Independent" Lebanon and Jordan were created in the 20th century, Palestine could have been created then too. They turned it down because, let's face it, they would have lost homes under such an arrangement anyway, since Israel was also granted independence then. As Abbas seems to acknowledge, it was a bad move, but that can still be rectified. It must be. Israel can't continue to mismanage an entire people. We have all the experience needed to understand how that feels and the catastrophes that such policies can still bring.

Sue, I really can't see the point of arguing that there is no Palestinian people. In the same way your logic could say that there is no American (US) people. What does that matter? There are people living in the Territories under the control of Israel, who have their rights limited by an occupation. What will happen to them? The rest of the world will not allow Israel to exterminate them or force them out.

Clarity , I understand what you are saying . Read what Nobel has to say (No 24) he is 100% correct let the people of the West Bank and Gaza deceide once and for all what do they want . Abbas and Hamas leaders are too weak to reaching a final conclusion. They are a waste if time.

for the creation of a state for a non-ethnic group with no clear case for seld-determination. And Jews, being peace-loving people, are actually considering this (something which nobody else on earth would do). The question is, can the Jihadists in the room be happy with "a State" or must it be a staging post designed to squeeze the self-determinable Jewish people into ever-decreasing circles? 1967 armistice line is merely a strategy for the latter.

This is to be negotiated. The main point is that the right of Palestinians in camps abroad will be to be able to return to a Palestine whatever shape is agreed upon, with a symbolic recognition of that right. To have peace there must be reconciliation, the first step of which is recognition of suffering.

the swap will be end of settlements for an end to right of return. there is no symbolic right for either. recognition of suffereing? 1948 was war that was promised as a 'mongol massacre' against the jews by the head of the arab league. the leader of the palestinians at that time said that he doubted any jews would survive the war. look it up. after the 1948 war, jewish settlements were also destroyed and there were also massacres against jewish civilians. palestinians suffered more than jews suffered because they lost a war that they happily wanted to have happen. the palestinian leadership allied itself with the axis powers in world war 2 to prevent a jewish state and because of that, millions of jews died in camps in europe. we can have peace and reconciliation, but not on the basis of erasing history.

Tke PA has said repeatedly that Jews don't have to leave and Jewish settlement don't have to be dismantled... it is a case of the West Bank being Palestinian rather than Israeli.

I was in London a couple of weeks ago when the new government acknowledged -- and apologized for -- the Northern Ireland killings on Bloody Sunday. Even after 35 years, the impact of this symbolic event was remarkable.

The Palestinians, not the other Arab states, are the people you have to learn to live with. They are here among you, they are all around you. They themselves have been betrayed by the other Arab states and hopefully, have decided that only they can determine their future. That's the way it should be.

On the other hand, if peace is not possible, I am afraid that most palestinians will support Hamas.

genuine peace; in terms of borders, recognition, trade etc, to the point where they would turn their backs on Jihad?

So what makes you think all palestinians would turn their backs on Jihad ? The whole world knows what "genuine peace" means in terms of borders, recognition, trade etc The palestinians have accepted the State of Israel and its borders as a reality 25 years ago. Did Israel ? no. Easy to put the blame on Hamas right ?

So many palestinians have claimed their acceptance of the State of Israel. Arafat was one of the first. Even pragmatic Hamas leaders are willing to accept Israel. They were put in jail ! 25 years later what did the palestinians get ? more settlements and grief.

But intifadas and martyr wannabees thanks to your great Palestinian leadership. Time to compromise and give up your hopes of taking back the land of Israel.

I'm ready to compromise, my friend, just as a majority of palestinians Many israelis do not search for compromise. Using force to settle the land is no compromise. This is war. Got that ?

If Israel and the USA can decide who is democratically elected in Palestine?

5 stories down like a car against a windshield that has most chance of winning the election. Well, that and having the longest beard.

Surely Liebermann and Olmert can share a wealth of advice!!

from efrat. Since when does an illegal settler living on stolen land have a credible point of view.

You mean you want him to clean the mess Israel has made? Hamas wouldnt need to be controlled if Israel acted fairly....but thats not something that is benificial to them, so why would they do it to benifit others. With Hamas running around throwing a bomb here and there, Israel has a reason not to come to the table.

In 2008, Olmert was on his way out of office and to court. Nobody was or would have been around to ratify anything and the Defense Minister and Olmert and the Foreign Minister needed a Gaza military operation.

Both sides had offers of thier own. Negotiators have said that they would have reached an agreement if they had had a few months more time. Then there was Cast Lead. And now Israel refuses to continue the negotiations where they were left. Yeah it's all the Palestinians' fault, isn't it?

Can just see the Israeli cabinet meeting (or any country for that matter) where the ministers say "let our attackers keep sending thousands of rockets at our civilians - don't respond - we might get peace negotiated in a few months or so"

The 1948 declaration of independence stated that it was within the partition borders defined in UNGA 181. the green line is an armistice line. The additional territory is also occupied and Israel has no legal rights to it. Arafat ceded this in 1988 when he recognised Israel, fat lot of good this concession did him. Economically one state would be better, but as Israel blatantly discriminates against non-jews, indepence must sit better in the gut. An International force is necessary to provide the palastinians security from the Israelis and to remove the security excuses from them. To be fair the partition borders should be revisited particularly around Gaza and no post 67 territory should be given to Israel.

of Muslim States that span about 1/5th of the globe. You would be a hater by any chance, would you?

Oh of course none of the Arab or Muslim countries discriminate against Jews or Christians. Get real.

Here comes the old paranoia / islamophobia combo !!!!

Who cares if you are tired of Jews having a homeland? Would you care if some random nobody wanted your country dissolved? I am glad to hear that you are tired of Terrorism though.

I think you're the hater here.

Let's see who his successor will be, and if that person has the courage in their prime to make peace. 1967 is an armistic line between Israel and Jordan. Nothing more.

Jordan is out of the picture my friend. The West Bank isn't Jordan "territory" since 1988. You need to educate yourself and start accepting Palestinians. They're here to stay.

Why is Mahmoud Abbas talking with Israeli journalists while he is not willing to negotiate with Netanyahu ? Right, to show to naive people like you he is willing to make peace.

Because there's nothing to negociate with Bibi. There's a huge gap between Abbas and Bibi. One hopes a State will raise, the other fights for that State not to exist.

You know that governments changem but the Israeli People stay. So why not reach out for the people since the IS government is not responding to anyone these days.

What about Gaza and Hamas which doesn't recognize Israel?Can Abbas make peace without Gaza?The moment Israel pulls out of the West Bank Abbas will have to run and hide for his dear life.Hamas will probably take over like they did in Gaza.Peace is a two way street Ibrahim

Hamas was democratically elected to the PA in elections sanctioned by the US and Europe. We cut off Gaza and kidnapped and detained some of their elected representatives in response to those election results. Peace is a two way street.

yet you don't say anything about Hamas refusing to accept Israel's right to exist.

The obstacle is Netanyahu and his band of thugs.

Have you read the Likud Charter? Do you suggest Abbas refuse to wage peace until Likud changes its charter? Cousin, you need to stop making excuses. Peace needs momentum. With peace, real peace, the rejectionism withers away.

That is international in scope does not take sides, and will go after terror groups. then there is no issue But if they are true Un types who turn a blind eye, then no way. Some other country has to guarantee the peace .. As for gaza it will become its own state and a failed one at that

Which calls for the destruction of Israel and has not been changed..