and you get a hunchback and more and more terrorists.

Since we are looking at the psychological aspect of our dealings with the Arabs, note should be taken of the cultural differences between Western & Middle-Eastern mentalities. In Western cultures, positive reinforcement generally works much better in most situations. We reward good behavior as a method of behavioral modification. The opposite is true in the Middle-East. Negative reinforcement is much more effecive. Punishment works. I can say this is true not just theoretically but based on my own experience over many years. But, there is a point skipped over in this analysis which is not about psychology. Our politicians make "gestures" in their own cynical political interest. It is the easy thing to do, pretending to some non-existent "progress" no matter the damage they cause. This is how they appease foreign gov't.'s as well rather than demand that others face reality. In other words, our politicians help perpetuate the myth of a "peace partner" where one clearly does not exist. It is not just the Palestinians who are irresponsible - our politicians are equally irresponsible.

Only people with no understanding of Arab mantality keep giving them bonbons to appease their barbaric upbringing on teachings of Islam. Go read the Korhan and learn why Arabs can never accept existance of Christians and Jews.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is often portrayed as some kind of "moderate," the great alternative to Hamas that can help bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The U.S. is banking on him. But what kind of moderate is he really? First and foremost, isn’t this a terrorist who rejects the Jewishness of Israel? He has refused to acknowledge the basic tenet of the 1947 United Nations resolution calling for establishment of a Jewish state and an Arab state in the British Mandate territory west of the Jordan. He has refused to endorse America's formulation of the goal of negotiations being a Jewish state and Arab state living side by side in peace. He has refused to recognize the legitimacy of a Jewish state in any part of the former Mandate. He continues to insist on the so-called "right of return" of Palestinian Arabs whose forebearers had lived in what is now Israel; that is, he insists Palestinians should have a right to move to and live in the Palestinian state established beside Israel and also have the right to move to Israel. As to historical facts : http://xrl.us/bjcgn

If you repeat the lie often enough, people will begin to believe it, and so they have. A people has been created that never existed in history. Al-Taqiya “the art of the lie” a way for Israel-bashers terrorist-appeasers, the passionate anti-Semites, to assuage their hatred and rationalize that the Jews today are no different than what we've done to them over the past 2000 years. Measure for measure. Given power and freedom, Jews act just like us. So what if their Old Testament says that they are G-d's treasured people. But the people who actually confer that special status on the Jews are in reality the anti-Semites and Jew-haters who can't seem to get Jews out of their collective consciousness. More at: http://xrl.us/bju8t

the PA continues to propagandize its people against peace with Israel. Israel should demand a gesture from the palestinians, stop incitement.

I can think of some hand gestures that the Israelis should give to Abbas.

The PA is just a terrorist organization and should be treated like that. http://www.shimshon9.com

"They are being perceived as some kind of “wild beast” that must be appeased, trained, and showered with gifts and gestures, as if they are not rational people who can be partners to genuine talks. The gesture strategy marks capitulation to the narrative that perceives them as hysterical, hot-blooded, and obsessed with honor – the kind of people who must constantly be given gifts so that they don’t suddenly leave the negotiations or dinner table. " I thought I was the only one ...

most of the prisoners who are going to e released have almost finished their period so this is a propaganda, you call these prisoners murderer what about those who kill the inocent palestinians and even the press and media people

this gesture helps the Goverment as most of the released prisoner have nearly ended their prison sentence and they unfair and injustice trials

Simply give the PA the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Forever. Get all the settlers, soldiers, roadblocks, and the Wall gone. Change all Jew-only roads to Palestinian-only roads. Let all Palestinian prisoners go. Equal water per person policy. Suddenly Hamas lives up to its word, as it always does, and you have a 15-year truce. Keep it for 15 years and Hamas will be gone. The only reason they appeared was the occupation.

Why repopulate Israel with terrorists? Release them only to Muslim Arab countries, otherwise they can stay in the hole.

It's unbelievable how self destructive Israel and Israelis such as the author of this article, has become. Abu Mazen and Salam Fayyad comprise the best Palestinian government that's ever been and, if things continue on this negative course, their will ever be. Israels capitulation to Hamas and Hizbullah is what's dangerous... It shows that force (aka the likes of Hamas and Hizbullah) works to pursuade Israeli decision makers and that negotiation (Abbas/Fayyad) leads to nothing but broken promises. What I fear most is that Israel will soon be begging to deal with the likes of Hamas ... Because if the self-destructive behavior continues, much worse lays ahead. It's time for tough decisions to be made, for Israel to really work for and not undermine peace, and for many (but not neccisarily all) settlers to move back to Israel. It takes a brave man to wage war... But an even more brave man to wage peace. Unless Israel finds the courage to take the necessary steps towards peace, it will not survive.

But the entire Muslim world. The west views them as so fragile, so prone to explosive outbursts, so enamored of insane yet vague rhetoric that first and foremost we have to treat with equal parts fear, contempt and patronizing. And the Muslims are only too happy to stoop to that low expectation. We're always told we don't 'get them', but in truth what we don't get is violence and stupidity as the sole organizing principle of armed nation-states.

palastinians are children withou parents israilis are parents without children i like to be palastinians that in future i would be parents with children not to be israili without children without future ended by finished the age of these parents

in Gaza and Lebanon

Void of Jewish IDENTITY, obsessively searching to be accepted, incapable of clinging to moral values, these are all contributing factors to a national leadership which submits to ANY manner of hideous 'gestures' to the most irredeemable foes. Now, in order to understand this bizarre psychosis, one must delve deep into Dr Kenneth Levin's eye opening book, 'The Oslo Syndrome:Delusions of a People Under Siege'. It will serve as a jumping off point, to understand why this is happening. The trick is how to stop the leaders from leading us to national suicide, staticide,

UNRWA

Couldn't agree more, and I'd suggest the one-finger peace sign for starters.

just like another negative people in both sides .. talking about problems more than solutions so please without any farther problems just find a solution find a vision find a way to convince both sides of peace find a good future for kids in mid east find a thing that humanity could thank u really i'm sorry for an academic man talking this way

right on!

I am 21 year is an Israeli citizen and never before I have heard a normal words towards so called "Palestinians". Why we should build for them ? why we should give them money? woter? medication? but not sell? Are they small and spoild kids? Woter has its equivalent in money, medication - too.Pretend that we could build healsy relations? But "We will build! We will educated ! We will, will,... Why , just to have a right to give to our busnesman a big share there?Who would like to have this kind of an insult.? We, Israelis or Jews in Israel,manifested too many times, that we do not have dignity. Why they should share with us this phycological problem? Thanks to Mr.Udi Label that he rised a voice of sanity.