"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......" That's true! I'm living in this land (Israel) since 1977 and I can attest to that. I travelled (also by myself all alone) extensively throughout the whole area - and I can honestly say I never met insecure situations and friendly faces were not area-related. Whereas now.... I'm not even able to come to visit -say- you in Nablus - I'd be too chicken :( How is it getting to Tel-Aviv? Do you experience problems? See, how sad. I don't even know how the situation is regarding this in this country - the country I used to criss-cross.... I notice on forums and talkbacks much hate coming from outside the region. Jews or Muslims or Christians - foreigners. I don't see any solution as long as outside opinions are considered at all. This based on my experiences with the people of this region before the intifadas.

Hallelujah! For one thing we American will stop sending billions of dollars every month. I'll be more than happy when that day arrives.

british illegally created Jordan on 2./3 of the territory of palestine. it is a part of history, and not that long ago that you cannot check it. there're people still alive when the present-day jordan was still a part of palestine.

Israelis are not "your Jewish people." They will never be dhimmis in your state. You want to live in a Jewish country, fine, but remember, it is you who is a minority a/k/a "their Arab people' ; or go and live in Jordan, which is on 2/3 of the land of Palestine and there you'll be a majority. And should Jordan permit Jews to live there, which currently it does not, they will be your jewish people.

I have a few question for you how big a part is islam in palestinian sociey and what about the younger generation is it a big part of their lives.And in all honesty how are non muslims treated.The one state solution does seem to becoming more and more likely i mean i hope it doesent happen but if it does truthfully how would the israelis fair i mean would it be like south africa or zimbabwe .I personally cant help thinking that for a lot of palestinians who want one state see it as a way to get rid of israelis they hope that if it does happen they will all leave

Who cares I never thought the Palestineans would be satisfied with a two state solution anyway. Israel should hold strong and make her own borders and not the 67 borders the fence represents but real secure borders deep into the West Bank.

Maybe they should make the US a Palestian State.. Toronto US?? Typical Canadian does not know which country he lives in.

They cant make their borders deep into the west bank because that would be aparthied and the international community wouldnt allow it.If the israelis insist on sush a thing it will be the new south africa and eventually they will be force to give in to the one state option.I hope to god peretz wins in the election because he is their last hope

Islam never had a big part in the Palestinian community before the problems (the intifadas). Currently, the role of Islam is becoming stronger simply because in any conflict, people tend to be more religious due to their losses, deaths, and fears..... And this is normal to any community, even in Israel; the religious right became stronger during the conflict....... As for the younger generations, a lot of them (including me) have spent most of their lives living in a conflict zone... so the answer is yes, Islam has a strong presence, but not as widespread as you might imagine. the reason in my opinion is because people are just sick and tired of everything in this conflict, and their miserable lives... actually large numbers of the younger generations left the country looking for jobs, because this is no life, it is hell....No saftey, vast unemployment, movment and travel restrictions, a dead economy, and running for your life is a daily activity sadly.... As for the one state solution, it has very little support. most of the support it has comes from Palestinians living in Jerusalem, because they know that in the case of a two state solution, Israel might force them to move to the Palestinian state therefore they would lose everything...the rest of the Palestinian population don't want a one state solution (at least that is what I think is the case). .... And let us assume that a one state solution will take place, I doubt that Palestinians will have significant power in such a state, therefore it would be a state filled with ethnic / religious/ and class tensions... It simply will not work..... i hope i answered you questions,

First, I would say the one state solution ends Israel and I cannot imagine how many Jews would die as a result, so I am not surprised to see Palestinian "intellectuals" in favor of it. Some of the comments- ship them back where they came from and cutting off US aid for Israel are made by the kind of people who need to look in the mirror and say- "it is because of people like me that Israel has developed a nuclear deterent." History is a not a static thing. Events happen and events have consequences. I would rather an Israel that exists in war than a memory that rests in peace. Palestinian failures, in policy, leadership and economics built the fence and the current reality, it is not what the intellectuals think that matters, what matters are what Palestinians do with Gaza and the areas they govern on the West Bank. Israel will act, as she should to protect herself and her people from the likes of the haters on these posts, the Palestinians, in particular, Arafat, have their moment right now- war did not and given Israel's powerful armies, will not work. Israel does want peace, but only the Palestinians can make it a reality. Borders are unimportant, they are man made concepts and meant to change, it is the relationship between peoples that matters.

Peretz not a chance there would be a Civil war there is no way I could support his foreign policy and his suicide borders he would draw up. That is why so many labor people are leaveing him. As far as apartheid is concern there is a lot of areas of the West Bank that does not have a much Arab population and that would not be a issue. And another thing who cares what the EU thinks they are Anti Israel anyway.

Jordon is a Palestian state 75% is Palestinian ruled by a minority Hashimite king given to the Arabs in the 1921 British mandate so for all those people who continue to think they have no state they are totally wrong. By the way that same manadate gave Israel and today's Israel and the West Bank as a Jewish State. Israel is a Jewish state and there is no way we will ever give that up. We would never give that up. The British mandate was sanctioned by the League of nations then which in essence was the UN.

Don't you dare declare our beloved country Palestine. Jordan is for the jordanians and Palestine is for the arabs and 1948 Israel for ISrael.

If the Palestineans want NY State they can have it but does not change the fact that Jordon is a Palestinan state with 75% population. Read your History. Israel is the one state

It is ruse. The Arabs have learned to use the democracies of various countries, Israel included for their own purposes. They know that if they agree to one state that demographically they would soon be the masters. Even today, Arabs are in the Israeli Knesset and are really Trojen horses, They certainly do not vote for the good of a Jewish country. I agree with Baruch, Joran is their country. They tried once to completely overrun that country and King Hussein petioned and got the help of Israel to oust them that Black September when they fled to and invaded Lebanon. They are a pestilence whereever they go and that is why even the various Arab nations do not want them. They were ousted from Libya, Kuwait and kept in camps in Lebanon. Only Jordan offered them citizenship--that's because it is a nation of Palstinians ruled by Hashimites from Arabia. Jordan has the natural born Palestinians. Those who claim to be Palestinian and live in Israel are mostly from other places, Egypt, Syria, Morocco etc. who came to Palestine after the arrival of Jewis Chlutzim for economic reasons because the Jews had made the land bloom and productive which hitherto had been hositle to living--maleria ridden swamps and deserts.

I know your dream--that is to slaughter all the Jews and steal what they worked and died for. You guys never did anything positive or productive. All you know is suicide bombs. Yes we saw what happens to Jews who wander for some reason or another into "Palestinian" hands. We saw how you treated them, slaughtering them and hanging their bodies out windows. Why should anyone trust you.

As if you ever gave a damn about Israel's viability

Look no further than what has happeneed in Bethlehem. Before Israel tunred the town over to the PA it consisted of mostly Christian Arabs. Once under the PA they suffered such persecution, most Christians had to flee for their lives and most Christians are now gone from that area. Look what desecration they did to the Church of the Nativity. I can't imagine why any Christian would support the PA

Lisa my dear you are being very naive. I also lived in Israel--though many years ago when the state of Israel was new. I met many Arabs and we even interacted with them socially. Never once did any of them consider themselves as Israeli or Palestinians. They were Irqi, Syrian, Egyptian, Morrocco etc, and they proudly proclaimed their differences. They wore different colored kaffias and even their Arabic was different so that they often had difficulty understanding each other dialects. Since I was America, we conversed in English or sometimes in French. Most of them knew a little Hebrew but none were interested in being Israeli. They assured me that Israel would be short lived.

Is that why you sit in antisemitic England?

My dear Anne, it is you who does not know history. I will admit that I did not really know too much about Australian history until I saw the documentary today on tv about your ancestors, the criminals and prostitutes. You have done a remarkable job from such a lowly beginning. Do not expect such advances from the Palestinian Arabs. Here are a group of people who have lived on the dole for 60 years expecting the world to give them a living and the only thing they have done is murder innocent people and try to steal lives and livelihoods from Jews who have given their all to make a democratic and prosperous nation out of desert and malaria ridden swamps. If you are so generous, then I suggest that you make a new country for your aborigenes. After all they were there first which is not something you can say about the Arabs. Their native land is afterall the Arabian pennisula.

There is evidence that Palestinians have attempted a mega terrorist plot where a massive bomb could take out several blocks of buildings and people killing thousands in one go. Such attempts have been reported in Debka - ok might even have been made up but still not beyond the realms of possibility and lets face it, don't you think Hamas Islamic Jihad would love to have a try? If that were to happen then i could see a massive backlash from the Israeli side involving a transfer of several hundred thousand Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan. After that, the problem as outlined in this article would be gone.

Hilda, thanks for the amusement you provided. I think I'm aware of Australia's history and of its wonderful indigenous population, bt thanks for your take on things. Luckily, I have some great American friends who provide me with a better template of how nice and decent Americans are, including Lisa on # 53. I think those Israeli Jews in power have "given it their all", with a few notable exceptions. My dear, not only do I study history, I teach it. But I am not here to preach to you, only to listen, and occasionally to post comments. Should you wish to be nasty and brutush that's entirely your affair. There's never one way to view history and no "right" (read Israeli government) perspective on things - think for yourself for a change my dear. You might then stop demonising the Palestinians who just want what most others want - a peaceful existence.

There is no difference with the maps of the Clinton Plan and the 95% plan preposed by Sharon. What a snow job. Israel is being lied to.

Obviously you don;t give a damn that Jewish blood is shed daily by these peace-loving Palestinians. That you Lisa were able to enter Palestinian areas peacefully is interesting. You did not tell us that you were perhaps protected by an Arab lover? To Anne, don;t you patronize me. I'm sure Lisa the Arab lover is more appetising than hearing the truth. You may know more about Australia but you know nothing of Israel or Judaism. Austraia has lots of room in its interior, bring your Palestinians there and make a Palestine there in your deserts. but then they are not good at making deserts b loom. They need ews to go before them and do the work .