It is a recipe for disaster. Please look at Algeria, Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon or Iraq in just the recent times. Tell me where pluralism flourishes in the Middle East. Explain how the Palestinian people are so unique in the Arab world that I should believe Jews could coexist with them in Harmony when nothing in the Arab world would suggest that they are ready for a pluralistic society. Even now we see an increasing Islamification of Palestinian nationalism that simply sees a Palestinian state merely transitory prelude to an even larger Islamic state expounded in pretty much the same manner as Al Quideda attempt to establish a new Islamic Caliphate. Look at what is happening to Christians in the PA and add the prevailing mood between 2 peoples who are at war and the notion of peaceful coexistence is all the less realistic. Look at the history of Jews in Arab countries and contrary to the popular myth of Harmony it was largely a history of at best grudging acceptance if they kept quiet accepting their second class place in the society but still characterised by violent excesses even reaching a zenith of genocide as the Judeaicide in 8th century Morocco or the Judeicide in 12th century Egypt. We are not talking about a repentant people such as what you might find in Europe after the shock of the holocaust. Instead you have people clamouring for things to be the way they once were not what they could be. Respectfully, Yosi Cohen

well, get what you can get... or get nothing. we don't ask you, we tell you.

If the Arabs want a "Palestinian" state, it will have to be in Jordan: 1. Jordan is a MAJORITY "Palestinian". 2. Most "Palestinians" in Judea and Samaria, and many in Gaza are Jordanian citizens. 3. The Queen of Jordan, Rania, is a "Palestinian". 4. This means that the next king of Jordan will be half "Palestinian". 5. Fully half of Jordan's parliament is made up of "Palestinian" lawmakers. 6. Jordan's chambers of commerce report an even higher "Palestinian" membership. 7. Jordan's economic infrastructure is in "Palestinian" hands, particularly since the Gulf War, when they were expelled from the Gulf States and settled in Jordan with their money, spurring a tremendous construction boom and an economic explosion as they built businesses based on money they brought from the Gulf. 8. Jordan's capital, Amman, has more "Palestinians" than any other city in the world. 9. The Jordanian flag is therefore the EXACT same flag as the "Palestinian" flag- the only difference being the addition of a star for the King. 10. After World War I, various parts of the former Ottoman Empire in the Middle East were restructured. On April 11, 1921 the British gave the name The Emirate of Transjordan to about 80% of what they were due to be allocated as the Palestine mandate. It became an autonomous political state under British administration under the nominal auspices of the League of Nations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan 11. At the end of World War I, the territory now comprising Israel, Jordan, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem was awarded to the United Kingdom by the League of Nations as the mandate for Palestine and Transjordan. In 1922, the British divided the mandate by establishing the semi-autonomous Emirate of Transjordan, ruled by the Hashemite Prince Abdullah, while continuing the administration of Palestine under a British High Commissioner. The mandate over Transjordan ended on May 22, 1946; on May 25, the country became the independent Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Jordan 12. Jordan is "Palestine": http://www.therightroadtopeace.com/eng/DefaultEng.html

Israeli soldiers used to come into nablus -unarmed , and have breakfast or lunch. shoping, trade , buisness, leasure...everything used to work and in both directions. ....peaceful times, trade, and basic simple respect of people make good neighbours......in the case of a peaceful solution, within a few years the relationship between the two sides will be better than you guys expect ...... the relegious right n both sides wil have shut-up becasue they will have no audience anymore ...... please think about the following statement and think how dangerous and damaging it is: "Most palestinians and (even arabs) have never dealt with a Jewish person who was not carrying a GUN". just a quick comment about some of the previuos posts, there is nothing going on between palestinian christians and muslims, if your source for this is linda reviera then i feel sorry for you.... Europians are not as repentant as you might think.... you all know that .... Jordan will never be palestine, palestinians will rather live in this crap for the rest of their lives. the same way israel was a dream for you, palestine is a dream to us......

IF the Pals get a state, it's not going to be part of Israel. The only other alternative is to have the Pals be integrated as citizens of Egypt (Gaza) or Jerusalem (the Arab areas of Judea and Shomron). Oh, the Jordanians and Egyptians won't agree? Well, we won't either. You're back to where you started. The Pals have to throw away the "resistence" card or be met with equal and opposite resistence, and the result will be no state for Palestinians. You may not think that's fair, but you should not put yourself in the place of forcing something even more unfair on Jews.

So the arabs will be majority in 10-20 years?? Blah, blah, blah The leftists have been saying this for more than 10-20 years, going back to 67 and before. Why does sit never come true?

The arabs are already the majority. That is if we believe PLO statistics plus count Russian olim, Israeli Druse & foreign workers as Arabs.

...this is true. If the occupation continues, we are sooner or later going to be forced to enfranshize the Palestinians and grant them all the citizenship right. And we know what that would mean. I can't believe we are so naively being led to destruction by a small gang of fanatical cowboys. The majority of Israelis who're sick and tired of the failed and pernicious settlement enterprise HAS to raise of their behinds and start demanding an urgent withdrawal and quitting the settlements. The viability of Israel is at stake.

Abdel although my questions were largely rhetorical, you really didn't address the issues instead sorta just confused things by going in a different direction. I want to be clear I don't pay any attention to Linda Rivera or any of the other hate spewing people. The situation of Christians has been featured on BBC, CNN Eye on Middle East and a variety of other reputable sources with no particular ax to grind. And yes I know that Europe is not as repentant as would be ideal but they are repentant and are trying to take some measures to not return to the previous ways. The Arabs in contrast have never shown any shame in their treatment of minorities or Jews. My point still stands that the Arab world is an extremely intolerant envirionment and all the ancient animosities have returned with a vengence since the collapse of the colonial overlords after the 1rst and 2nd wars. Sadly minority coomunities exist at the whim of anti democratic strongmen who protect the minorities further fueling festering animosities. I only need to look at Algeria, the murders of Copts in Egypt, or the havoc being played out in Darfur or Iraq. No community feels safe to trust their fortune to any other communities goodwill. I think that the Palestinian are a part of the Arab world and they behave in the same way. For consideration, Josef cohen

anyone who supports a one-state solution has no interest in peace, and has a greater interest in bloodletting! a goal of all talks is to have these two peoples rule themselves, and not have a foreign lord. anyone who advocates a one state solution clearly supports the concept of one nation being the lord over another people. being a lord over another people does not work! lebanon, yugoslavia, etc. do not work. it is a veiled attempt to destroy not only the state of israel, but any jewish national self-reliance.

I lived on kibbutz and travelled extensively throughout the country in 1987 before the intifada. Abdel is right. Time was, the bus from Tiberius to Jerusalem would stop at a restaurant in Jericho for lunch. Many Jerusalem Israelis will still go to the old city for Arab Humous and Pita, still thought to be the best. Most of the naysayers never were in the country to see this and don't really know people from both sides. It took time for the situation to escalate to the point it has reached now. It doesn't mean that it can't go back. In addition, Palestinians and Israeli Arabs are the only Arabs familiar in any way with Israelis or that speak Hebrew. They have the potential to be the Best Arab allies that Israel can have. If allowed to be.

The 2 state solution is already a long dead option; the Zionists saw to that when they screwed up Oslo. The only alternative now is the one state solution; those that don't agree should have the option of a reduced-price one-way ticket (Easyjet can lay on a special no-frills service) back to the USA; we know how highly the American goyim estime the Zionists so there will be no re-absorption problems there. Ha shana habaa ba York hehadash!

Baskin and Siniora state the one state solution will become the newest trend. I for one do not see the possibilty. Once Israel seals off those parts of Judea and Samaria essential for their well being, the Pals will eventually be absorbed by Jordan. No Pal state will ever be viable, no matter how much terrirory they are given. The world will eventually come to understand this but as always, only after more bloodshed. There is no need for second Pal state and this option will allow them to stay where they are and be under arab rule which is the most they deserve.

My original intention with my post was just to remind people that at a certain point the situation was very different, and all this hate currently boiling is relatively new...... And you're right Josef, I did not address the main issue... a one state solution will never work. It could have worked 20years ago, but even if it did, we would be fighting now about votes and election results or even something else. Each side will want to be in control especially with the large populations on both sides......... As for the situation with Christians, you are also 'partially' right, and there is a lot of nasty and unnecessary stuff happening especially in Egypt and Darfur. It is wrong, and it is shameful, it is partially the fault of some Islamic leaders for not putting a stop to it.. But there is a lot more at play here, in Egypt the class divide is just horrible with Christians being more influential and richer, whereas poverty in the rural areas especially within the majority of Muslim population is just unbelievable (you have to see it to believe it). In Sudan, the government is completely at fault and should be held accountable by the international community. Yet, I think the conflict in Sudan is more ethnic than religious though .... In the Palestinian community, there are incidents, but over all it is unfair to say that the Muslims are persecuting the Christians. the difference are there but are rarely violent...........it is important to remember that Arabs, and Muslims like any other ethnic or religious groups are not homogeneous, therefore the situation differs from country to another .. And also, that the persecution of minorities (sadly !!) takes place throughout the world especially in developing countries.... I think that the more people become religious (regardless of the religion) the less they become tolerant towards other people, at the same time miserable living conditions, especially when conflict is involved makes people more and more religious .......therefore less tolerant....it is a vicious cycle !!! Tolerance will only prevail when the conflicts in the region end ...... sorry about the Linda rivera comment, she always uses the same christian persecutaion crap, i thought you were doing the same....

International law gives the right of self-determination. Both Jewish and Arab-Palestinian peoples have that right. If both of them elect to live with each other in a single state, then it will be. If either one elects to have its own state, then that is what will be. If you want to change it, you first must go to UN and convince that "self-determination of peoples" is a stupid idea and that European and American busybodies and their transplants into Israel should be in charge of deciding such things. Otherwise, butt out.

When will the world realize there already is an Arab Palestinian state and there is no justification for a second one. The borders between Israel and The Jordanian-Palestinian Federation are almost complete. This is the ONLY feasibile solution. I just hope it doesnt take decades longer for Israelis to realize this. Never trust the Europeans since they never learn from their mistakes. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and Amman is the capital of the Jordanian-Palestinian federation. This is a fact. Why is it so difficult for Arabs to accept facts and so easy for them to accept lies. Stop following the Arab Nazi doctrine and start following REAL history.

You do realize that it is the Jews who are the natives to Judea and Samaria, and not the Arabs? You also realize that its the British who helped Arabs steal Jewish land there? Learn your history.

David Landman, yours is a very subjective view of history, hardly big T truth. 'REAL' history makes you the dogmatic ideologue, not Arabs. I appreciate Lisa, Abdul and Yosi's comments. My only concern is this tarring Arabs with the same brush, painting them as inherently unable to live plurastically. Lebanon is a pluralistic democracy a few years older than Israel. Yes it had a civil war but there are other factors at play here. At one time in the recent past (last century) the Jewish population of Baghdad was a THIRD and they coexisted quite harmoniously for the most part. I am not denying that some Arab countries have a political culture that seems inimacle to democracy and have a long way to go. But neither are our our so-called western liberal states the pinnacle of democracy, my Prime Minister, along with Bush and Blair, lied about the Iraq war and we have been creeping ever closer towards fascism and the ewrosion of our civil liberties. I would ask thse of you who make blanket generalisations about the suppposed character of Arabs to substitute 'Jews' and see how absurdly inapplicable the generalisations are. Lastly, coming back to Israel/ Palestine, a one state policy is possible, and it is a tragedy that Israel will not be able to relinquish the Zionist part of its constructed national identity. Thanks for your consideration. Respectully, Ann

I made the mistake of posting these comments on Israpundit, a forum of Israeli advocacy. -------------------------------- As a left-leaning retired Professor who is neither Jewish nor Muslim but is ever curious about what is happening in the Middle-East, I stumbled across your info-exchange called IsraPundit. I submitted a comment about the inevitable apartheid nature of a one-state solution. I might as well have lectured the Flat Earth Society about Mercator cartography, for I failed to note that IsraPundid was committed to pro-Israel advocacy. That the Arab citizens of Israel receive different treatment from the state in such areas as education, health care, taxation, housing permits, etc., is an established fact. This system of a dual class of citizens is called apartheid and would certainly be perpetrated in any one-state solution. But this is not what subscribers to IsraPundit wanted to hear. To such an audience whose beliefs are shaped by faith and passion, my comment was unacceptable. I apologize for my intrusion.

the palestinians have shown they hate jews and want separation, so now the road to 2 states is past the point of no return. if they changed their mind, too bad.

Abdel, Yes I think we are probably pretty much on the same page. I used to think that if just Israelis and Palestinians could negotiate without interference then the desire for peace would lead to a mutually satisfactory solution. There would obviously be compromise that would leave both sides with injured feelings but the positives would enable them push it thru. Now I no longer see that the rhetoric has hotted up so much that there is little good will on either side. So I am saying a 1 state solution would never be accepted by Israel just leading to continued conflict. I agree also that there is diversity in the Arab world and I am always saying that Arabs are not a race. However Palestinians do exist within the same religious and cultural structures as the other Arab peoples and pluralism is not a social norm there yet. Yes the problem is a lot more complicated than religion. Berbers, Kurds, Darfurians are Muslim. And yes I agree that many parts of the less developed world have ethnic problems. I don't mean to suggest that this somehow fundamentally Arab. I am simply saying Minorities are very vulnerable in the Middle East. You point out the Christians, Copts, in Egypt and it again reflects a lot of my point. You have anti democratic leaders who use small vulnerable minorities by giving them privilege in exchange for loyalty. I said this exacerbates existing tensions and fuels greater resentments. I also want to make clear that in my early travels thru the Muslim world my feeling was that most people just wanted what everybody else wanted a better life for themselves and family. Now I see big changes and religious extremism gaining greater ground and credibility. These people have no red lines. Consequently I see many people afraid to say anything public or take a stand. This only increase their abilities and influence and again minorities are especially vulnerable. We see this being played out all over. Just a week or so ago in the south of Thailand, Islamic insurgents killed a number of Muslim village leaders and their families, including the children to make it clear that their authority was not to be challenged. The same is even being done more savagely in Iraq. As for the people arguing about 2 and 3 states, my perspective is that if we in Israel decide to separate into smaller entities as stupid as it may be it is our right. The same principal applies to the Arabs if they want a confederated state with Jordan and/or Egypt with the laundry list of benefits that might confer on them that is their business and it is their business if they want multiple states. The number of states is not the issue it is about 2 different people both getting what they need most. Abdel this is just written as I wake up so it isn't nessarily the most cogent thing I have ever committed to. However if you read thru my posts you won't see me spewing the level hatred here that I probably find as offensive as you. Respectfully, Josef Cohen

Standish I frankly expect more from an academic. Apartied was a system of laws that legalised racism and structured rights and privelege accordingly. The Arabs in Israel do suffer discrimination but they have the same legal status as anybody else. I am not going to get into a debate about it's wrong and things are improving on some fronts and getting worse in others which is largely a reflection of the larger conflict. However Racism, discrimination class are issues in many countries and I don't think anybody would suggest that they are Apartied regimes. France immediately comes to mind. The recent riots talked about discrimination the immigrants suffer but I never heard anybody suggest that France is an Apartied state. The same is true of the US where you reside. Although Aparteid was legal 40 years ago, the legacy still readily visible, there are no longer any legal racial categories giving priveledge except to redress grievavnces. So I have to give pause as to why you would come on this list and use such emotional rhetoric. As a I am greatly distressed to see the conflict being increasingly categorized as a race conflict. This presupposes at the worst that we are just 2 completely different races and with such a gap there can be no possibility of common ground. The problems between Jews and Arabs is ethnic\religious not racial! This rhetoric is just hotting up an already explosive conlict and race baiting is just distracting us from addressing the real issues. For consideration, Joef Cohen

they willreject that and go for the one state if israel continue its policy in east jerusalem and building the wall beyound the 1967 line ...and they will continue their miscalculated actions . it is a matter of pride and definitley not a leftover issues . Sharon will pay the price by destroying the entity that he once created 4-5 decades ago . and for # 3 ...it doesn't matter really in a one state solution what you call it ...because the majority (the palestinians ) will change the name to "palestin". it is a win win anyway ,time is on our side . good reading is "the thieft of a nation " ..great book .

We officialy demand to live in peace and harmony with our the jewish people in this land. We will respect you and demand that you respect us Christians and muslims. this is the best solution

Israeli Arabs can vote. Israeli hospitals are blind to ethnic origin. Arab families visiting relatives in Israeli hospitals raid the patients' food as if it was a free food buffet. If you want many more examples you should visit Israel without your anti-Israel blinders on. You know *nothing* about South African Apartheid based on the statements you made. Congratulations on having the IQ to be president of the Flat Earth society. Or maybe just a member in good standing.

Basic geography says Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank are not all connected at any single point. This forces the question: Will Israel be divided or with Gaza and the West Bank stay divided? The Arabs have turned down requests for peace in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1993, and other dates. The Arabs and Pals don't have a good track record coming to the negotiating table. There is no basis in facts on the ground or anything else for Pals to ask Israel to divide so that the West Bank and Gaza can be connected. That request was the first victim of Arafat's Y2K War. You could have had that in the Summer of 2000. But now it is just history.

#18 has a reality problem ..this land was promised to the believers of god .. jews were asked to go there from egypt because they then were the only believers ..after that two religion were born...da.... christians also ..(Jesus...or ISSA PBUH ) was born there ..remember ?. Jerusalem was our first Qibla (praying destination )..and prophit Muhammed PBUH assencion was made from Jerusalem in his visit to the ski (the ISRAA Night )..to connect the city again to the heart of the new believers (the muslims ) .the blessed land around jerusalem and the alaqsa mosque were mentioned several times in the quran ..sorry for the inconvenience ,really . my point to you #18 is get out of the BOX and think global ,think faith,think of the creator who created you and me ... you need to stop thinking like my 4 years old (its mine its mine ,)...or some of the comments still wants to consider jordan as palestine .. well if this is the case ..new york is israel then ..go figure.