Only precondition for peace is that Netanyahu be a statesman

Saying you want peace and then building settlements on other peoples land is like saying you are not a racist then joining the KKK.

The Palestinians wouldn,t recognise a statesman amongst them as they,ve never had one,so carry on Palestine with your circus,you deserve it.

The glaring factor of the region is Israeli statesmen competing against Palestinian clowns who might think they aren,t clowmns,however the facts show otherwise,go Bibi.

Isn't that the question ?! Which ever 'road map' the palestinians will follow, the result is the same. Bloodshed ! The core issue that no palestinians is ready to talk about ! If it is easy to kill each other of your owns; it must be much easier to kill those who are not of your blood. The palestinians are not matured; hence they are not yet 'viable'. One of the core issues that Israel can do nothing about it. For all these reason; which ever way a palestinian state is created the end results will be the same. Self destruction ! The truth beneath it all !

Zvi Bar'el is being ridiculous. If Israel surrenders up front to Arab demands, what's the point of negotiations? In their entire history, the Arabs have never once compromised on anything - land, their aspirations, peace, etc. The only side that has been asked to make concessions is Israel. Bar'el acts as though peace is a favor Israel owes the Arabs. The truth is no one has asked the Arabs if they are willing to pay the price for peace. And so far their answer to Israel is "NO!" There are two sides to a negotiation and Israel also has just demands that must be heard. And until the Arabs do there will be no negotiations and no peace agreements.

Give back the Golan to Syria, peace will be guaranteed. No more Hizbullah since weapons flow through Syria and a peaceful Syria will make sure Hizb does not rock the boat. Syria will drop Iran in a second since Syria is secular and Iran is the opposite. The last thing Syria wants is Islamic power. Assad is serious about negotiations, but Israel is not. Why is this not obvious to you and other Israelis? Unless you have a different agenda....

Israel exists for one reason and one reason alone: she is the creation of God, and His everlasting convenant was with the descendants of Abraham. And this is the real reason behind the desire among the Arab World to destroy Israel. She threatens the descendants of Ishmael to their very core. Some day it will be different, but depend upon it: no American president will bring peace to the region, no matter how much dialogue and intervention; it will come supernaturally in God's own time. You don't believe me? Sorry, that's your problem.

McQ: "Ridiculous. Nothing is agreed upon until there is an agreement" Yet both Barak and Olmert insisted that the Palestinians could not have copies of the maps showing the "xx%" of territory they were being "offered". It was forbidden. Q: Why? A: Because they claimed - both of them - that they "feared" the Pals would pocket those offers and Israel would never be able to renege upon them. How odd.... So we have McQueen *saying* one thing, but the Israelis *acting* as if the opposite were true. McQ: "Ridiculous. Nothing is agreed upon until there is an agreement" You've never heard of "non-papers" then, I gather? They are very handy tools of diplomacy, but if what you are saying is true then they are completely unnecessary. How odd, because they are used all the time, and the diplomats who use them find them very handy indeed.

he cannot be a statesman--even if he knew how.

The nature of democracy is a costant changing of leaders that reflect more or less the wish of the majority of peole. This elected PM (I, BTW, did not wote for him) wants to start anew. What is wrong with that? Are these changes to fast for His Majesty Mr permamnent Assad? He should try to switch to the chaos of democracy... One can be sure that in the chaos of democracy on both sides, and the proper guidance of MR Bar'el who knows what statesmanship is, peace will be reached on the spot. What am I saying "reached"... it will jump on us like a loving pet.

because if you are then you should know that this is a man that is going for "all or nothing" and will most likely deliver Israel "nothing". Would you buy a used car from Binyamin Netanyahu? One that has mostly 'been kept in a warm garage and only been driven to and from church on Sundays'.Think about it.

You can give back all the territories up to the '67 Borders if you want but there are only so much of them. The other territories exist in the minds of people. The areas which exist in the minds of people are virtually unlimited. How can people exchange things that are in their minds for something else? What are the things that are in their minds which they should let go of and replace with something else? How can you convince people of certain things? Lots of questions unanswered here. Oh... the Statesman Thing. A good Statesman should consider their words carefully.

..and he can not rise to the occasion and make himself one.. The essence and extent of Netanyahu's abilities as a politician is to give speeches defending the official Israeli propaganda line which he really believes is the truth, and also the parameters of his actual policy.

"The negotiations have suffered the consequences of the spat between Turkey and Israel. " And that "spat" which is more like a crisis, was thanks to Operation Cast Lead which Erdogan claims was a breach of confidence by Olmert. "The negotiations have suffered the consequences of the spat between Turkey and Israel. " And that "spat" which is more like a crisis, was thanks to Operation Cast Lead which Erdogan claims was a breach of confidence by Olmert. "If Netanyahu is serious in his intention to resume negotiations with Syria and Abbas"....., He isn't. He's interested in making it look like he is serious in his intention and that his partners are not. "...he knows precisely what he has to do." Yes, he knows precisely what he has to do. And he's doing it. The question is whether we understand what's behind it. This whole article is about resuming negotiations. Not a word about what we maybe erroneously assume to be their purpose.

Unfortunately, Benjamin Netanyahu is only able to be a statesman during photo shoots. Like any other Israeli PM is he unabkle to rise above the Israeli narative and approach the other side truely equaly. So there will be no significant change from other efforts made by PM's before him, unfortunately.

I realizes may be the head of Hizbulah Nasrah has it right secretly Obama has given the nod to Israel but pretends to be impartial thus Netanyahu may no not return the Golen Heights even if he wants to American double talk alas 2009 2010 with no end in sight Turkey no not even Turkey may get it back if secretly America opposes it why they feel it is giving in to terrorists two 2 words they feel never mind how peace loving Syria acts they feel all America cares about the bottom line in this case Israel gets the nod period sorry Assad you are o u t out and so I suggest a honorable war like 2006 RIGHT ??? Thank You... M. S.

Any schemes based on returning defensive land that rightfully belongs to Jews, will yield the exact opposite results of what was intended, deceptively called peace. Lebanon, Gaza is a perfect example, Egypt and Jordan, the story isn't over yet, watch how the future brings more and more regret as the International community ties Israel's hands and empowers Iran.

Apparently the author has never entered negotiations in real life situations. If I negotiate on a house, and at the end of those negotiations we do not reach an agreement, then those negotiations are over. If five years later the house is again on the market, or perhaps it has remained on the market, I may not restart negotiations, I will start negotiations as if for the first time. A lot can change in five years, the cost of the house, the market, the value, the condition of the property or neighborhood. Only a fool would try to restart where they left off. As for being a statesman, the author apparently has no idea what a statesman is. A statesman is someone who is willing to make enormous sacrifices for the good of his people and does it in a way that inspires his people. Few statesmen have ever been born, because they are born out of circumstance. Netanyahu has all the makings of a good statesman and anyone who ignores that is blinded by their political views.

Just when has Netanyahu ever been considered as a statesman honed in the fine art of diplomacy --- he's never been interested in peace, but just expediency in the interests of a Greater Israel. And when he refers to the legitimacy of Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, then perhaps he's never read article 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention, especially paragraph six!

I realize who wants to return the Golen Heights who counts who matters who would no not be doubled crossed by the double crossing Israeli politicians leaders alas then there is the West Bank either there are settlements housing and or no not again no information about who is double crossed no not may be double crossed ultra conservative reform words to me they mean nothing this is reality RIGHT ??? Thank You... M. S.

1. Israel admits we're wrong. 2. Israel shows our cards. 3. Israel accepts the other side's demands. Then, let the negotations begin!

Just when has Netanyahu ever been considered as a statesman honed in the fine art of diplomacy --- he's never been interested in peace, but just expediency in the interests of a Greater Israel. And when he refers to the legitimacy of Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, then perhaps he's never read article 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention, especially paragraph six!

Oh why don't you hang it up? Stop it already with Israelis need to be the big generous guys and Netanyahu should be a "statesman" and all of that garbage...for crying out loud is there no sanity left in this bleeding world? The arabs are out to kill repeat KILL all of the Jews in Israel. They were told by their leaders in 1948 to leave their homes and later they would return and partake in the spoils of the defeated Jews. Nothing has changed! I wouldn't give the arabs anything until they recognize Israel's right to exist (then I'd give them Jordan-their already existent state).

There are valid arguments in favour of ceding parts of Judea and Samaria for the sake of a lasting peace, despite the injustice of having to do so, since Jordan lost that territory after using it to attack Israel in 1967. Syria also attacked Israel in 1967 from the Golan after years of using it to terrorise the towns, farms and villages within artillery range. The Golan Druze are prosperous under Israeli rule and enjoy good relations with neighbouring Jewish communities as well as with visitors to the region. Why does Zvi Bar'el take as his point of departure that Israel should cede the Golan? His visceral dislike of PM Netanyahu is understandable but surely advocating the loss of the Golan is rather a high price to pay just to have another snipe at him.

WEll, reading Zvi Barel, I can only thank God that he is not our statemen , since if so, I figure we would long have to run back to New York. Zvi Barel is asking Bibi to be a statesman and repeat all the mistakes that previous PM's made in their erroneous approach to the ME pardigm and puzzle. Because, Olmert erred or Barak- Netanyahu should honor those ridculous approaches. the generous offers that previous people made , if it was through pure error and misunderstanding , lack of comprehension , or if it was made out of personal self interest to defelct from personal investigations and problems: all these Netanyahu is to embrace and be a statesman. Well, I would call it being a fool. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A fool repeats them. Let negotiations start from 0. Let the Israeli intellectuals reasses all that has occurred in the last 20,30 years before they go to the negotiations. What happened after Oslo, what was the result of disengagement , what happened when Israel dec

...it was never done and never will be. Hence the coming renewal of the Palestinian independence. And then we can watch UN Blue Helmets keep Israel from further aggression against the Palestinians. In fact, when the UNSC acts, it should also include a non-aggression pact between Israel and Lebanon and Syria as well. Then we'll start seeing some "equal status".

Make no mistake. Israel WILL NOT find peace through ceding the Golan to Syria no more than Israel's deluded , confused and weak leaders found peace through the ' good will' gesture of giving up Gaza. No one can argue that former decision wasn't a monumental blunder that continues to cost Israel dearly. Now some of the same stupid leaders would repeat this mistake with the Golan? Where does it stop? There is no peace in weakness and poor judgment. There is defeat and disaster. Israel no longer learns from mistakes.

Are you not interested in being a journalist any longer, in living? The Golan is as necessary for you to live as is oxygen. Have you turned suicidal for some reason? There must be good psychologists in Israel, turn to them for help before it's too late.

What the whole world fails to see is that the conflict over Israel is not really about land at all. Israel could relinquish the entire promised land to the Arabs and that would not solve the conflict. The issue is over birthright; and it is a spiritual issue. The birthright was divinely given to Isaac not Ishmael. It is a battle to destroy the prophetic destiny of the Jewish people as a light to the nations, and it is a battle between the forces of good and evil. No human diplomacy can ever solve a spiritual war, and only divine love can counter this hate within the human family.

Has Assad given up on getting back the part of Israel that Syria took by force in War of aggression in 1948, such as Hamma and the eastern coast of the Lake of Galilee (Kinneret)? That ridiculous demand by Assad Senior in 2000, negated the Clinton-Barak peace offers. Would it not be nice if Assad Junior would declare this demand negotiable? Or is Assad not expected to be a "statesman", only Netanyahu?

How about peace for peace? Why is it that the left thinks the only way to make peace is to give away half our country, tus putting the other half in mortal danger.

why not focus at least some of you article on what the arab/Palestinian side needs to accept as a price, like recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, what exact peace would they give other than a worthless piece of paper etc etc? Is it because you know they are unwilling to give, only to take?

It seems that everything "agreed" upon in the past, according to these leftists, only binds Israel. Has there ever been anything that the Arabs agreed upon that is a binding concession on their part. If not, then spare us the talk of what was agreed upon in the past -- until there is an actual agreement.

Bar'el must state what the arabs must do for the negotiations with lsrael to succeed. Bar'el must clearly state weather he believes that the arabs care about peace (real or imagined) more than anything else just like himself. Bar'el must state the reason for lsrael to take Syria's stated good intentions if any, at face value given their track record. Bar'el must state why he blames lsrael for every failure along the road.

..journalists who haven't a clue about how diplomacy proceeds. To begin with, your failure to mention the Roadmap shows clearly who's side you are on. Take it from there. The Syrians have done n-o-t-h-i-n-g to demonstrate goodwill, and yet you would allow them to move within rifle shot range of Rosh Pina. The leftist tendency to hand their asses part and particle to whatever Arab entity they next encounter is exactly the failed mindeset that repeatedly stalls the progression in negotiations. You also failed to mention the extreme complexities now overlaid on top of all past occurances by the illustriously naive and biased president Hussein Obama, who has managed within one year to dazzle the leaders of the middle east with his utter, utter stupidity --so surprising in it's breadth that virtually every single government in the m.e. has taken a step back and grown very, very quiet toward the US, with two exceptions--Syria and Iran. Think. Squint if you have to.

Especially this bit: "He must announce that everything that was agreed on and understood by previous Israeli governments is accepted by him without conditions." That is, indeed, the very definition of "without preconditions" i.e. he can not CONDITION his participation on the tearing up of previous agreements and commitments. Because it is very important to bear this in mind: when Netanyahu talks about "without preconditions" he is really insisting on the right to sell Israeli goods that have already been sold. He is, in fact, insisting on his right to repackage his shop-soiled goods and sell them in exchange for shiney new concessions from the mug punters. Plays well to the cheap seats, sure, but why does he expect the professionals to be fooled?

It would be a mistake of catastrophic proportions for Israel to return the Golan to Syria. Syria is one of the most anti-semitic countries in the world and they will not stop arming Hezbollah, not stop trying to get nuclear and chemical weapons, and they will not end their alliance with Iran. Saudi Arabia offered Assad billions to drop Iran and were turned down. Assad wants land, not peace, and if he were sincere he would stop the childish negotiating thru Turkey or any other mediator. If he truly wanted peace he would meet face to face with Israeli leaders as the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority have done. Israel should refuse all negotiations that are not face to face between Syrian and Israeli leaders. Since 1973 there has not been war with Syria so why the rush to return the Golan now when they will never end their ties with Iran, Hamas, or Hezbollah????

or negotiations over negotiations is just the same. Does Israel want a safe place for world jews? United Jerusalem? All the land promised to Abraham? More power than anybody else in the ME? The only answer as of now is 'all of the above'. The only way to light a fire under Netanyahu is for US to sign a deal with Iran. Coming soon...