blowtorching constantly about good and evil and peace around the corner for arabs and israelis is empty blather. kerry, a superich dilettante mostly at the behest of his rich wives past and present is an academic type-no business like hard boiled results. he is like yossi beilin, a disconnected academic who is unfit for real world negotiations. His jordan valley formual is garbage. Israelis have to dig in, encourage arabs to leave and will have to wait for a few wars before a cold armistice can be arranged. Some israeli ministers like lieberman, shtienitz, erdan, have no real understanding of military dos and donts like retaking gaza is not a solution because of economic costs, but destroying and annihilating hamas. Look at what eygpt is doing to understand how to strangel and suffocate hamas to the ground.And keep the treasonous press away cause these bleeding hearts hope for the destruciton of israel.

Oh yeah, we can trust this guy...

"Kerry should be asking Abu Mazen (Abbas) why he is stubbornly refusing to recognize Israel as the Jewish state," - Is there any other country that recognises Israel as 'Jewish State" ? ,...

Erdan is very very wrong. Kerry has studied the progress of the "peace talks" since 1992. He has seen that in 22 years, the PLO has not only not budged, but hardened its positions. On the other hand, Israel has made concession after concession, freely crossing "red lines" that were once considered sacrosanct. Kerry knows: PLO will remain faithful to their principles while Israel folds like a cheap suit.

for almost 50 years, enabled by our USA, and the occupied should be pressured by our USA?!?? These are not American behaviours! Perhaps time for our USA to take our ball home and allow Israel to defend her unjust, immoral behaviours 2the world by herself. Loong time brutal, military occupation is not consistent with Judaism and it needs 2b ended now ...

Europe hands out £billions to Palestinians every year, colludes with Arab despots to keep them on the boil as refugees, and now campaigns to support Palestinians, surrogates from Husseini down to finish the job Hitler started, with BDS, Obama, Haman iii has bragged to his friends that he will show them how to destroy Israel , after Hitler , Haman ii had failed. Haman iii will not fail to meet the fate of his 2 illustriate predecessors Amen

Israeli leaders will have to show more backbone than they have already shown with Kerry. Kerry and Obama want a Palestinian state more than they care about Israeli security. Israeli leaders will have to get over their awe and fear of US mediators.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel formed the first constitutional monarchy in Palestine about 1000 B.C. The second king, David, first made Jerusalem the nation's capital. Although eventually Palestine was split into two separate kingdoms, Jewish independence there lasted for 212 years. This is almost as long as Americans have enjoyed independence in what has become known as the United States.

Well, it is tempting to remark that American behaviour seem to be occupying half a continent for 200+ years, confining native Indians to reservations. The difference is that USA occupied all its land without provocation, Israel was forced to after repeated aggression from its neighbors.. Israel has repeatedly offered land for peace, the Arabs refused. And still refuse, in the vain hope that one day they will drive the Jews into the sea. Israel will not sacrifice their lives in order to satisfy your moral indignation.They have learned from Gaza. Ending the occupation there did not make things better, not for Israel and certainly not for civilian Gazans.

I like your style. You are 100 % correct. Kerry is a dilitante. Let him be occupied by the Russian mess he created for himself and the State Dept. along with Soros. The canker sore. These a-holes don't give a damn about Israel. They started the Arab spring. It is documented in their Pentagon white papers under middle east de-stablization plans. These a-holes employ the muslim brotherhood, al qaeda, and now they are in bed with Ukrainian neo nazis. The State Department are a real savory bunch. Our politicians are IDIOTS. They need to know who they are dealing with, obviously they are woefully negligent or woefully ignorant.

The PA denies Israel "a Jewish State"',but it is OK to have dozens of Islamic States. These states that occupy near 20% of the earth's surface can't stand the existence of Israel's tiny sliver of earth.

...Arabs of every peace offer, proposal, gesture and opportunity presented to them since 1920 by both the international community and the State of Israel. Each of those rejections was due to one element: the categorical objection to accept the right of a sovereign nation-state of the Jewish people to be, to exist on ANY parcel of land that is the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people. They continue with their rejection this round as well. Therefore, one ought to ask: how can the parties reach an END OF THE CONFLICT if the Arabs object to the fact that Israel is the liberal democratic AND sovereign nation-state of the Jewish people...??!!

Kerry is pressuring the Israelis because they can be pressured. If he insists on even minor concessions from the Palestinians, they will walk away from the table.

politician is a a sad reflection of the general Israeli population. A schnorrer people never be a nation. In 1948 it was those who came off the boat, much like my late dad who secured the country and help establish the country. What you have today is a melange of entitled schnorrers, menuvals and impostors who wave the holy book much like the Chinese did in the 1960s and 1970s. They are waiting for the holy welfare cheque and they will vote for whomever promises it to them. Till such time that the Israeli population reverts back to the selfless dedication of the 40's 50's and early 60's nothing will change. It will only get worse. Israel will survive, the present inhabitants may not.

Why would anyone want to promote the creation of an arab terrorist state aligned with and controlled by the terrorist state of iran in Judea and Samaria at the gates of Jerusalem and Gush Dan. Hezbollah in the north, Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, do we need a terrorist state to the east?

No need. They don't challenge Israel's existence. The "Palestinians" do; all the more reason to require such a statement. The question is not why the State of Israel makes this request, but rather why do the "Palestinians" refuse?

Thanks to jerold for an incisive, intelligent article. Too few of those in the Ynet crowd. Kerry has an ill-conceived, blinding ambition for a Nobel and/or top white house job - at any cost ! Surely, Bibi is fully aware of this and will let this moronic "negotiations" expire a natural death.

Israel demands it because it knows it won't happen. This a crap was created to buy more time and steal more land ,... Thanks God the the civilised world have an access to internet and real time communication system so you can't lie and steal with impunity ,...

Why do our leaders whine to Americans? Why don't they start leading. Tell the Arabs if they do not fulfill their obligations - they will be the ones hurt. Add a hundred thousand more apartments, build new towns and cities. For every violation - take the tax money and pay their bills with it. Start acting like men instead of spineless jellyfish. We need strong leaders dedicated to Israel and not appeasing foreigners

Can't steal what belongs to you, right? And the Arabs declared war upon Israel on six occasions, and lost all six times. Why should Israel give back land it reacquired in the course of fighting a defensive war. Tell you what -- when Poland returns the Polish Corridor and East Prussia to Germany, Israel will consider giving up its territory. Okay?

#8 not mine.

"In 2013, a half a million Israelis, largely Arab citizens, live without basic sewage infrastructure. Israel circa 2013 is the heaviest pesticide user in the OECD. Some 100 chemicals can be found on our fruits and vegetables – a third of them prohibited in Europe" ... and that a tip of the iceberg ,... Now this 44 yo senior (sic)environmental minister is sticking his nose in and running Israel's foreign affairs ,... Good luck ;) ,...

There are157 countries that recognize Israel. None of them specifically recognize it as a Jewish state. That includes both Egypt and Jordon (both of whom signed long standing peace treaties with Israel.) This is a red herring designed to humiliate the Palestinians and guarantee no peace. You will never reach a point where the world helps you buy right of return from the Palestinians when you rub the Pals nose in the dirt and say" this can only be and always was Jewish land." Israeli diplomacy is" its my football, screw you."

Where did you get this pile of nonsense? Which European anti-Semitic rag?

In The Times of Israel under 'Israel’s environmental crisis 2013' ,... Everything is hunky dory in Israel, the Israeli and Jews are the best and brightest according to hasbara peddlers until you verify ;) ,...