Prof. Avineri is a thoughtful commentator even if one doesn't necessarily agree with him. Here, he starts with the requirement for Israel--evacuating 20 more settlements--and then turns to requirements for the Pals.--ending violence, starting to end the "right of return." This makes it sound as if both things are equally likely. The fatal flaw with this kind of thinking is that while Israel has already abundantly shown that it's ready to do all kinds of sacrificial, dangerous things for hopes of peace, the Pals. are a dictatorial, Third World, Muslim society whose aims and values--ridding the infidelds from perceived Muslim lands--are totally different from Israel's. To Prof. Avineri: assuming (safely) that the Pals. aren't going to act on your suggestions, is Israel still supposed to continue evicting citizens and clearing land for terror enclaves on its borders?

Why? Ask the Saudi's. Israel is the puppet of the US and the US is the puppet of the Saudi's. (and company) This road map to hell is one of the biggest mistakes ever. Mistakes with even more far reaching and long lasting repercussions then we have yet to see. How crazy. Would we have set up a state for the Nazi's? If the answer is no I would guess it is time to ask some serious questions of our so-called friends in Washington and beyond.

the fact that there is a complete absence of anything resembling a peaceful faction in the palestinian side shows that the suggestions made for the palestinains will not happen. israel waited for abbas to be the one to extend the hand of peace, and it was only the same excuses and belligerent rhetoric. let's wait until the palestinians do ONE lasting gesture towards peace, then we'll go from there.

Essentially Avineri calls on Israel to make a retreat, tactical and strategic from territory in exchange for an intangible declaration on the "right of return". As experence has shown, withdrawal is essentially irreversible while a declaration can be renounced in a moment. In the end the PA leadership will demand negotiations and at that point Israel will then be forced into conceding even more. Every trip starts with a single step. In our case we are on a cliff and have only one or two more steps before we fall into the abyss.

This is one of the most insightful articles I've read in years. It gets to the heart of this conflict. Israel is willing to compromise for the sake of peace. The Palestinians are not willing to anything. Let's be honest, had Israel lost any of the wars since 47, there would be no clamer for a return to the 48 or even 29 borders. There would be no Israel. This entire negotiation process is one big farce. What should govern is UN 242, which was appropriate at the time of it's passing, and is still appropriate. Oslo 1 and 2, Tenet, Mitchell, Geneva, Saudi, Wye...have all gone by the wayside and rightfully so. The Road Map is doomed to failure. It's simple, the Arabs want peace, a piece of Tel Aviv, a piece of Haifa, and all of Jerusalem (not just the Arab portion). Even now, Abbas has not given one inch, nor made any attempt to disarm the militias..and he justifies his inaction. What should Israel do now...simple, just sit back and let the Palestinians fight among themselves until they self-destruct, and waste the 9b that is being given to them. There will never be peace in that area..only continued strife.

Wish i can understand what kind of options are u presenting? No nation on earth can or will stay in a state of war forever, regardless what ever stupporn muslims or jews would say. give me options except a second invasion of sinai, something but the Grand Israel. If u r looking for peace u better know it comes with a price, as egyptians we paid our dues & for israelies i think they did as well. change the speech Mr. Avineri as there r no second chances to come. its either war or peace.