THE USA MUST REALIZE THAT FEEDING THE ABBAS TERROR NETWORK IS THE SAME AS SUPPLYING AN ARAFAT GOVERNMENT ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FATAH AND HAMAS, JIHAD, IS THAT THE ABBAS GOVERNMENT LIES ABOUT ITS INTENTIONS, WHERE THE OTHER TERROR GROUPS OPENLY PROFESS THEIR INTENTIONS TO DESTROY ISRAEL.

What chutzpah! The Palestinians tell Israel, "use the Saudi initiative as a starting point for negotiations". They claim they have wanted negotiations for a while. And yet the second Israel makes a counter-offer, hence they begin to negotiate, the reply is no negotiating allowed. If the Palestinians want peace, they are going to have to learn that they will ACTUALLY have to NEGOTIATE. Negotiation is an iterative process. They won't get whatever they want just be issuing a list of demands. Particularly since Olmert will be ousted the next time there is an election and no other PM will be dumb enough to unilaterally disengage again.

been cleansed from Bethlehem. IF you want to learn more I will teach you and show you the way.

Hurry up, Olmert! It's time to transfer more weapons & money to the Palis. While you are at it, don't forget to give them fuel, water & electricity too. They can't fight Israel without them.

The "return of refugees" demand is nothing but a ploy to destroy Israel from within. This is a non-starter. Abbas knows it very well and he is being nothing but a hypocrite with his stupid statements. The Pals are in no position to make these demands. They are just dreaming...

NO NO NO NO NO, that is not how negotiations work - Accept or die?!?! Abbas is a moron of the highest order. Sorry, Israel doesn't want 4 million refugees and for nothing in return. ARABS FOUGHT ISRAEL FIRST...You lost - 5 times!!!!! This is ridiculous. I know it shouldn't make me so angry since its to be expected byt this is downright painful to read. The problem is the world thinks that it is Israel holding out. Little do they know that the Arabs were offered everything with Barak (twice even - except for the ludicrous right of return garbage) Can some Arab answer me?!? waht about the 900,000 Jews expelled from Arab lands, where is the compensation for them...i have never heard an Arab position on that. And if Abbas is threatening war...that is downright stupid...A rat annoying a tiger...

What Abbas is actually saying is "it's our way or no way, or else !!!! " As outlined by #1, the common misconception in this case is that Israel "owes" the Palestinian Arabs a state. Therefore the terrorist activity of the Arabs is to a certain extent excusable, since they are "fighting for their rights." However, nothing can be more remote from the truth. In reality, any land to that the Palestinian Arabs claim has already been held by other Arabs who took no action to create a separate state for a "Palestinian" people. And the "struggle for self-determination against Israel" really needs to be studied against the factual history of the Land where the very adoption of the "Palestinian cause" has become the fig leaf for the Arab war to eradicate Israel. It is not for nothing that the official PA media and education show what they consider the borders of their intended "Palestine" to be. The territory extends from the Lebanese border in the north to the Red Sea in the south AND from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Jordanian border in the east. In other words ALL OF MODERN DAY ISRAEL. Every single Jewish village, town or city has been replaced by a Palestinian equivalent. There is no provision for the existence of any Jewish State of Israel. Even the 4,000 Jewish heritage in the land which precedes any such Arab claim is obliterated. It is not for nothing that PA areas are "Judenrein" - free of Jews. Enough said.

Not only could the area "slide into violence" but Israel may even be blamed! Save the peace?

have you noticed that every run in with the palis end in them begging the world to get us off of them - and then they turn around and threaten israel with war

ok, well, we in israel have been asking for peace with the arabs for over 100 years. now they've said it most emphatically (minus muamar ghadafi, who boycotted the meeting): israel must surrender or face a war against the arab and muslim world. well gee ... we've been in that war with them (minus egypt since 1978 and jordan since 1994). israel should just finish the war and move forward with its own interests in a middle east free of Weapons of Muslim Dictatorships (WMDs). accept the arab initiative as a negotiating platform, offer to meet to sign the papers, and when all the enemies of israel are gathered and awaiting the arrival of the israelis, finish off the israel-haters. and then "offer" the surviving arab and muslim deputy leaders "make unconditional peace with israel, or you're next." after all, we're always called a "regional superpower" ... so let's see what our super power can do, exactly. if you have muscle and you never use it, it will turn to fat, and just waste away. the only way to stay strong, is to excercise properly. "cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war." -- william shakespeare. happy passover. next year in jerusalem!

Big surprise. Abbas was Arafat's number one henchman. Who does everyone think orchestrated ! both intifadas?? Earth to Israel's gov't - NEVER let your guard down. The Arabs lie as easily as they breathe.

is that no agreement has been reached yet. Yes, I hope the Arabs stay just as intransigent and just as true to character in their tactics. We need time until the pro-Arab government of Israel is replaced.

Sending rockets to Israel is now Hand of peace. Abbas you are the same as your bloody predecessor Arafat (let he burn in Hell). You are stealing lives not only Israels', but Pals' as well. You should be the at same place Arafat is now.

B"H It is funny how the Arab peace plans threaten violence. We have seen these peace plans before, in 1948 for instance, we found out how these Arabs states intend to make peace. It is naturally through war. If you think it is unfair to say this, consider what they have to offer. They state land for Hamas in exchange for normalization of ties, in beautiful language of course that covers up their true intention (in other words a pretty lie). Hamas is not one of the signatories that would have normalized relaitons with Israel in their plan. In fact, Hamas would subcontract all of their violence. Please understand that in Arabic and Hebrew, Hamas means violence. So this mechanism would allow the Arab states to say they are at peace with Israel while simultaneously subcontracting their war efforts through Hamas. Any land given to Hamas is not for peace, but rather for war. It is a simple lie on the table. If there is land for peace, we would expect Hamas to be disarmed and expelled to Saudi Arabia, so that the Israeli Arabs could form their representation where Hamas was located. If you understand the depth of the lie on the table, you can understand the necessary Israeli response to it.

The first thing Israel needs to do is to get a effective government to replace the bumbling individuals now in charge. With Olmert at the helm, war would be short and disastrous.

He promises violence the day after they shoot rockets into Israel. Truly a monster of his word.

The Arabs -- including the Hamas -- want to destroy Israel as a Jewish State. They have not really changed much in 75 years For Abbas to blame Israel and to imply more violence if Israel does not accept Arab demands is absurd but reveals the truth of what the Arabs want. Israel should NEVER return to the 1967 borders which Abba Eban once called "The Auschwitz borders" . May G-d Bless the IDF and Medinat Yisrael

1) Reading all the talkbacks on this subject today there seems to be unanimity on the part of Israelis that the Arab peace offer is a sham. 2) Thousands of Israelis converged at Homesh and many more were with them in spirit. You've got a worthy cause, the very survival of Israel, and you've got thousands of Israelis able to go out and show where they stand. Unite the cause and the people and demonstrate at the Knesset until this spineless government is gone. War is coming and you need a real government in place.

I'd like to recommend the above column by Caroline Glick on the Jerusalem Post. It explains very well how US interests are behind their push for "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. It also gives an ineresting overview of the real motives behind Bill Clinton's involvement in this issue during his presidency. No link. Sorry. I tried to post this with a link before but it didn't get published. Just look for it on the Columns section of the Jerusalem Post.

This is why we all can't be friends - too much money involved... http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=28615 "Yasser Arafat has private bank accounts worth more than $800 million built up with funds designated as aid to the Palestinian Authority, according to a report. From the appropriated money, he transfers $100,000 a month to his wife Suha, who lives in Paris with their daughter, The investigation was assisted by PA Finance Minister Salam Fayad, who is trying to trace all of the money allocated to the PA that never reached its intended destination. A recent International Monetary Fund audit revealed Arafat diverted $900 million from the PA budget into bank accounts under his control. In 1998, the European Union discovered through an audit of its own that $20 million designated for low-income housing was used to build a luxury apartment complex for top PA officials and Arafat associates. A former Arafat treasurer charged last year Arafat transferred more than $500 million in international aid to personal accounts.

despite all righteous indignation on this forums, wait and see, fellas, that all the leftists will run with their pants down to embrace this "saudi initiative" as a "solid base for negotiations". arabs aren't atupid, they know that nearly 50% of israel will accept this" offer" like they accepted oslo, and other rubbish. All this bunch - Peres, Beilin, Sarid, can't wait to be in the spotlight of CNN and BBC again and give lengthy, moronic interviews about the new Middle East.One can only pray that the good sense will prevail, though I don't ut too much trust in it.

Christians have left Bethlehem mainly due to the barbaric apartheid wall which cuts through this holy city. Palestinians have lived side by side with Christians for centuries. Plus Christians have more contact with the western world than Muslims so they are bound to leave in larger numbers

and live in peace.. Israel accept the offer, and you wont have to worry about rocket attacks,, We can all live in peace,, I dont think Olmert gets the respect he deserves,, he is our leader, and knows more than us what is best for Israel...

That's what we thought ahead of the Disengagement from Gaza: just leave Gaza and the rockets will stop. After all, we're making concessions, giving the Palestinians land, which they will obviously use as a basis for forming a viable Palestinian state. But today, we still have rocket attacks, we still have violence, and we still have an Israeli soldier that was kidnapped back in June 2006 who still has not been released, despite the monthly news articles that Gilad Shalit will be released in a couple of days, or, Abbas is working towards Shalit's release. Do you really believe that this time, by giving up land, as well as taking in 4 million "refugees", that we will get peace? We'll only get more of the inevitable.

I think Jane in the UK has done a nice job of articulating a good reply to the PA. Peace Our Way or War is the Arab Chant. I guess Israel better prepare for war. There is no right of return and I wouldn't trust anything the PA says.

And were desperate for peace they would welcome the initiative. However, the Israeli definition of peace is: let us do what we want, and leave us alone while we do that. Where's the compromise? If Israel is not willing to give up something in exchange for peace then there will never be a peace agreement - the other side has nothing to gain from the Israeli version of peace.

it is clear now more than any time before that Israel can't live without violence the time the world talk about peace Israel kills and abducts more Palestinians. why not it has a nuclear that can burn the Arab league and nation