I encourage Israel to solve the Palestinian problem immediately and while we have a Palestinian side who is willing to make a final deal, all 1967 must be returned and all settlements must go in those areas. Jerusalem capital of both states...cooperation attitude instead of confrentation The Iranian nuclear power will soon be with us. Israel needs to be legitimate and have solved the palestinian problem to ensure that Iran has no cause to hit israel with it. Of course every one will lose including israel... Frankly we all have to worry if israel does not change its attitude toward others and palestinians...

oh so the palestinians will be happy when israel moves to 67 borders, that will definetly make them stop the terrorists attacks, its a shame that are still people out there who think that giving in to terrorism will make them stop, and i love the way its israel who has to change their policy, while of course the arab policy is absoloutly justified, always israel has to change, its only when terrorists will one day g-d forbid hold the whle world hostage by some nuclear weapon of some sort, that you will wake up and realize, that appeasing terror wont make it go away.

And who the hell are the Iranians to lecture us on what we should be doing? Beside that, it is about "wiping Israel off the map" for them, not about finding a solution to the war in this region. So I say to Iran to BRING IT ON. They are backing for a smack down from Israel and from the rest of the western world.

Given the situation in Israel the fact that 77% of Israelis feel that even in 20 years there will be no change in the Israeli Arab conflict IS optimistic. The vast majority of Israeli's apparently believe that in 20 years Israel will actually still exist and the conflict will continue. Pessimists (like myself) believe that 20 years from now Israel will have "disengaged" into the sea an no longer exist. The writer of this piece clearly doesn't "get it".

I am very optimistic about Israel is 20 years. Its a wonderful country: homeland to the Jews, with some of the best technology, agriculture, culture, military in the world. I am extremely proud of what Israel has done since its recreation. Solve the Palestinian problem? Its done. They have one country on 78% of historic Palestine. They dont deserve another. Their constant racism, terrorism, and total lack of teaching of tolerance and historical fact in the region is reason enough to finish the peace fence and never deal with them again until they change their attitude. I see a great future for Israel with a Jewish majority and arab minority. Secularism, religion, ethinicity all blend in harmony together. We fight as brothers and love each brother also. The future is bright. The Arab world is afraid. Their evil empire is crumbling and they are pushing harder against Israel as a result. Let it fall and build the peace fence to keep the fallout away.

you are at 13 milions worldwide and the # is going down at an average of 300,000 per year (only in the USA). please do the math . john 's solution is temporary . the only solution is a one country for all ..palestinian'scompensation..admitting that 1948 was a mistake . thank you .

I can't even see past 2006. This year will see Israel being rewarded for all their appeasment and surrender for this FALSE peace of George the snake ,Bush. #1 puts the onus on Israel to 'sacrifice' for the peace while saying nothing about the terrorists he seeks to reward for all theuy have done. Either he's an idiot or a terrorist supporter.The only solution. Defeat them without mercy ,destroy their will to fight ,crush their jihad day and night without let up. Send every male Palestinian with a weapon to allah . bulldoze their terrorist centers to rubble. And if any leftist Jewish lemmings get in the way or try to stop the IDF from total VICTORY drop them off in Jenin with only a kippot before the IDF goes in to raze the terrorist town to the ground. I'm sick of the mentally derranged extremist left who look out for the terrorist and weaken Israel and tie their hands with humanatarian garbage . These same devils are silent as the Plaestinians show no mercy as they attack Jewish families in their cars,their homes ,fire misslies into Israeli cities ,blow up buse's and returants and malls full of women and children.These savages deserve n omercy ,no respect only the grave. Israel used to know how to fight and win wars .Then Israel got hooked on the U.S. treat and the poison milk has deballed the Jewish peole and made them incompetent fools who help their enemeis to destroy them. WAKE UP !!!!!

That was the Oslo process. It was proposed by Israel and flatly rejected by the Palestinians, who then turned around and started this war. Try again will ya. And this time, before you start typing, read the recent history books.

The conflict will continue until one side has completely vanquished the other.

All foreign, military occupations have been defeated and driven out. Certainly, Jewish occupation of Palestine will not be an exception. It just ain't gonna happen.

#1. You cannot force your opponent to make peace if the opponent is not willing to have peace. It is not possible! #2. Israel is well prepared to counter any threat whether it comes from Egypt or Iran. There is no difference between the two. The Arabs don't view the agreements the way the Westerners do. They view it as a piece of paper. #3 The only way for the Jews to survive in the vile Middle Eastern neighborhood is be strong and make it very important for the Arabs to make peace with Israel. The Arabs are smart. When their interests are at stake they follow the rules and common sense. #4. The Jews have come a long way. 65 years ago the European criminals were dragging the innocent people of Jewish origin into the gas chambers but today the Jews have a piece of real estate, incredible army, institutions, etc. ready to protect the Jews. #5. Jews must be patient. The Arabs can't destroy the Jews just like the Euro anti-Semites could not kill off the Jews. Only the impatient Jews can destroy Israel. #6 The Jewish life is not meant to be easy but Jews have the unique purpose and values based on the Torah teachings which millions of people want to latch on to.

Is that I am not alone is my pessimistic outlook for Israel and the Jewish world. The first step in solving a problem (such as a mass emigration of Israeli Jews - which results in an automatic increase in the Moslim population, 60 per cent diaspora intermarriages, etc) is acknowledging that it exists. It seems like we have fortunately passed the 'everything's fine.. who cares if 1 million Jews have left Israel.. 3,000 American Jews move here every year' stage. Now we must quit the bickering and figure out how to fix this disastrous phenomenon (Jews escaping from their roots) - which could possibly turn out to be the most tragic event to hit the Jewish world yet.

He's working on the Go accord----Get out of Israel. Promoted by the dead one--Yassir Arafat. We can only hope that the other 30 percent of Israeli's wake up. This appeasement yo-yo is getting really old. Plus the missiles land so much closer now. Could some measurement classes be in order? For those that don't realize that, moving the terrorists closer----means more bombs in your backyard!

This is not 1941 Germany. What is wrong with us? I know the leftists have succeeded in making us feel like we have nothing to live for and how we are not good people but why are we listening to them? Where are our strong leaders? Where are people like Menachem Begin to stand for Israel? Pessimism is weakness and it will only worsen the situation.

and for the whole world and every one who cares about peace in the world i say that all that we the palestinians want is to live free to have our own nation and to be recognised by the world as peacefull people , and all that we are asking for is what is now called the west bank and east jerusalem as our capital , and that we are not looking to destroy israel or to throw them in the sea , and for all those who are saying that we are asking for all of what was known as palestine before 1948 and what is now israel , this is a big lie , we the palestinians know and we are the first to say that israel is here to stay , and we will be proud to have it as our neighbor , but not and never as the occupier . LONG LIVE PALESTINE AND ISRAEL AS GOOD NEIGHBORS . AND FOR THOSE WHO THINK OTHER WISE .......GO TO HELL AND STAY THERE.....

This is a country that was created under extraordinary conditions at the Mandate time and was based on various Jewish terrorist organizations, Land stealing, and finally major wars. This all did not happen by coincidence. This was all a well-planned Jewish plan to dominate the Holy Land. It was not a coincidence as many Jews claim, saying that Arabs attacked.!!! Did Arabs come to Poland to attack you. Or you came to their lands and pissed them off, then claimed you were attacked by them! BAsicly, it is not much time before Jewish lies are returned on their necks. After all, Jewish history shows us that always they bring destruction upon themselves with their own making.

of history. Firstly, of the 16 million Jews wordlwide, do you not think it is essential that we have our own country, especially after what happened during WW2?? A country that was ours to begin with. Secondly 1948 was NOT a mistake. Both Jews and the local arabs (now known as palestinians), were offered land by the British government who were the ruling nation, of what was then called "Palestine". The local arabs refused their share of the land and it was given to Egypt and Jordan. Why don't Egypt and Jordan give the palestinians their land back?? why must Israel give up her land? From this argument (of historical fact), Israel is not the occupying nation. It is so typical of Americans to give their opinion based on assumption and not fact. Learn the facts, then open your mouths.

A complete victory is not a unique strategy, yet I only see Paul Eidleberg being paid attention to who says such. Just like Meir, his words were not unique regarding the strategy right of return to their peninsula and away from their occupied land from the fertile crescent to morocco. (and spain once). BG, Rabin and Emir Faisal called for such. So you kach bashers should restrain yourself lest you condmen the left and the other for the same claim. My question is from whom does the surrender come? I say stop dealing with the disneyland charcters and deal with the brit initiated arab league for the destruction of IL. It is their surrender that would be most meaningful. That they should return from the occupied land back to their peninsula.

We have read your postings before John and it is patently clear that you are anti-Israel and pro Arab. Returning to the armistice lines of 67 is to surrender to Arab terrorism and war mongering. Israel is the Promised Land. To whom was it promised? It was promised by the Creator of the Universe to the Jews. So why should we listen to your stupid and anti-Semitic advice?

#1: Your heart is in the right place but you're naive as hell. Israel should withdraw, yes--for security, legal and moral reasons--,but that is not going to bring peace. And a nuclear Iran is simply unacceptable and has to be prevented at all costs. #4: You say to Iran "Bring it on!"--I'm not so sure we want nuclear warheads brought on Israel... - from the sky. Also, if we did have a war with Iran, bear in mind that our presence in the West Bank would emasculate our efforts by the necessity to have TWO fronts open. Staying among a hostile population that's bound to unleash all it has on us the moment we are attacked elsewhere is very dangerous. #5: The only way we're going to be in the sea in 20 years' time is if we do NOT disengage. Look at what #11 says: he's entirely right. Only, in our case, we won't be driven out--rather, we'll by and by be forced to give the Palestinians the citizenship and THAT will be the end of Israel. #15: Girl, Menachem Begin is the kind of person whom--if these were the 1970s/1980s--you'd want to stick on a pole and burn. He is the one who initiated peace negotiations with Egypt, who made enormous concessions, evacuated settlements and even whole cities--all for peace and all quite rightly in my view although even *I* think he was too soft on some issues. So be careful what you wish for, Ellie.

I just love it when people dredge up history as an answer to present-day situations and then twist it round a little bit. Firstly, history doesn't really matter. We all know what happened and we can beat the Arabs and Palestinians with it till the cows come home--to what end? Native Americans could scream ad nauseam that the US is a genocidal thief; is it going make the US go away? No, so why bother? Secondly, on a point of fact: Jordan and Egypt were NOT given Arab (Palestinian) land--they occupied it between 1948 and 1967. In 1967 it was occupied by Israel. So, yes, it IS Israel that's occupying something and it IS for Israel to stop the occupation.

I agree with Zalmy Raskin. No. 1 - who started the 1967 war - and why?

The mess is because everyone doesn't understand nor believe, apparently the land covenant, all the covenants in fact; read Psalm 132 for a precis.

Michael, 1) Whether or not history is important to you, it's important to very many Israelis and Palestinians. Don't expect Israelis to dismiss their history with the wave of your hand. Yes, like Judaism for many Jews, it's inconvenient to have to defend the past when what interests you is only the future. But, I agree with you that just like in a divorce there's no point arguing about fault or the order of events if you want to continue a peaceful arrangement with a partner. It's better not to get into these arguments. Funny how the Palestinians never learned that. We will always have different narratives of what happened here, and who has "rights" to be here. I think you'll admit that their wounds are mostly self-inflicted, and they're hellbent on blaming us for them. Therefore, your conciliatory approach will not work if the Palestinians don't share it, and the evidence is glaring that they don't. Rather, your approach is a recipe for disaster. Why are you willing, at our expense, to maintain your optimism? 2. In point of fact, the land you call "Arab" has always been occupied by your definition, by everybody from Mamluks to Ottomans to British to Egyptians to Jordanians, as if it has waited for eternity for the Palestinians to declare a state on it. The last time it wouldn't be considered "occupied", it would seem, was when they called this area "Kingdom of Judea" and the Kingdom of Israel". Hmm. The 1947 partition plan was a General Council resolution with no legal weight. The existence of Israel as a legal entity is based on the armistice agreement following the Independence War of 1949 and this agreement was not signed by any Palestinian army, because THERE WAS NO PALESTINE. It was an armistice with the Arab armies, amongst whom were Egypt and Jordan. That's how they got there. It's "disputed" land for this reason, and irrespective of how the law is finessed (rules of self-determination, and other nuances of International Law that evolved AFTER Israel became a state, especially after the Arab oil embargo of the 1970's, not coincidentally), Jews have as much right to the WB (Judea and Samaria) as part of their state and in my opinion more than Arabs. So if there's anything to "stop", it's calling Israel's presence "occupation". 3) What really would be productive is, while not calling it occupation, to agree to a peaceful arrangement with the Arabs who live here whereby there'd be a Jewish and Arab state side by side living in peace (this is the basis for the Road Map, and I doubt it will work, but whatever). For this to occur, the LAST thing we should do is withdraw unilaterally from the entire 1967 areas as you propose. If there's to be any withdrawal, it is from Arab occupied areas ON CONDITION THAT WE NOT BE ATTACKED FURTHER (which is academic because they'll never agree to it EVEN if we withdraw to 67 borders and even if they agreed I would never believe them if they said they would not attack - see Egyptian and Palestinian actions at Rafa for proof). If they think they're able to handle themselves, and the last year is ample proof that they can't, let them make do on their own, while we watch from our boundaries and wait for them to decide whether they want peace or not. If not, we don't need to prove to anybody that we know how to fight. The borders of 1967 are very far from defensible without the Arab's cooperating in making it so, (like Jordan does) and that they are not cooperating is PRECISELY why so many Israelis are pessimistic about the chances of peace with them. Contrary to your claim, it won't matter where you pull back to.

What the pollsters did not ask is whether repatriation of the arab enemy to Jordan will ultimately occur. Most Israelis would have answered yes to this question.

vewry sad that he agrees with michael.

I am open minded citizen and not closed mined thug, one way or another. I strongly believe that peace is the only way forward. Both sided can fight for ever only to finally settle. What I call for is minimum suffering on both sides in the mean time. Therefore I am pro peace, Not anti Israel, pro Palestinian rights, and please never try to call me untisemite.....If the two state solution is not good, then the alternative is one state which is not good for most jews..Need to make up pur mind here ladies and gents...have a nice day all