Opinion
Peace virus is back
Gadi Baltiansky
Published: 11.10.07, 19:29
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23 Talkbacks for this article
1. Peace Virus
Larry ,   Canada   (10.11.07)
It is my view that Israel's position of saying very little about the upcoming process is in error. The Fatah government has come out with their list of demands .Maybe Israel should come out with theirs such as no right of return , 1967 borders were valid in 1967 not 2007 and Jerusalem will for the most part remain in Israeli control. Can you imagine walking on Shabat to the Kottel and having to pass through Palistian check points? I think not. unless we start negotiating from a strong position the end results will only make Israel look poor.
2. He is already enjoying missiles in Tel Avivv
Itzik ,   Haifa   (10.11.07)
This guy can't wait for missiles flying into Tel Aviv. What a joy1. We can't wait for this oppotunity. Kassams in Gaza are nothing. They don't bring joy to his mind. He wants more, much more. The real long range peace. He should move to Sderot if can't wait for the long range stuff.
3. Can you negotiate with a murderer?
Bruriah Sarah   (10.11.07)
Hamas and Fatah want to destroy Israel. Abbas wants land that belongs to Israel. Hamas and Fatah have been sending terrorists to either fly deadly kassams to civilian areas or for suicide bombers to blow themselves up. Since the IDF has been foiling the suicide bombers - it seems ok, but it isnt. Hamas and Fatah will join forces after it becomes a state...and "Palestine" will become a terrorist state...officially.
4. Fully agree with article
Korem ,   New York, USA   (10.11.07)
5. very easy to stop the peace process
alun ,   london uk   (10.11.07)
attack Iran ,the iranians,Syrians and Palestinians will retaliate against Israel ,US forces and British forces in the Mid East and against Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and then Israel the US and UK can destroy Iran Syria and the Palestinians this will lead to the end of The WAR ON TERROR and then there will be true peace
6. Qassems schmassems
Joel ,   Ossining USA   (10.11.07)
I wonder what the government plans to do if after leaving the west bank some armed militia decides to lob missiles into Israel. I guess if they land in the North and not in Tel Avis they won't worry - after all Qassems schmassems.
7. Peace Virus
mark ,   westfield usa   (10.11.07)
I have been a right wing Jew all my life and to be honest, this is the most optimistic I have felt about a potential peace deal. I do believe that Abba's is trying to reign in terror. He saw what would happen if he didn't. He lost Gaza. He doesn't want to lose the West Bank as well. I know that Abbas is asking for a complete pullout to pre-1967, but If there could be an agreed upon land swap, with no right of return, this would enable most Israeli settlements to remain in Israel, and Israel can swap the land with the most Arab Israelis on it. I would be very clear to Abbas: If missiles or suicide bombings start again, you will lose your new state. I think its worth a risk.
8. "Peace Virus"
Ray ,   USA   (10.11.07)
There is a Virus al right and it is carried by this gentleman of the defunct Geneva Initiative. This infection is of the "Learn Nothing From History" modified by the "learn nothing from the present actions of your enemies". What stupidity.
9. # 5 Veru easy To Stop the so-called peace process
Kelly   (10.11.07)
Alun By mentioning those countries like Britain sorry don't trust them! The US yes,BUT! they have enough on their plate as it is.Do you think they'll take another one? You sound like G.Wya with his coalition of the willing,which would be good to implement and attack Iran and Syria who are their proxis.I am rather pessimistic,but worry not,this meeting in Annapolis will not succeed in any case.Just another phot opportunity,a lot of wafling at the end they'll say:Oh well,back to the drawing board. So yes,the dreaded virus is back. We will overcome providing Olmert doesn't dither or give anymore away..
10. Of course the talks will fail - if they even take place !
redmiike ,   tel aviv and london   (10.12.07)
the two sides are light years apart and the PA, Israel and the US know this. They are not close to agreement on anything! I don' know whether Olmert might personally be ready to agree on something but he knows that there is nothing that he could get through the Knesset and rightfully so. The PA is doing nothing about stopping terror and simply demands more and more unrealistic things. A corridor between 90% of the West Bank and Gaza? For what? The right of return to Israel proper? etc etc By the middle of December the talks will have been forgotten - if they even take place that is. I don't like Olmert but he is a master liar and well suited to outfoxing Mazen who is also a master liar. The raising of expectations was the biggest mistake!
11. Peace Virus
Martin ,   Boston, USA   (10.12.07)
What a revealing choice of words by the author. Although the author clearly suffers from a severe delusional psychosis, he is right about one thing; the peace movement in Israel is a very dangerous disease which threatens the life of the Jewish people and the survival of Israel.
12. A lot of us died from the last outbreak of peace virus.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (10.12.07)
The "Oslo" strain oif this virus killed thousands & left others wounded. This new strain of "Annapolis" virus looks to be even more virulent. Some of us believe a vaccine called common sense could prevent great harm to our population while a very few believe in faith healing even though it proved most ineffective before.
13. #7 - "peace virus"
dan kaplan ,   usa   (10.12.07)
re your last sentence: isn't that the exact words that sharon said when israel "disengaged" from gaza ?
14. You don't understand Olmert at all
Ron ,   Tel Aviv   (10.12.07)
Olmert will do everything, and I mean everithing, to make a few dollars for his family. He already agreed to sell Jerusalem. This question is already solved. He is very weak and can't care less what will happen next. He will leave Israel soon after the rockets will fall on Tel Aviv. You people are very naive about Olmert. He wants to get out of Israel himself, move to New York or LA, and he thinks only about himself and nobody else. I am surprised about you alsolute misunderstanding of Olmert and his family.
15. # 4, ignorance is BLISS..
Watchman777 ,   Usa   (10.12.07)
the ANCIENT OF DAYS will not tolerate HIS beloved J-salem being divided and handed over to gentiles (YOU need to read the book of Joel). HE will deliver HARSH punishment to those responsible. The USA ( because of our illustrious elected officials) will be included, because they have pushed for peace "at any cost."
16. There can be no peace with Islamic Jihadists
Petra ,   USA   (10.12.07)
My wish for the arabs is the same as they wish for Israelis.
17. 2-State "Solution" Is No Solution
new_york_loner ,   Rochester, NY   (10.12.07)
Even if the elusive goal of a 2-state solution were ever realized, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict will continue. Two armed and unrepentant sides staring each other down for all eternity is not the answer. The only long-term solution is the one-state, bi-national solution. A de-militarized, re-unified Palestine - where Muslims, Jews and Christians respect and tolerate each other - is the most logical way to answer the burning question - "who has legitimate title to the land.?" Sharing the land of Palestine may confound the end-times extremists and the militant theocrats, but it could extend the life expectancy of human civilization on earth. Consensual annexation of the occupied territories and full-citizenship for the residents living there should be the goal, not more apartheid, more Jim Crow and more polarizing partitions. Sadly, the Israel Lobby, the Defense Lobby and the Energy Lobby - collectively known as the War Lobby - would never stand for such a pragmatic and equitable solution.
18. More like peace dementia
Ilan ,   Ariel   (10.12.07)
The paradigm is quite clear. The Arabs and their supporters kep upping the ante with every Israeli concession. And why not? To the Israeli left Zionism is little more than theft with the pathetic excuse of "but where else could we go?". As to why they think that Arabs should pay the price of European discrimination, I couldn't begin to explain. We should be straight and honest about our intentions. Israel is our land and we are here by right and not by favour. Our right in international law goes back to the Mandates foundation post WWI, but our our moral right to the beginnning of Western civilization.
19. Peace - no way
Juan ,   Spain   (10.12.07)
Peace would be wonderful, wouldn't it. But the Palestinians have nothing to offer in exchange for all they are demanding. Only a cessation of illegal terrorist attacks. What they are demanding is not theirs. If they say "PEACE", there will be no peace. they will blame the continued attacks on "renegade groups and militants that cannot be controlled". What happened after Oslo? Try for peace, but don't hold your breath.
20. Hamas-Abbas talks resume
John ,   Chicago   (10.14.07)
PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas told Sudan's president he will talk with Hamas after the Annapolis summit, reports Al Hayat.
21. 9# trusting the British
alun ,   london uk   (10.14.07)
i do not trust the British either but man plans and G-d laughs in 1956 the British were threatening to attack Israel but G-d engineered the Suez crisis and Israel the British and the French were allies in the 1956 Sinai campaign . War makes strange bedfellows
22. Good: Leave us alone
daniel   (10.16.07)
I hope that after yet another failed summit the world gets sick of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so that Israel finally gets a little freedom to do what must be done.
23. How Tragic...
Ariella ,   L.A. USA   (10.16.07)
... that we are now so afraid of peace. What happened to us? We used to be its champions. We used to have songs about it, prayers about it. Why don't we want it now? I submit to you that the reason we now reassure each other that "nothing will come of it," meaning a peace conference, is that we know that peace everyone around us talks about is not actually peace, but some forced agreement which fails to recognize that we are dealing with an enemy who will use any means necessary, including an apparency of agreeing to peace, to commit genocide and wipe us all out. We know this truth - other nations don't. And we don't tell them that because we have become afraid of they will think of us. We have become reliant on their good opinion of us. And now we gauge all our actions on how we will look to them. We have to cooperate. Gone are the days when we were the ones who told those other nations what needs to happen in order to bring REAL peace to our region. Gone are the the days we were confident we knew better than them the nature and intent of our enemy. Gone are the days when we were free to protect our little country from a crazed, drugged, inhumane, psychotic enemy. Its PR machine succeeded to the point that now WE are afraid of it. We have lost our independence and integrity. And we are well on our way to lose Israel altogether.
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