Akiva Eldar / Whose failure is the Mideast peace process?

Gorm, you say that you don't want Israelis to emigrate to Australia because you have peace in Australia. But that is a great reason to move to Australia! Because they don't have peace in Israel, and it looks like they'll never have peace, they'll be at war there until the end. But a whole lot of Israelis would make good citizens if they could find a good nation to be citizens of. They are caught in a trap, a cycle of violence they don't know how to break. But if they could move to Australia, they would be out of that trap. Israelis are very much like Australians apart from their intense fear of arabs, and they would surely assimilate very well given the opportunity. Some Israelis wouldn't want to come to the USA. The USA has a serious racial problem, and we have such a problem with international enemies that we need the biggest military in the world, and our economy is starting to collapse from the burden. To Israelis it might seem too much like home. Australia is better.

As usual Eldar is on the side of Israel's adversaries. Obama's even- handedness was stupid and it will cost him. He will need every Jewish vote and donor he can get in order to sustain his political future. Following the Walt- Mearsheimer line has led him to nowhere. The simple truth is that the Palestinian Arabs and their supporters simply do not to recognize and live in peace with Israel. Had Obama faced the truth in the beginning he would have been wiser, also in the War on Terror.

since no treaty in respect to israel has ever been honoured what is the point in making new paper promises ??

Who profits by avoiding peace? It has nothing to do with semite or anti, Jew or Muslim. Basically there are commercial ('military') interests who look "forward" and see the Middle East as either a goldmine or a drought. Playing politicians and governments to their advantage is easy, because they do not have the limitations that politicians have.

the Palestinian land -Jerusalem, and West bank how can they say they're willing to negotiate with a straight face? the Israeli govt is a joke. Didn't one of the former Israeli presidents say something like there will be no peace until the Palestinians love their children as much as they hate us? I think it's the other way around now.

You are wrong. What Gaza shows is that when you leave an occupied area and replace your presence with a blockade that represents the worst human rights violation in the world today, you aren't going to have peace. Israel permits an average of 80 truckloads a day of aid to enter gaza. An admission of genocide. According to UN World Food Program, Gaza, with a population of 1.5million, requires daily 400 trucks of just food to meet basic nutritional needs. Israel forbids entry of everything from building materials, to medicine, to electrical appliances, to spare parts for cars and machines, to candles, to books, to coffee, to shoes. UN relief agencies report 80% of Gazans depend on meager trickle of International aid Israel permits to enter; 450,000 (30%) are without clean water; patients are in dire need of medical care. WHO reports not enough IVs. Blood must be kept in plastic bottles. The blockade is a violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention.

Hamas,and Hizbullah may have this in mind.

Why in the world should any people be told to call Israel the "Jewish State of Israel?" Israel doesn't call itself that. Israel can call itself anything it wants, but it declared statehood on 14 May 1948 as the "State of Israel." It was recognized as a member of the UN as the "State of Israel." Israel has diplomatic relations with 162 nations, all of whom recognize Israel as the "State of Israel," because that's what Israel said its name is. But for Israel now to claim that Palestinians must recognize Israel as the "Jewish" State of Israel is nothing more than another arrogant attempt to forestall peace talks. In 2002 and again in 2007 the Arab League offered a comprehensive peace plan to the "State of Israel." If Israel wants to be called the "Jewish" State of Israel, change the name of the country. But it's silly. More than 20% of Israel is not Jewish. It would be like the UK deciding it is now to be called Great Anglican Britain.

The stupid putz broke Israeli law and brought the terrorists to our borders. The Arabs have announced repeatedly for the past 60 years that their only goal is genocide and instead of putting Peres in prison where the old fool belongs bribed a number of Knesset members to pass the first of several stupid treaties. The Arabs have not changed one iota and Odumba has backed their genocidal plans to the hilt.

In a speech addressing the Zionist Action Committee on April 6, 1948, Ben-Gurion clearly stated that war could be used as an instrument to solve the so called "Arab demographic problem". He stated: "We will not be able to win the war if we do not, during the war, populate upper and lower, eastern and western Galilee, the Negev and Jerusalem area, even if only in an artificial way, in a military way. . . . I believe that war will also bring in its wake a great change in the distribution of [Palestinian] Arab population." (Benny Morris, p. 181 & Expulsion Of The Palestinians, p. 181) Note the premeditated plan to occupy and ethically cleanse areas, such as Galilee and Jerusalem, which were not allotted to the "Jewish State" by the 1947 UN GA Partition plan. Click here to view a map illustrating the areas allocated to the "Jewish State" by the 1947 UN GA partition plan.

And on February 8th, 1948 Ben-Gurion also stated to the Mapai Council: "From your entry into Jerusalem, through Lifta, Romema [East Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhood]. . . there are no [Palestinian] Arabs. One hundred percent Jews. Since Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, it has not been Jewish as it is now. In many [Palestinian] Arab neighborhoods in the west one sees not a single [Palestinian] Arab. I do not assume that this will change. . . . What had happened in Jerusalem. . . . is likely to happen in many parts of the country. . . in the six, eight, or ten months of the campaign there will certainly be great changes in the composition of the population in the country." (Expulsion Of The Palestinians, p. 180-181)

On February 7th, 1948, while addressing the Mapai Council he (Ben Gurion) responded to a remark that the "Jews have no land in the Jerusalem corridor" with the following: "The war will give us the land. The concept of 'ours' and 'not ours' are only concepts for peacetime, and during war they lose all their meaning." (Benny Morris, p. 170 & Expulsion Of The Palestinians, p. 180)

# # Moshe Sharett, director of the Jewish Agency's Political Department who later became Israel's first foreign minister, declared: "[W]hen the Jewish state is established--it is very possible that the result will be [population] transfer of [the Palestinian] Arabs." (Righteous Victims, p. 254)

While addressing the Central Committee of the Histadrut on December 30th, 1947, Ben-Gurion said: "In the area allocated to the Jewish State there are not more than 520,000 Jews and about 350,000 non-Jews, mostly Arabs. Together with the Jews of Jerusalem, the total population of the Jewish State at the time of its establishment, will be about one million, including almost 40% non-Jews. such a [population] composition does not provide a stable basis for a Jewish State. This [demographic] fact must be viewed in all its clarity and acuteness. With such a [population] composition, there cannot even be absolute certainty that control will remain in the hands of the Jewish majority .... There can be no stable and strong Jewish state so long as it has a Jewish majority of only 60%."(Expulsion Of The Palestinians, p. 176 & Benny Morris p. 28)

R: "If the US does not step up, have they not already committed to withholding veto in the UNSC?" No, one does not follow from the other. The USA could easily withdraw from a role in negotiations, but *still* profess its belief that the issue can only be resolved by bilateral negotiations. You know, some time in the indefinite future. At which point the USA can continue to veto any UNSC by the simple expedient of claiming that any "interference" from the UNSC will stymie any "future negotiations". That what James Baker did in the early 1990s, when he told Shamir to ring the State Dept when he's ready to be serious about the peace process.

How is the peace process a 'failure'? Okay -- there hasn't been much action lately. However, actual peace is still safely distant. And this is the state of affairs Israel wants and needs. Let's at least admit that. Maybe you should work to generate a touch more violence. How can you keep justifying all the aid and attention if that doesn't continue? It really is subsiding to far too low a level. The violence that is -- the aid and attention is keeping up nicely.

Ma'an News 23.1.2010. "Russian foreign minister: Moscow in touch with Hamas." Russian foreign minister Lavrov said on Friday Moscow is intensifying its contacts with Hamas, which it considers vital. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=256256

Saudi Arabia has already made its "gesture" several years ago. It was called the "Beiruth Plan" and was totally comprehensive. As far as I know, this gesture is still on the table. All "Bibi" needs to do is pick it up and take it from there. Perhas Michell can jolt his memory and remind Bibi of its existence ! DAVID

Apart from disappear in thin air I do not see what the Palestinians can do to achieve a just piece. So the answer is Israel and every country supporting it.

ISREAL REFUSES TO STOP BUILDING SETTLEMENTS AND CHECK POINTS

08:57 Hamas vows to resist pressure to recognize 'Zionist entity' Says it all!

Islamists . Peace is the last thing they want.

-borders to which the US foreign minister and the UN already agree. If the US does not step up, have they not already committed to withholding veto in the UNSC?

Quote: "The Israeli public DOES want peace VERY much and is willing to pay a price..." ... the reactionary Israeli public, which has the clout at the moment, just wants peace-and-quiet on its own terms... and the rest be damned...

Now more than ever Obama has to protect America's old good allies. Obama is in an awfull position to make revolutionary shifts. One of them would be to pull out the authomatic veto in the Security Council. Nothing liks this is going to happen. Israel is very strong in congress, and Obama does not need more trouble that what he has already. And let's not forget that he is involved in Afghanistan Iraq, Yemen, and still is not winning. The last thing he needs is to drop out another ally.

before you attempt to read the president's mind, you should read what he had actually said. obama had admitted that the conflict is much more difficult than he had anticipated, and if he had known so, he would not have raised expectations as he had.(times magazine interview)

an excellent question Cipora. Obama was surprised becauseuntill he became president, he really thought that israel was the one that wanted peace, and now that he has 1st hand knowledge, he is begining to understand that what israel wants is land, NOT peace.

"I would say anti-semites like you profit the most" not thats pretty bold Alex. the fact is the Palestinians are the original semites in this illegal occupation of palestine. so calling someone anti-semitic who is siding with the Pals is total crap.it is the jews who came from europe who are anti-semitic, because they are not even semites. just because you speak hebrew doesn't make you a semite any more than me speaking arabic makes me a semite. If you do not know the meaning of the word please refrain from using it.

...and I think it is brilliant. The world cannot deny that President Obama made an agreement central to his running for US President; he sought a way towards an agreement upon coming into office and appointing the very serious George Mitchell. I think Mitchell's latest trip was drab and uneventful because it was supposed to be. President Obama cannot be seen politically imposing a solution, especially in favor of the Palestinians; the political fallout would simply be too much. Yet everyone knows that Israel is by far the superior power, the regime currently has the Goldstone Report hanging over it; and Israel's intransigence is almost unanimously taken as a given outside of the United States. The moderates in Israel, hidden as they are from talkbacks, have always been terrified that the US would simply walk off from the process and let the two sides duke it out. In reading President Obama's words, then Clinton's, he's gonna let Bibi take the fall...

I hope that the Palestinians do not think through what has happened in the last decade. They had reached the point where there was no real belief in pushing Israel into the sea. They had long ago given up on the idea of the Arab nations bordering on Israel destroying it. They had hope that if they tried to pursue peace Europe, America, yes, Obama, would come to their aid and press Israel with the need to end the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis. The last few years have made it clear the EU would never stop being wept with compassion and actually do something. The last' 'hope' for Peace was the wish that Obama would do something. That hope is dead. I hope the Palestinians don't decide their 'last hope' is another infitada and unleashing the terrorists that both Abbas and Hamas have been trying to restrain. Israel has won the war against peace. I just hope Israel and the Palestinians don't suffer the almost inevitable results of destroying all hope for Peace.

"Why between 1949-67 Egypt and Jordan didn`t establish The Arab Republic of Palestine State ?" - Joseph E I don't know Joe, if that is what you think just, why doesn't Israel allow a Palestine? Did you ever notice that Jordan ANNEXED the West Bank and gave citizenship to all who were residents (though not those identified as refugees)? Joe, your in deep and need a shovel. A shovel, not a spade. Spades have pointed end and are use to dig. A shovel has a flat end and is much better for throwing the bull.

"Mideast peace process failure is due to Saudia Initiative" - Joseph E. And how is that? Obama was trying to get Israel and Palestine back to negotiations. The Saudi Proposal has been out there for years. It had already been categorically rejected by Israel. So you say it's Saudi's fault. Tell me Joseph E. were you upset that the effort failed, or were you delighted? If the first why are you not upset at the man who engineered it's failure from the moment he took office? If the latter why do you feel compelled to blame someone not involved instead of admit to how and whom WAS responsible?

"eality is that Arab countries desire the conflict to continue" - Gilad144 Really? How then do you prove this curious proposition? "Without a conflict with Israel, many Arab countries will be forced to deal more with home grown problems, . . ." - Gilad Is that something like the FACT that without endless war Likud would have no reason to exist? "Galvanizing their populations to focus their anger on the Jews is their best way to deflect attention." - ibid Is that anything like trying to convince the population of Israel that the entire world is it's enemy? "So Obama, have you begun to internalize this understanding?" - Gilad What 'understanding?' I am an old man and it is well over half my life ago when an Arab country attacked Israel. "Maybe you might think of rewriting your Cairo speech?" - ibid I get it, anyone who isn't bigoted against Arabs is guilty. There was no Arab nation involved in defeating the Obama initiative. They all supported it.

-borders to which the US foreign minister and the UN already agree. If the US does not step up, have they not already committed to withholding veto in the UNSC?

...said in three languages. The Palestinians, the Arab World and Muslims everywhere can not bring themselves to say THE JEWISH STATE of Israel. Say it, in Arabic, Hebrew and English. Drop the non starter demand for "refugees" to return thus eradicating the JEWISH STATE. It is solely the fault of the Arab WOrld that after 60 years they can not acknowledge A JEWISH STATE of Israel. Nor can Obama for that matter so there we are....

"All the roadblocks removed, the settlement freeze means nothing." Right. Because the "freeze" is a myth and more checkpoints have been set up than the number that were dismantled (far less than were promised, too). "The Israeli concessions" Fulfilling a tiny portion of its outstanding legal obligations is not a "concession". "All the Palestinian (...) demanding at the start of the negotiations a guarantee that their conditions will be received at the end- all this is discarded." You mean demanding that some, but not all, of Israel's obligations are fulfilled? This is hardly the same as Israel's infamous "preconditions".

Only one side is rapidly expanding its annexation of Palestinian land and defying international law and UN Security Council resolutions in order to do so. This belligerence exposes the Israeli government as the belligerent party, the true "obstacle to peace", engaged in a war to prevent a Palestinian state and annex what remains of their land.

make it difficult to agree on the peace process, also lack of trust, fear ,and different expectations.Its hard to see all that changing, alas, to the detriment of peace outlook.

try with only a small part of people aything untill you are satiesfied

when someone pisses on you don't look up and pretend that it is raining.The Hamas in Gazza murders Fatah members wounded in their bed in el shifa hospital. They took fatah members to the highes floor of one of the highest tower in gazza and throught them.It got to the point that the israeli entrance in the north of Gazza was crouded with fatah members who prefered being in israeli hand and not in Hamas,call them traitors,i say survival instict at its best,so who in his right mind can count on palestinian unity between the wolves and the sheep.no blame for the U.S.not believing in unityamong palestinian unity will come inshalla when the religion will be separated from the politics.

More and more of East Jerusalem will be eaten up. So the Palestinians should hurry up and sit down at the bargaining table. Take up Israel's challenge!

Without a conflict with Israel, many Arab countries will be forced to deal more with home grown problems, which is something they fear the most. Galvanizing their populations to focus their anger on the Jews is their best way to deflect attention. So Obama, have you begun to internalize this understanding? Maybe you might think of rewriting your Cairo speech?

All the roadblocks removed, the settlement freeze means nothing. The Israeli concessions and effort are considered zero. All the Palestinian raising the ante and demanding at the start of the negotiations a guarantee that their conditions will be received at the end- all this is discarded. Above all there is no mention of the American blunder of one- sidedly pressuring its ally Israel in order to prove to the world its 'even- handedness'. Obama blames Israel and the Palestinians equally when it is the Palestinians first and above all, and the Obama Administration who are to blame.

Saudia Initiative see arabpal as mideast core issue and interprete as such UNSC 242, While the UNSC 242 architects point to arabs dictators rivaleries and their recalcitrance-intransigeance to irreversible democratic reforms in the pan arab world as keys and the source of Mideast peace failure . OIC-Arab League is in blatant violation of arabpals most basic human rights and aspirations . Why between 1949-67 Egypt and Jordan didn't establish The Arab Republic of Palestine State ? OIC-Arab League collectively punish and oppress them as martyr pawns into terror , Since 1948 OIC-Arab League prevent them to obtain citizenship even when arabpals contribute to the welfare and developements of arab states in need of skilled workers . Since 48 Arabpals and their descendants have earned arab states citizenship , OIC-Arab League owe them arab citizenship .

The palestinain do not occupy Israel and millions of Israelis do not rot in refugee camps and not one article of the 4th geneva convention has been respected by Israel. so it must be the Pals fault.

they accepted Israel`s right to exist on 78% of the land in 1993 . Palestinians believe that they have made concessions to Israel but they didn't. They rejected the partition and they started a war against the newly founded state of Israel. They lost their rights to demand sovereignty, which is different from "they concede to the other part" what they owned. They never owned nothing. Same thing in 1967. Israel conquered the west bank after being attacked, therefore there is no way back to the "status quo ante". The 242 contemplates this situation. "Withdrawal from territories and not "from the territories". Palestinians relentless demand on the return of refugees to Israel, proves that they want to go back to 1947. Good for them but impossible. They will get nothing.

read in todays Haaretz issue: "Not all settlers and Palestinians want each other to disappear By Linoy Bar-Gefen and Meron Rapoport"

The Palestinian state is probably not going to happen. In the mean time, I think people's houses should not be getting bulldozed.

The Israeli voter said loud and clear no to 67 borders! The Israeli public DOES want peace VERY much and is willing to pay a price but going bk to 67 borders is not even an option. The likud solution is the correct and fair solution. yes to Palestinian self rule including sovereignty/flag/passport/free border crossing in Jordan. Arab leadership must pay the price for their colossal errors, starting the 48, 67 and 2000 wars and adamantly refusing compromise and peace. The arabs can solve the refugee problem in all the other arab countries. the arabs have endless amount of land and petro-$$. The PA state can include all the main arab population centers in the WB - It can and will have land contiguity and it can even include some arab neighborhoods near Al-kuds(jerusalem). It could even include some of the arab centers on Israel side (um el facham). It must be demiliatarized again because of what the PA did with the arms in 2000-04.

Dennis Ross who openly supported the Arab position of the 2 state solution at 67 borders was at the negotiations for 12 yrs and his bk spells out precise borders that Arafat turned down greater than 90% of WB

Why not step aside? Why not say that BECAUSE you've had a gutful of both sides that you will now throw this problem back where it belongs; you know, to the UN Security Council. Announce that: 1) You will bring this to the UNSC for their deliberation, and 2) You **will** abstain from voting on any Resolution that results from those deliberations. Sit on your hands, and thus allow the UNSC to do what it is proported to be there to do. Why not, Obama? After all, what the USA has been trying to do for 42 years HAS NOT WORKED. Try the opposite instead i.e. REALLY get out of the way, and let the UN deal with it WITHOUT your interference.

Bibi: "Netanyahu blames Abbas for setting unreasonable conditions for resuming talks." What Bibi is describing as "unreasonable conditions" is Abbas demanding that Israel live up to the undertakings that it agreed to do under the Road Map. If demanding that the other side recognize "prior agreements" is "an unreasonable conditition" then why, exactly, is everyone to make of Israel's demand that Hamas accept "prior agreements" entered into by the PA? After all, at least Hamas can point out that they were not the party in power when those agreements were signed. Bibi can't, because the party in power when the Road Map was signed and ratified was..... Likud. Abbas has every right to point out that he is asking NOTHING MORE than that Likud show that it is as good as its word. Clearly it isn't, and so you have to ask why *anyone* should bother to negotiate with the leader of Likud.

must join forces: both, Palestinians and Israelis, regardless of their provenance or their histories. It has to be those who prize peace via mutual respect above all else. The Palestinians themselves must deal with the divide between Hamas and Fatah and close it. The Israelis themselves must vote with their hopes written on the ballot and not with their fears. Tall orders.

Palestinian refugees will return when the palestiniasn will decide on peace and recognition of the jewish state. They will retrun to the new palestinian state and will be compensated together with the jewish refugees from Arab countries Fair enough???

"You`re absolutely right, Mike, when you leave your home, and return, it`s still your home. When the Jewish People was forced to leave it`s home by the Romans and subsequent other conquerors, other people moved in (the Arabs arrived in the seventh century.) Now that the original owners have returned" 3,000 year old humans!!! Science would be interested in meeting these folk. Do they still have the keys? Deeds? Do they have Russian or American accents? Meanwhile some still very much alive Palestinian folk, have a RIGHT to return. A right Israel obliged itself to uphold when it became a UN Member state.

QUOTE " say that the situation in Israel is dire, but a bold and resourceful man can do well. Sell everything and come to the USA. Or Australia." UNQUOTE AUSTRALIA ???????? we live in peace here and want to keep it that way. Stick to Real Estate deals in Fairfax, VA

why was obama surprised?

heavy American pressure on Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have put an end to the attempt to set up a Fatah-Hamas unity government. This sentence should be sufficient to answer those in US who ask: We wonder why people in the middle east do NOT like us?

The PA vision for peace is not one that either the present Israeli government nor the electorate that put it into office can accept. To compound the problem Abbas has taken the strategy of standing ultimatums as precondition for even talking. Perhaps that is best since in any case the cost of peace to Israel dwarfs any reasonable expectation of possible benefits.

Making demands of Israel that even the Palestinians never made. What did he think would happen? Good job Obama, you shot yourself in the foot. Now even Abbas is convinced you should negotiate for him, and he doesn't have to do a thing.

I wouldn't be difficult to test the Palestinian's will to rejoin the peace talks. All Israel has to do, as it falsely promised, stop construction in the West Bank. It will then be time to point the finger If the Palestinians still do not show up. In the meantime Israel has no case.

The coalition Netanyahu assembled wants nothing to do with peace or compromise. They want Greater Israeli Empire and to find a way to expel all the Arabs. At best they want US cover for the latter and can't understand why Obama won't accommodate them. What I don't understand is why Obama is OK with the siege of Gaza and the misery there. He seems blinded to the problems in Gaza or just doesn't care. Nothing will happen with the current government of Israel, except more misery and pain for Palestinians, even if they came to the table.

Maybe in Jamaica you're allowed to steal your neighbor's land and build your house on it. In less primitive places we have laws.

I would say anti-Semites like you profit the most.

or just repeat back zionist hate cliche? must be nicew not thinking at all...bet it took you this long just to memorize it

The Palestinians have already made their bold gesture: they accepted Israel's right to exist on 78% of the land in 1993 and modified their charter to reflect this. They are asking for 22% and that is the bare minimum they can accept. Since then the number of settlers in the west bank has increased by 4 times? I think Israel's intentions are pretty clear.

Obama is thick. The Gaza withdrawal was a bold gesture - and it worked to the extent that it showed what happens when israel withdraws unconditionally. It was a brilliant move designed to may be the last one.

You're absolutely right, Mike, when you leave your home, and return, it's still your home. When the Jewish People was forced to leave it's home by the Romans and subsequent other conquerors, other people moved in (the Arabs arrived in the seventh century.) Now that the original owners have returned, it's time for the latest group of "settlers" (the Arabs) to acknowledge the claim of the original owners. That acknowledgement, recognition of the right of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel, would go a long way to establish peace between the parties.

Against overwhelming evidence it is riduculous that the question ever needed to be posed but since it has and there are those who would not wish to think otherwise - its' the Palestinians . Of course Obama is backing them since he would suggest that both are at fault

And clearly the Bar Ilan speech which Clinton praised as 'unprecedented' means nothing to 'Mopencringe. This upstart empty suited narcisist will look for any excuse to blame everyone else except of course - himself.

So, there is a prophet among the readers... Even in ancient times prophecies caused much grief. Obama may make mistakes, but he is not stupid.

OyBummer created the issue of settlements (they didn't get in the way of Olmert & Livni's negotiations) because of the extreme hate that he and his leftie Carter retreads have for Israel. Then, by taking such an extreme position, he gave Abbas no room to compromise as he would have to accept less than the Americans were demanding on his behalf. And now, after he fubars the process, the arrogant, snotty OyBummer has the gall to blame everyone else! The good news is that in 2 years and 9 months our favorite fubar and his motley crew can pack their bags and slink away.

if there is anything i hate its a quiter...big deal he didn't make it work in one yr., people been trying to make it work for 60 yrs...what about the EU, UN and Russia?

You all elected Netanyahu to defeat any prospect for peace. Live with your decision.

What would happen if Israel accepts peace on ARABS' conditions? 1) ARABS will tell: "NOT ENOUGH, the ultimate goal is annihilation of ISRAEL". 2) FATH will tell: "We are not shooting. HAMAS is shooting, but we will not stop them". - It is a "PALESTINIAN DEMOCRACY". 3) Eventually HAMAS will gain power in West Bank, as it happened in GAZA. OSLO peace process was just a nightmare initiated by a thief ARAFAT. The only result of this process is a bank account currently owned by SUHA ARAFAT.

He is the one that ruined the talks by bringing up the originally non issue of settlement freezes. Of course the arabs want something for nothing if they can find the fool to do it.

The parties to the conflict will never make peace between one another. They`ve been trying that for 60 years and NOTHING has come if it. A settlement must be IMPOSED upon the parties by the entity that created the problem, namely the United Nations, which created Israel in 1948. It is indisputable that, in the creation of Israel, Arabs were displaced. It is unjust and unfair to take people`s property for no compensation. The UN must establish a Middle East Compensation Commission to adjudicate claims from everybody, INCLUDING JEWS, who lost property as a result of the UN`s creation of Israel. Just compensation needs to be paid by the UN for a Release of Claims. If you lost your property and had to live in squalor in a camp you too would harbor resentment. It`s nonsense that Arabs left voluntarily. Leaving is not the same as abandoning and disclaiming rights to property, which in the western world is a sacrosanct right. We all leave our homes. When we get back they`re still ours.

by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of negotiating the borders based on the 1967 lines, that indeed, this coalition is not really seeking to reach a final status agreement anytime in the near future. The freeze in the West Bank and Jerusalem is irrelevant if the PM does not want to even speak about borders for two states, with either the U.S. or the Palestinians. Are we being conned here, again? We only hear about what the PM evokes as an outcome for the two states (demilitarization, IDF presence in WB, economically sound infrastructure first, etc. etc.) but without detailing where the borders will be, despite PM Ehud Olmert's progress with President Abbas on these details. Of course the security aspect for Israel is understandably the priority for this coalition, but where's the framework for establishing the neighbouring state he proposed in Bar Ilan? Unreal that we're still side-stepping the next stage in negotiations.

Ask the settlers. They know.

Shouldnt Palestinians be seeking peace more than Israel. They are the ones (and the world) that this state of affairs is stopping their developement right in its tracks, etc. So, do they want peace or do they see themselves as the front Arab soldiers whom at any cost will try to stop the "Jews". That is then the only explanation not to be more pro-active in seeking a solution. They live in utter poverty even compared to other arab neighbours. Or, do they really think that they will ever push Israel aside or even destroy it?.

I'm happy that Netanyahu's supposed settlement freeze didn't win anyone over in Washington. That pathetic excuse for a gesture got what it deserved: Nothing.

I'm happy that Netanyahu's supposed settlement freeze did not win anyone over in Washington. That pathetic false gesture got what it deserved: nothing.

Ok, let us suspect that Haaretz is short of personnel and any prior response was not CENSORED but ignored.

Israelis cannot be expected to try to make peace with people they believe want to kill them. So they must instead treat those people in ways that ensure that Palestinians want to kill them. I read about a US economist who was visiting europe in the 1920's. A count from Poland asked him to give economic advice. They went to the count's estate. First by train, by carriage over muddy roads, then horses on a muddy trail. In the courtyard peasants carried the men on their backs through thigh-deep mud. It was illegal to teach peasants to read. The economist went over the books, noting the inflation rate of the Polish marka. Then he said, "The situation is dire, but a bold and resourceful man can still do well. Here is my advice -- sell everything and come to the USA." I say that the situation in Israel is dire, but a bold and resourceful man can do well. Sell everything and come to the USA. Or Australia. Or Brazil. There are places with worse prospects than Israel, but fewer each year.