Barak to Haaretz: Israel ready to cede parts of Jerusalem in peace deal
Ahead of start of direct peace talks in Washington, Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Jerusalem's Arab neighborhoods will be part of a Palestinian state; a 'special regime' to govern holy sites.
By Ari Shavit Tags: Israel news Middle East peace Jerusalem Ehud BarakEhud Barak has always vacillated between peace and security, dovishness and hawkishness, left wing and right wing. Even when he left south Lebanon, offered the Golan Heights to Hafez Assad and the Temple Mount to Yasser Arafat, he didn't do this as a bleeding heart. He always spoke forcefully, talked about the importance of sobriety. He always spoke about how Israel must survive in a jungle. It must do so even now, on the eve of the peace summit in Washington.
 |
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, right, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
| Photo by: Tess Scheflan / Jini |
This time, however, Barak is surprisingly - even unusually - optimistic. Perhaps it is because he contributed quite a bit to the summit's unveiling. Maybe it is due to the fact that the summit is his political lifejacket. The defense minister believes in the 2010 peace summit even more than the principals taking part in it.
These past few weeks have been volatile, between the Galant document affair, the appointment of a new chief of staff, the meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah and the sit-down with Mahmoud Abbas. And perhaps more than anything else, Barak was feverishly preoccupied with trying to push Netanyahu across the Rubicon, trying to convince him that there is no choice, trying to convert Benjamin Netanyahu from Yitzhak Shamir to Menachem Begin. Did he succeed?
Up until the last minute, the man who has signed up to also take on the role of foreign minister doesn't know whether he succeeded or not. Perhaps this is why he has chosen to make unequivocal, remarkable statements to Haaretz.
Yet the last-minute-meeting that Barak held with Netanyahu prior to the premier's departure for the United States fueled his optimism. When Barak said what he said from his office at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, his sense was that there is a good chance that Netanyahu will surprise us.
Ehud Barak, is there any chance that you and Benjamin Netanyahu will succeed in reaching peace with the Palestinians now, the same peace which you did not succeed in achieving in 2000 and Ehud Olmert did not succeed in achieving in 2008?
"In the current reality that is encircling us, there are remarkable changes underway. Thirty years ago, the Arabs competed amongst themselves in spouting rejectionist slogans that were reminiscent of [the three "nos" at] Khartoum. Today the Arab states are competing amongst themselves in arguing over which peace initiative will be adopted by the international community. The same situation is taking place with us. When I returned from Camp David a decade ago, the most vocal critics of my "irresponsible" concessions were Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni. Take a look at where they are today. It doesn't mean that the task is a simple one. The gaps are wide and they are of a fundamental nature. But I believe that there is a real chance today. If Netanyahu leads a process, a significant number of rightist ministers will stand with him. So what is needed is courage to make historic, painful decisions. I'm not saying that there is a certainty for success, but there is a chance. This chance must be exploited to the fullest.
What are the principles of a peace deal that you believe can be agreed upon by the conclusion of the talks?
"Two states for two nations; an end to the conflict and the end of all future demands; the demarcation of a border that will run inside the Land of Israel, and within that border will lie a solid Jewish majority for generations and on the other side will be a demilitarized Palestinian state but one that will be viable politically, economically, and territorially; keeping the settlement blocs in our hands; retrieving and relocating the isolated settlements into the settlement blocs or within Israel; a solution to the refugee problem [whereby refugees return to] the Palestinian state or are rehabilitated by international aid; comprehensive security arrangements and a solution to the Jerusalem problem."
What is the solution in Jerusalem?
"West Jerusalem and 12 Jewish neighborhoods that are home to 200,000 residents will be ours. The Arab neighborhoods in which close to a quarter million Palestinians live will be theirs. There will be a special regime in place along with agreed upon arrangements in the Old City, the Mount of Olives and the City of David."
Does the terror attack near Beit Hagai prove the extent to which the current efforts for peace are useless?
"This is a very serious incident, the likes of which we haven't seen for a long time. The Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service are acting with all their strength to get their hands on those who perpetrated the attack. There will be those who will say that this is the result of weakness and that Netanyahu must return from Washington because they are killing Jews. Yet in looking at the situation in a level-headed way, there is no doubt that this is an attempt to harm the start of the peace talks. So while we are steadfastly safeguarding our security and waging a determined campaign against the perpetrators, we cannot be deterred from working toward the success of the peace negotiations."
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
No Jew has a right to surrender the land that belonds to all the generations of Jews. Bibi should just talk and drink tea in Washington, D.C. but sign nothing. I trust that the American Jewish lobby will prevent any deal from happening anyway.
Netnayahu ran for elections on a policy of "no Palestinian state" (only autonomy), and he was not ready to expose himself as a fraud right after the elections and announce that he actually accepts a Palestinian state. That took him 4 months to do (in a speech in June 2009). As of now, Netanyahu refrained from taking a vote in the government about this change in policy, nor in Likud. Will Netanyahu dare to go all the way for peace and then have to "face the music" of the hardliners? I hope so, but one wouldn't know until the very end. Barak is braver, and also needs peace more because otherwise his party will pull out of the coalition and he will lose his job. But even Barak got cold feet in Shepherdstown when he was to complete the negotiations of peace with Syria. Let us hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
No doubt, Israel is in a corner, with the isolation and the international condemnation of various action it chose.In fairness to Israel, it is in a tough postion, giving up something they have taken, and realizing that the international community will not accept Jerusalem as it capitol.Why have this taken so long, America couldn't continue to turn a blind eye on Isrel's bad deeds, and of course the US will continue to provide the billions. Israel polical scheme is complex and at best weak, coalition after coalition and too many elections in the last several years, the perfect climate for weak and unstable government, not to mention all the corruption charges.How could a government like this be comitted to peace, they have called for a partner in the PLO, the problem is they are both weak.Let's now hope that Israel words are now action, rather than another appeasement for the international.Hope both people can live in peace. Comments by that Rabbi, should have been condemn by Bibi right way, the US made a mild condemnation.These comments makes Hamas look like saints, and deplores the true racist ways in the Israeli society. Hamas and the settlers and some of those right wingers Israel are an obstacle to peace. Hopefully Jews and Plaestinians will be in peace.
Barak should be viewed with the greatest caution. His words are meant to appease the US but what is he really saying? Two examples stand out. 1."and within that border will lie a solid Jewish majority for generations." That's the Jewish part. Then, for the palestininians notice what he says: "a demilitarized state but one that will be viable politically, economically and territorially; KEEPING THE SETTLEMENT BLOCS IN OUR HANDS." The question must be asked how then will #2 come to pass? How will this palestinian state be viable territorially if the settlement blocs are there? And what and where will these settlement blocs be in 5, 10, 15 yrs after "natural growth? Whose land will they take? And as for "concessions" on EJ, lets get real. Barak talks about the "12 Jewish neighbourhoods". And what are those? Is Silwan and Sheik Jareh to be considered part of those 12 Jewish neighbourhoods? This is nothing new and hardly a concession. It will give the Palestinians part of the Old City and a few areas surrounding it and that's it.
Yes - divide Jerusalem - go back to 67 borders have peace with all neighbors - will be able to invest money in the betterment of the people rather than piling arms. My children and their children will be able to live in peace - spend all my life stressed out. Not a way to live - Peace, stability and prosperity for land is not a bad bargain. Killing and being killed for real estate nothing but stupidity.
That's final. That goes for you as well Barak.
Barak's personal comment is irrelevant. He should not be talking like a Horse Trader. Jerusalem is Israel's Eternal, Indivisible Capital-City since Ancient Time. Ancient occupiers had come and disappeared into the dustbin of History. But Israel has remained to this day because of Divine Providence. And Jerusalem is Israel's Eternal Compass. There is no place for Pagan usurpers in Jerusalem.
Divide Jerulsalem?? He should be put in a convertable and driven down Hwy. 60. It should be obious to everyone that this is a 100 year war for all the Land. You can lose it militarly but you win it economically and culturally.
He wants us to give our right of return , keep what he calls "Jewish " neighborhoods (which was built or are being built ) and on top of that have arrangements in the Old City, the Mount of Olives and the City of David, seriously, whats left of East Jerusalem ? He wants part of East Jerusalem we want part of West Jerusalem , Haifa, Jaffa and Galeel.
The Bible describes some of the history of Jerusalem before it was conquered by King David around 1000 BCE. Genesis 14 tells of a meeting between Abraham and Melchizedek King of Jerusalem: "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he [Abraham] gave him tithes of all." Note that Abraham recognized Melchizedek's priestly rank and gave him a tithe. Later in the Bible, with Jerusalem under Jewish rule, the historical figure of Melchizedek was still remembered. In Psalm 110, in what is thought to be a declaration during the coronation of the King, the MC (Court prophet?) declares "The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after in the manner of Melchizedek." It shows reverence for the pre-Israelite king of Jerusalem. Jerusalem did not start as a Jewish city, and there is no reason why it should end up as exclusively Jewish. Sharing it with the Palestinians who see themselves (justifiably) as descendants of the early residents, and view the Islamic religion (unjustifiably) as the religion of Abraham, will be historically correct and politically smart.
Who elected Barak PM? And it would be nice if the current PM Netanyahu would remember why he was put into office. Seems he likes Barak shooting off his idiot mouth especially when the real PM is out of town. If anyone should be commenting it is someone from Likud and the RIGHT not the discredited leftist Barak.
This man will do anything for self promotion he is a dangerous and should not be allowed to further his own career hopes at the expense of a whole country
Netnayahu ran for elections on a policy of "no Palestinian state" (only autonomy), and he was not ready to expose himself as a fraud right after the elections and announce that he actually accepts a Palestinian state. That took him 4 months to do (in a speech in June 2009). As of now, Netanyahu refrained from taking a vote in the government about this change in policy, nor in Likud. Will Netanyahu dare to go all the way for peace and then have to "face the music" of the hardliners? I hope so, but one wouldn't know until the very end. Barak is braver, and also needs peace more because otherwise his party will pull out of the coalition and he will lose his job. But even Barak got cold feet in Shepherdstown when he was to complete the negotiations of peace with Syria. Let us hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
speaks out on the subject of state affairs? Isn't this the job of Knesset and PM? Well, I guess, Jews and bardak are inseparable.
This guy tried to give away Jerusalem before, lost the election, and is still here trying to act as prime minister? I thought Netanyahu was the PM. Or, is he just playing good guy - bad guy?
Is Barak trying to bring the wrath of God upon the land of Israel? That's EXACTLY what he's doing by giving one square inch of Israel to the so-called Palestinians. When, Oh Israel will you trust in the One who loves you? When?
You hit the nail right on the head.
Barak can promise anything since it is obviously contingent upon achieving peace and there will be no peace. The idea is that, in the future, Israel will be able to claim that they offered bits of Jerusalem but the Palestinains refused to make peace. It was never really on offer. This is as routine as it is meaningless.
Barak does not represent the Will of Israel. Giving any part of Jerusalem to the Islamist-Jihadists will not only be tampering GOD'S Covenant to Israel but will also pose a great danger to Israel as GOD withdraws His protection over Israel. Never give in to the dark forces no matter the shouts and the pressures. Israel must be strong, united and resolute to say NO. If not, be prepared for a second Holocaust.
After so many setbacks I can only hope, It seems almost impossible that Bibi would do the right thing and actually offer something that would work, but I agree that a Begin is better than a Shamir!
If you want to start a petition to keep Jerusalem and give away Barak just tell me where to sign. I cannot stand that man and before Olmert he was one of the most unpopular PMs in recent times.
That there could never be peace, accepted in you brain,Jerusalem is not yours.
Now you started to speak like a man, Ehud.
Israelis should be allowed to settle anywhere they like in Palestinian territories under Palestinian laws, as well as Palestinians should be allowed to settle anywhere they like in Israel under Israeli laws. Such laws can be negotiated between the two states' authorities through bilateral agreements, i.e. resident permits, right to purchase property or not, under what conditions, after how much time, how and where to pay taxes, etc. That's how it works in the rest of the world.
Translated into english a single state not two states. We can both settle anywhere we want in either state, we can both buy property in either state. Sounds very much to me like laying the foundations for a single state. The whole idea of 2 states is supposed to be separation from one another not so an Israeli in Tel Aviv will find he has a palestinian next door neighbor or a palestinian in Rammalah finds he has an Israeli next door neighbor. If your going to have 2 states then arabs must be in the arab state and jews must be in the jewish state. If your advocating a single state just say so instead of calling it bilateral arrangements.
You have forgotten that these settlemt would have been demolished any where in the world, because they are illegal. If you bulid a house in a land without planning permission the council will demolish that house but what about if you build in a land which does not belong to as the jewish setrtlers building on a palestinian land. you know this classed as crime. All settlers should be brought to justice.
that is the first time I read something that really makes sense! it is almost a step closer to a one state solution: lets call it Palesrael or IsraPal.
Takes your homes because they are stolen from others what will you do?
shall depart and the hills (kingdoms) totter, but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace totter," says the Lord, Who has compassion on you" (Isaiah 54:10). Leviticus 26:3-9 "If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them, I will give your rains in their time, the Land will yield its produce, and the tree of the field will give forth its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your food to satiety, and you will live in security in your land. And I will grant peace in the Land, and you will lie down with no one to frighten [you]; I will remove wild beasts from the Land, and no army will pass through your land; You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you; Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. I will turn towards you, and I will make you fruitful and increase you, and I will set up My covenant with you." See also Ezekiel 34:24-31 , 37:21-28. "It must do so even now, on the eve of the peace summit in Washington."
Israel should propose a referendum on East Jerusalem. No more resident's cards-do they want to be Israelis and belong to Israel or do they want to be Palestinians and belong to the PA? Then it's settled. Holy places to be accessible to all.
That would be a sensible and acceptable solution for Jerusalem. Israel doesn't want 200,000+ Palestiniian Arabs becoming Israeli citizens and voters, which would be the outcome if they held on to E J'sem. Palestine doesn't want 200,000+ Jewish settlers complicating matters, which would be the case if the large Jewish settlements around Jerusalem remained in a Palestinian E J'sem. And joint control over the Old City and Holy Basin is the only possible compromise between two parties who want it all for themselves. Both sides will give a big sigh of relief if what Barak says goes ahead.
I'd rather have someone who took something back
Bibi has worked very hard to make these talks unconditional, has intentionally been keeping Jerusalem out the picture because he knows thats an issue that can make of break the coalition overnight and if the coalition collapses its goodbye talks. Now Barak has in advance promised Jerusalem so palestinians will expect that to be a done deal from day 1. Bibis coalition partners are going to now demand a conformation from him Barak does not speak on Bibis behalf so that means if he tells his coalition Barak had no right to say that then they will let him talk but the palestinians will want to start with Jerusalem but if Bibi even hints that he will be willing to do a deal on Jerusalem his coalition partners will pull out. With 1 statement Barak may just have destroyed the talks. and talks because if Barak has promised Jerusalem in advanced if Bibi says no palestinians walk. Barak is supposed to be DEFENSE minister but instead he thinks he is in charge of every ministry and allowed to make any decission he likes without consulting anybody.He acts like foreign minister always off on diplomatic visits that are supposed to be for the foreign minister. He acts like the finance minister at times talking about economic policy. He also thinks he is the PM regulary in his statements and attempt at implimenting policy. Barak let the Jerusalem geinie out the bottle when without consulting the Knesset, the cabinet or even his advisors in the middle of the night he went and offered to divide Jerusalem. Before then even for Peres Jerusalem was a red line. Barak though takes it upon himself to charge in there and offer Jerusalem. Barak is starting to act like a dictaitor. He is supposed to be DEFENSE minister his job was issues related to defense. These days though he also liked to act like finance minister talks about financial issues. He has been acting like foreign minister for a very long time now going on all the diplomatic visits and meeting with foreign diplomats which are not his job. He has recently started to like the PM. Barak let the Jerusalem geinie out the bottle before he without consulting the Knesset, the cabinet or even his Camp David advisors he decided unilaterally to offer Jerusalem. Before then even Peres saw Jerusalem as a red line not to cross. Now Barak has struck again and if the talks are collapse over Jerusalem then Barak is the man to blame not Bibi.
Otherwise perfect....must be the sticky Hasbara keybored..
So true....I can't believe he said that.....what an idiot!
Money can't buy you love and land can't buy you peace. In almost every newspaper and blog around the world the lead-in is how Israel needs to make land concessions and stop the building os settlements. The reason that the left is descendent and its message doesn't resonate is because its just not true, its an illusion. There is no peace in the middle east because the arab world, fronted by the Palestinians, continues to incite their people against Jews and Israel. You can change the words, call Jews everything from peace-nicks to settlers and the underlying truth stays the same. Muslims are incited to kill Jews. Until that changes, and until that reality is recognized, until the world opens its eyes to what they have denied for so long, there will be no peace. When the world see the problem here as it really is, that the incitement needs to be stopped and that the arab world has to make real a decision to acknowledge that Jews have a connection to their ancestral homeland, then there will be Peace Now.
The Liberal Left would giveaway all the land of Israel. Might as well just move to South Dakota. Either fight for what belongs to us Jews or just get the hell out.
It might just have something to do with the matter...perhaps open the other eye too....or is there a log in it?
do take a course in international law and give up posting rubbish
the settlers are beginning to squeal like ppigs.
to squeal like Jew-haters! What a surprise!!!!!
you must be as fat as one with all that popcorn you're consuming.
None that any decent Jewish folk adhere to.
All settlers are Jews but not all Jews are settlers. What a surprise you generalize terms like settlers into all Jews. I bet you're the first to cry anti-semitic also!
what "special regime" is barak referring to; and would it apply to the entire old city.
"what "special regime" is barak referring to" If Barak is reheating his "offer" at Camp David then the "special regime" he is talking about is........ wait for it........ waaaaaaait....... wait...... "Morocco". It kid you not, Cippie: Barak's "special regime" involved an offer to hand it over to "Morocco"
All that matters now are facts on the ground. In two months we have gone from Jerusalem will never be divided to Israel even turning over stewardship of the wailing wall
The problem with the settlements in East Jerusalem is not so much their size, which is huge, but their strategic location. They surround the Palestinian side of the city, virtually isolating it from the West Bank. Al Quds and Bethlehem, for example, used to be neighbors, but now they are completely separated. Allowing Israel to keep all of them simply won't do. Maybe they can keep the least intrusive, but the rest must go.
'The Original Arab the Bedouin' by Phillip Hitti the Historian tells the Truth. What have Bedouins of the Desert to do with Jer--u-salem?
I hope for the best outcome and I'm eager to hear the details of this summit's peace deal.
you'd be Wailing.
What parts? Another swiss cheese formula? ... why not East Jerusalem?
IT IS VERY WISE OF BARAK TO RETURN ARAB EASTERN JERUSALEM TO P.A AS THIS WILL GIVE A GOOD GESTURE TO CONCLUDE A PERMANENT PEACE IN THE M.E
if what Barak is now floating on behalf of Bibi and the Jewish nation actually works. What he espoused is an eminently practical and viable Israeli proposal for peace. Where he refers to the settlement blocs he is talking about the major settlement blocs that are reasonably close to the '67 armistice lines that everyone, including Abbas, knows will have to remain in Israel's hands while the Palestinians get the Arab areas of East Jerusalem for a capitol. There is no way to have real peace without hard compromise from both sides. The resulting benefits of peace will give the Palestinian Arabs the homeland they and Israel both need not just to survive but to thrive. Peace with the Palestinians will provide Israel stability and the opportunity to grow into a major economic power with huge benefits for the Palestinians, the region and the rest of the world. It will indeed positively impact the Arab world as much as, and likely more, than Israel.
"Sure, you can have any Jewish neighborhoods that existed before 1967, since we're only getting Arab neighborhoods that existed before 67, and no one in the world recognizes your illegal colonies."
and it was all Jewish before the Arab invaders and Jews were the majority in Jerusalem for centuries. Still giggling or got a dose of reality yet? Arab ethnic cleansing or building a Mosque over the Temple does not make jerusal;em yours
rubble on the temple mount... ask the parties (mamluks, moslems, cruisaders etc) to dismantle their stuff, otherwise send them the bill...
The Lord God sentt the child of the Egyptian servant, who was also the son of Abraham,into the Desert, because even though Abraham loved his son Ishmael . he was disappointed in him but God promised that Ishmael would be' Leader of a Great Nation'... He kept His Promise..
You probably don't want to play the "Jews were a majority in Jerusalem for centuries" card. Yeah, they were - for a couple centuries. Arabs were a majority for over a dozen centuries. So I doubt you really want to go down that road. Now can we start acting like grownups instead of selectively dredging up irrelevant history and religious fairy tales?
I notice everyone has them in Tel Aviv, even the US.
just like those of australia and new zealand the people of darfur ,and many others , who will not get their lands back !
for this quite purifying article from a man who saved his honesty and values... there are lots more ( serious ones), give them the power for a save tomorrow!!
Well, there's the rub. So while the negociations drag on, Israel will keep packing the West Bank with more settlers who in turn will occupy more land which will stay in Jewish hands. The longer the negociations take the less there'll be left over for the Palestinians. That's best offer Israel is willing to make. It's easy to see why Abbas didn't wnat to enter into direct negociations until that attitude changes.
He better take what he can get now cause if he continues like this there wont e anything left next time. this is a real chance for peace. A real one. I for one am very hopeful
They were nowhere when Jesus our Lord was crucified by the Romans in Calgary outside of Jerusalem....
the word to study ehud IS enforcement ENFORCEMENT ENFORCEMENT this is why oslo failed !!!! it was missing from the agreement !!
Barak brought much suffering on Israel due to his unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon and his irresposible concessions to Arafat. The results were several wars and the big wave of suicide bombings. He also contributed to dismantling the IDF. So what is he talking about? The Arabs will NEVER accept the terms he outlined in the interview. The will NOT give up the "Right of Return" of the refugees, they will NOT accept a "special regime" in the Old City of Jerusalem but will demand total control INCLUDING THE WESTERN WALL, and they will NOT agree to end the conflict. It is time this man retired.
Arabs should never resign themselves to less than full implantation of International Law and recognition of the inalienable rights of Palestinians. Right of return is a basic Human Right which must be respected. Acquisition of territory by means of war is illegal. Israel must just respect the law, go back to its 67 borders and grant Palestinians the rights they have.
And this criticizing of Barak from all sides, Left and Right, sounds so childish, like,... well.... like your predictions. You think you are helpful? to whom? By negating all principles enumerated by Barak? What's the difference between your NO's (there will NOT be this, there will be NOT that, etc...) and the 3 NO's of the Arabs? Which is more stupid?
actually in recent years the Arab States and Palestinians have said that the establishment of a Palestinian State would negate the need for the right to return. As for East Jerusalem it is illegal under international law to gain territory through war. Being Jewish doesn't give you immunity from that law.
The golden dome is the ymbol Pal resistance, but also reminds muslims of thePriphets night voyage a part of Quran that explicitly states That Israel belongs to the Jews, not to the Pals.
jews have a right of return to their homeland you say?? quite right !! read the san remo convention and remember it ! ITS INTERNATIONAL LAW
What people are asking Israel to do is not just quit gambling in the middle of the winning streak, but to turn over much of his winnings to charity. What are the chances of that happening? For those that said ZERO, you are correct. Israel will bow to American pressure and engage in peace fakery. This has gone on before and has always satisfied the Americans. It will continue to satisfy the Americans.
you chose your word wisely. Charity suggests giving something for nothing. As long as Hamas is a player, the most israel could hope for is relative calm in the WB (assuming no Hamas takeover), and more rockets from gaza. Perhaps if the Pals really wanted peace, they could show that they can DELIVER something; like peace. Rebelling against hamas would be a good start. Israeli concessions would cease to be charity and start becoming a negotiated solution between equals.
durson cannot fathom the notion of equality.
My father says that in the long run, the only winner is the Casino.
Do you think it might be one of the Casinos Arafat invested in?
They already did deliver peace. The number of settlers that have been killed in the west bank would make any city of 250,000 jealous; no government can stop every single murder from happening. Now if Israel is smart they'll take this peace chance now, not to mention get their citizens back into Israel and out of the colonies.
Islam is the most immoral ideology, worse than communism, with the same goal,but committing more gruesome atrocities, such as the shooting of 4 Israelis near Hebron, and The Pal that killed a seven year old girl in front of her father by bashing in her skull with the but of his rifle, has a street named after him in Ramallah.
What people are asking Israel to do is not just quit gambling in the middle of the winning streak, but to turn over much of his winnings to charity. What are the chances of that happening? For those that said ZERO, you are correct. Israel will bow to American pressure and engage in peace fakery. This has gone on before and has always satisfied the Americans. It will continue to satisfy the Americans.
Palestinians have constantly backed down on past peace summits once they noticed it was within reach, often starting a new intifada or wave of terrorist attacks
And what do you call what the Pals did to 4 Jews today. Actions noble of peace prize?
No, what people are asking Israel is to give back the chips that stole from the casino, if you want to keep using the metaphor. Annexing territory trough war is illegal. That would be cheating in the casino.
So one terror cell is representative of the entire pop? That would allow judgement of all groups via the actions of any of the members
It sounds like begrudged scamster who lured someone into a play but was beaten in own game: Was any wars resulted in annexing territories wanted/initiated by Israel?
Would you like me to remind you of the history of settlers , terrorism , stealing ,stoning ..... Or remind you of the histroy of Zionism and Israel and always bear in mind that the Israelis are the illegal immigrants who have taken over others' land based on a myth
as israel did on Eygpt... i think any logical person would tell you that you initiated the war. Let me get this straight, when anyone or anyone resist israeli bullying = they started the war israel just retaliated..... when israel warplanes strike eygptian air force bases = israel says, it is not our fault they gethered so many jets .....
On refugees -- conveniently forgetting that the international community "aiding" Arab refugees must equally aid the descendants of 800,000 Jewish refugees from the Muslim world now is Israel and elsewhere On Jerusalem - spouting the (tiny) Labor Party line which is rejected by 90% of Israeli Jews and the US Congress: NO RE-DIVISION OF JERUSALEM On Hamas - trying to treat the terrorism of 1/2 of the "palestinian" nation and their elected Pol Pot regime as if it was merely minor acts of petty criminals, to be brought to justice and prosecuted by police, instead of pursuing their total destruction, as the US is doing to Al Qaida and the Taliban
Equal rights for all!
No one is interested in a 23rd Islamic state.
The Israeli authorities could start meting out equal justice to both Jewish settlers and Palestinians. If they wanted to, that is........