Yossi Beilin's comment, namely, an " American Administration and its foolish quest for global democracy", reflects more on Bellin's mindset than any failing of the Bush administration. Duplicitous, self-serving tyrannies aren't regimes you can enter into a meaningful agreements for ling. What conceivable "arrangement" could have been entered into regarding the withdrawal from Gaza? Arab society is one of 'honor' and 'shame' and presenting the populous with the 'opium' of a victory, as illusory as it is, was far more important than any sensible agreement. Beilin presided over endless chatter with Arafat, et al, and nothing of any substance was ever arrived at. Look at Egypt as the model; for all the talk of the 'peace' with Egypt, the accord was signed with a regime that holds less legitimacy with each passing year. The post-peace accords period resembles most a cold standoff more than anything else. And when the regime passes, so will the agreement. It is the Fool's Quest of Beilin and others in the well-meaning Left of Israel and elsewhere whose slavish devotion to a 'peace process' (that is neither a peace nor a process) which resembles a religious faith rather than a reasoned approach. Forcing the Islamic world to look seriously at the idea of consensual government, is ultimately the best way to bring some element of self-examination into what is a mordant political culture. And Bush II is the only US politician in modern times to try this different approach.

I think everyone is familiar with the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39... which is the utter and absolute destruction of the arnies which will invade Israel. But don't forget what God said would happen first...as the precursor to this attack. Read Ezekiel 35-36 for yourself and see. It is a prophecy of destruction and desolation to those who would "swallow you up on every side" Ezekiel 36:3. It is against "the nations that are you around you" Ezekiel 36:7. IT IS HAPPENING NOW!

A massive incursion into Gaza to eliminate Hamas would be temporary. We could withdraw when objectives accomplished. We are not responsible for the well-being of Gazans. Belin's basic flaw, however, is in thinking that Abbas & Fatah are of any use to us. They are as much a part of the problem as Hamas. The fatal flaw of Oslo was in bringing back that bunch of thieves & thugs who are just as much responsible for terrorism as any of the other groups. They are responsible for the rise of Hamas by their greed, corruption, mismanagement, & incompetence. It is time to stop the charade & get rid of Fatah along with Hamas. It is a foolish illusion to count on the very people who created terrorism & falsely label them "moderates" ignoring their part in this mess. At this point, it matters very little if the PA collapses. It is not functional anyway. It is the PA which is actually the biggest stumbling block to progress. An idiot would recognize this (only politicians are capable of such self-deception or outright dishonesty).

Nontheless, you would agree that we should do whatever we can to enable someone, even of another faith, to fulfil a religious mitzva. Since the members of Hamas see maryrdom as a great mitzva, you should support efforts that enable them to accomplish such a noble enterprise. We should, nay , we have a religious obligation, to help them on their way to paradise. And just because you tend to favour the more secular terrorists like Fatah, they too deserve a place in paradise. It's the least we can do in a true spirit of inter-faith cooperation. I know they would do it for us if they could.

Beilin pours scorn on security officials who argued against a ceasefire in the West Bank. If he'd listened to them, he might know that the first reason that Tel Aviv isn't being bombed every week is that the Israeli security forces can kill and arrest bombers, cell leaders and other terrorist figures at will. As it stands, the IDF thwarts bombings even before anyone has built a bomb or recruited a bomber. Why would Beilin want that to stop? Because unless it does stop, Hamas will be able to 'justify' punishing the Negev towns. It takes a particularly craven leftist to not only accept an enemy's feeble excuses, not only to operate according to them, but to guarantee mass-casualty terror in major cities in order to accomdate them. Beilin, enemies should be destroyed, not catered to.

From the man who started all this mess in the first place by giving us Oslo .I guess it is hard to teach an old Leftist new tricks.

Miracles happen, I tougth that Belin was already gone, but... surprise... he is still here, wit the same bullsh... he has to reaslize by now that politicaly, he and his "ideas" are dead, as would be Israel if his lead is followed

He does not belong in the Jewish state!

Yossi Beilin and his buddies are the ones who should move to Aza. It always takes a leftist to fix a deal and a rightist to execute it. Yossi Beilin, you are a disgrace to the State of Israel.

According to the Israel Policy Forum, "Yossi Beilin, as well as the rest of his Yahad party, voted in favor of the disengagement plan. Any end to occupation, Beilin argued, “even in only 6 percent of the territories,” must be supported." A misguided gift, you call it now?

Not only was in in favour of disengagement, but if my memory serves, Belin was one of the architects of Oslo and, more recently, the Geneva Plan, to bring his and the Arabs' designs for peace to fruition, namely the total destruction of Israel. I tend to ignore him and any of his views.

the leftist Meretz types. If they destroy Israel then they will go to the US, Europe or Australia. It is obvious Beilin hates Israel.

Even Meretz hold their noses when he's around

Beilin should be in the jail. He is a traitor. He is responsible for the Oslo misfortune.

Only a fool would give the Pals a ceasefire in the west bank. That would be the ultimate gift to Hamas. An opportunity to build a terror infrastructure there. Mr. Beilin, you are lacking foresight.

Ceasefire in the West Bank might calm Gaza but this ceasefire alone would strengthen terrorists in the longer run. In order to achieve real peace there must be a COMPREHENSIVE effort to encourage the good in people and remove sources of their frustration. It's good that the article hints at this in the end too. This is a complex problem. Partial measures will not help much. I repeat: Partial measures will not help much.

Beilin doesn't care about the reality that bombs are falling on Israeli cities. He probably doesn't care that arabs are being killed either. Why do you want peace, Mr. Beilin? For whose sake? Your programs have meant death and suffering for Jews and Arabs. Let's face it, you are a lousy leader and if we could tunr the clock back to before you interfered, Jewish/ Arab relations would be a lot better off. Please, do us all a favor. Shut up and go away. Your mouth is a dangerous weapon and your brain needs an overhaul.

Yossi Beilin, wrapped in a red bow.

Since he was instrumental in the Oslo "peace" process, Beilin made the true first to Arab terrorists because he gave them for free an operational platform on the Israeli border. The 2nd gift of Beilin to Arab terrorists was to provide them with weapons and money according to giving them more firepower. Right now, Beilin wants to make a 3rd gift to Arab terror: give them more land for free. It's time to set up a Winograd commission to investigate the failure of the Oslo process and to put on trial the serial killer Yossi Beilin who is responsible for the death of more than 1000 israelis and want to kill much more. The real truth about Beilin is that he is a coward and he is afraid of Arabs. Beilin is not Jewish, he is French.

This fool forgets he opposed killing Yassin and Rantisi. If Beilin had his way, every Hamas bombmaker would be alive today. Beilin is a radical who believes in land for terror camps.

If giving Hamas the ability to force an evacuation of Sderot was a bad idea, then how would putting Kfar Saba into the same situation be a good idea? Strange logic for people who are still sober before noon. You'd have to get hit with a hammer to understand Beilin's logic.

but it is from god not killing /and i think all the innosents who are killed i willhave the gift from god ..but not these killers if they are israili or hamass or any others .. sure many innocents die here and there //

Terry you are my choice for prime minister. Keep up the good work. I allways en joy your comments.

Unless as the author states, azza is occupied by isreal. A temporary occupation and then a withdrawal leaving a vacuum, only ensures that various global "jihad" groups fill that vacuum. such groups are even more bothersome than hamas, as they lack any real political agenda or any interest in the local population. Human nature and corruption on both the palisitinian and isreali side is likely to assist the emergence of such "jihadist" groups. Like with prosititution and sex slavery, lots of money is iinvolved in "global jihad" and there is no military solution to either. However, creating complete anarchy in azza by removing all forms of local auhtority can only but help establish the "jihadi" movement in azza. If a military operation as costly as what you propose must be carried out, then it must achieve results. However, strengthening global jihad in azza is certainly not worth the cost. In summary, a military invasion without occupation would give temporary relief, if any, even if hamas and fatah are destroyed. As the author states, if you're going to invade, then prepare for a "constuctive" occupation like in iraq.

Beilin, you have done more to harm Israel over the last 20 years than almost anyone else. Just shut up and stop asking the Israeli people to die and give away their homes just because coward number one, Peres taught you how to make this happen. Move to Britain w/ Pappe.

Beilin is always claiming that the right mindset is to be ready to make concessions. However, Beilin is totally unwilling to compromize on his foolish agenda.

A ground incursion might be in accordance with Israeli interests if it is carried out in deliberate earnest with clear goals and a detailed plan for obtaining them. What it would not be is in Yosi Beilin's political interests, which is what this article is about.

Does anyone still pay any attention to this pompous deluded pretentious has been, who never was.

time to carpet bomb gaza.give gaza one week to evacuate the population.or at the very least fire random rockets back at them.The palestinians will soon get the message.