No no no it's not true it's not true, Oslo is a huge success, I am a huge success, and I have many awards to prove it: a noble prize, a british knighthood etc.

The additional sobering reality reality that Mr Mitchell and Mr Obama are going to present to Mr Mintz and his settlers may actually be a "hangover" for the latter.

Every child? Perhaps most, but not every one. And certainly not Peres, Meretz supporters, and a few Kadima hacks with a vested interest in the Oslo process. Peres got a lot of credit for his defense of Israeli action at the Davos forum. But he couldn't refrain himself from throwing in a few good words about Arafat. "We vant PEECCCE!" he shouted. How about, from time to time reminding people that "Israel has rights too... and is ready to defend them."? I also recall an interview he gave with PBS host Charlie Rose during the second intifada. "Is there anything you regret, anything you wish you'd done differently?" Peres was asked. "No, nothing", said Peres. I nearly fell out of my chair.

As long as Israel exists and as long as there is a Jewish presence in Israel, there will be conflict. It doesn't matter what Israel does or what concessions it makes, none of it matters. Quote from the Qur'an 9:88 - "Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.” There is no possibility of negotiation with this primitive mindset.

Do any of these envoys bother to ask the Palestinians if they accept a Jewish-majority state? Do MOST Palestinians accept that they will not have a 5 million return of refugees? Olmert told us nothing of his negotiations. Why the secrecy if nothing is resolved anyway. The politicians and diplomats are not resolving anything after years of yakking. So, why not be upfront with the people as to what is holding back agreements?

Maybe we could send him a copy too!

To go home,I'm tired and I want to go to bed,I had a little peace process about an hour ago and it's gone right to my head.

Very concise article.

No point circumventing Mitchell's authority like Olmert undermining Condelezza Rice in the Bush administration. Different players different game.

The beginning of peace is halt of violence. And, for long time. Let's say 100 years. 25 if you are in a harry. So long Israel's adversaries don't accept that, there is no point asking Israel for concessions. Now, once a generation past with no violence whatsoever, the details of a peace agreement aren't that important.

the reality of this conflict is, it is not moslem against Israel, sadly it is the western world against the Jew, Israel as a state has nothing to do with the hate show'n by the world against a person born to a set of Jewish parents. so no matter what the Jew may do, no matter that the Jew is the only army sacrificing their own lives to protect the innocent, they will always be at fault knowing that the war will only end, if the jew fights like the world wants to fight without any mercy as the american brittish russian demand to cease the ww2 TOTAL SURRENDER nothing less will ever work

Israelis seem to forget or ignore the fact that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian land. Consequently, Palestinians are the occupied people and they have the right to fight back. Israel is actually supposed to protect the Palestinians and not steal their land. Isn't it time Israelis called for their government to end the occupation!

You mean the one on June 19, where the IDF was shooting at farmers and fishermen http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26679526.htm Maybe You are talking about the Nov 4th ceasefire violation where the IDF hit a tunnel based on 'pre-emptive evidence' under a region under an un-lifted blockade (an act of war) when Hamas had not launched a rocket during the ceasefire before Nov 4th. Maybe you are talking about the new unilateral ceasefires where the IDF struck first http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/18/content_10678349.htm What about that generous deal on Camp David, where it was "evident not only that Gaza and the West Bank would be divided by the State of Israel, but that each of those two areas would in turn be divided into enclaves by the Israeli settlements, highways, and military posi- tions, the links between which "would always be at the mercies of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces and the settlers."27 With little or no control over its water resources, with no independently controlled border access to neighboring countries, and with even its internal freedom of movement and commerce sub- ject to continued Israeli closures, the already impoverished Palestinian state would be economically completely dependent on-and vulnerable to-Israel."

Process is still in its infantile stages until the realization that an ideological conflict cannot be resolved by political diplomacy. Negotiations should stop until they are prepared to debate ideologies, precisely what they are trying to avoid.

and Israel is really considering anything the American democrats have to say or push? What is wrong with you people's brains? Is this all about needing America’s money, because support like this you cannot afford. I can clearly see the Arab world and I mean, including all those countries whose Arab populations have them by the throat, (I believe it's called EU) are acting alike fish on a hook being reeled in by the God. But Israel are you too so foolish? The rocket fire is a direct result of the separation fence! The suicide bomber has been thwarted. Why would you for any reason let these monsters back into Israel? For peace? There will be no peace like it or not. What do you call it when you control terror as best you can? Reasonable calm..... I say keep defending yourselves and tell that idiot George to butt out. You surly cannot trust the UN or any force they set up. Defend yourselves. The American people (except dummies) support you and believe it or not, want like hell not to be any part of betraying you Israel. We would rather move to mexico than be a part of anything resembling what the dumbass Clinton did to you. We see it here clear as day, you cannot appease evil. It is still going to be evil, find reasonable calm. Don’t get fooled into as false peace. The Arabs do not want peace, it has something to do with their religion. But still that don’t make it right.

We pulled out of Gaza and got a daily barrage of rockets in Southern Israel by Hamas (Iranian proxy). We pulled out of Southern Lebanon and got Hezbollah (Iranian proxy) raining rockets on Northern Israel. Now you are suggesting unilaterally leaving the West Bank so we can get some other Iranian proxy to rocket Tel Aviv? We have proven capable of dismantling settlements (i.e. Gaza, Sinai Peninsula) if there is a true partner for peace.

But I'll add: Why should Palestinians, the occupied peoples, not have their legal right to defend themselves and be able to receive weapons from whomever?! Israel is supplied with weapons by the USA. hmmm seems the israeli tail wags the US dog... and more and more of the Canadian dog too. I must admit the Jewish lobby has been quite efficient and effective. Many presidents have been humiliated by Israel. The pressure's on Obama now. Two rogue states....... and a wannabe in Canada. Wonder what Mr. Mitchell will be able to do when he does not have two sides who want peace like he had in the UK? Israel wants all of Palestinian land and if ethnic cleansing and genocide are unsuccessful, then put the Palestinians in bandustans and use them as guinea pigs for testing weapons and nanoctechnology. Ahhh modern civilisation, ain't it wonderful!

If Palestinians choose to attack Israelis then they can expect the retaliation. Israelis will also try to cut Palestinians off from getting arms. Do you think they are passive idiots who will play by your rules? Mitchell has said he is seeking a Palestinian state and a Jewish one. Some Jews object most don't. It's a matter of a compromise acceptable to them. I have yet to hear that most Palestinians accept a Jewish state .Mitchell will get nowhere if he doesn't get the Palestinians to accept that Israel's demography will not be changed and he knows it and accepts it.

Shimon Peres did not write the first post, supposedly signed by him. Mr. Peres would not stoop to addressing the common folk who read this. Similarly, George Mitchell will not read this, as this is for the common folk. He and Shimon prefer to live in the rarefied world of secular elites--while bullets and rockets fly-and create sandcastles filled with pipe dreams. All this will play well in the NY Times and in the current White House... until the whole mirage comes crashing down, at which point the State of Israel will be blamed for its intransience, etc.

First of all, it was the Jews land to start with, not the "Palestinian" Arabs. All of it, including the West Bank. Check the historical and archeological record. Secondly, the "Palestinian" Arabs were terrorizing the Jews before the "Occupation" of 1967, and even before the "Occupation" of 1948. Again, check the historical record. So the "Occupation" must NOT be the motivation for "Palestinian" terrorism after all. Rather, they are just an arm of the evil of worldwide Islamic theocratic imperialism. Is that what you really want to support? If Israel falls to it, how far behind is Canada? Look around; the answer is "not very far".

I think the BEST way for Mitchell to get the "feel" for what is really going on is for the Israelis to give him a chair right in the middleof Serodot to negotiate with his terrorist buddies, and right out in the open, and hope that the terrorists do a much better job of landing one of their rockets on his dumb ass!!! Maybe when he gets an ass full of flak, if he survives it, then he might not be so prone to propose such stupid ideas in the first place as he did in his "Report" years ago!!!

oh my, the power of propaganda! How pathetic! Whether your history is right or wrong, it really doesn't matter right now, because Israel is illegally occupying and controlling the Palestinians. And they have the right to resist... just like the Jews did in the Warsaw ghetto. I'd rather have Muslim Sufis "ruling the world" than zionist jews or christians .... as seems to be the case right now. Israeli violence and aggression just leads to more fundamentalism. Palestinians used to be much more secular, but with increased brutality from Israel they have resorted more and more to religion. Formal religion of all varieties is divisive for the most part. Palestinians can't just submit to Israeli control and slavery. They have to fight back to get their freedom. Why should they be passive when faced with a terrorist state that's trying to ethnically cleanse them? End the occupation and treat the Palestinians with justice. The occupation is reason for Palestinian resistance and it is legal while Israeli aggression is both immoral and illegal.

Thanks to the internet, the world has seen Israel's massacre in Gaza. EVEN mainstream tv is exposing Israel's brutal occupation; for example, a couple of weeks ago 60 Minutes did a bit on the occupation in the West Bank. Israelis might believe their government's propaganda, but the truth is getting through to the rest of the world. What Israel is doing to the Palestinians is not good for Israel either. The Jews I know are worried about Israel's future because its current violent path can only lead to its destruction.

It's simple RJ, the strategy of annoying and indeed terrorizing the sleeping lion by a bunch of Palestinian thugs did not work to their benefit. I warned them but they would not listen. Now I beg you to tell them: "Please do not repeat your recent mistake. the lion might just maul and devour all of you". In simple layman's terms "Gaza becomes a parking lot". You dig? Now go tell all your friends and other assorted anti-semites: "NEVER AGAIN" "NEVER EVER AGAIN!!!"

Palestinians were attacking Jews long before the 1967 "occupation". "Occupation" can mean anything to Palestinians from the 1967 borders to all of Israel. How they use it depends on which audience they are trying to do a snowjob.. If Palestinians think they have a right to resist that's their choice. Israel has a right to defend itself and will do it. As to Israel's brutality, it is Arabs whose ethnic group is synonymous with terrorism around the world. At least Jews are self-critical enough to constantly engage in debates about methods. Who ever said that about Arabs? If Palestinians prefer dreaming that they will vanquish Israel tomorrow or that somebody else will do it for them, that's their choice. Israel will go on, peace or no peace.

LONG TIME AGO YOU USED VOILENCE BADLY AND SOFTLY WITHOUT SOLUTIONS AND EVERYTIME YOU END YOUR AGGRESSIONS , THE RESESITANCE POWER INCREASING. I REMEMBERED LAST TIME WHEN YOUR X PM SHARON ATTACKED GAZA LOOKING FOR THE HOLES LEADING TO UNDER GROUND PASSAGES AND THAT TIME IDF WENT DEEPLY INTO GAZA AND FOUND NOTHING , HAMAS ITSELF COULDN'T RESIST CAUSE IT WAS WEAK. AFTER EACH ATTACK HAMAS STRENGTHEN. NOWDAYS YOUR FORCE IDF CAN'T REACH THE CENTER OF THE CITY DESPITE IDF USING THE ADVANCED WEAPON AND AIRFORCE USING THE LAST EDITION OF BOMBS THAT WAS USED BY USA IN AFGANISTAN AND IRAQ. THE SOLUTION TOO EASY JUST FOLLOW THE ARAB AGREEMENTS AND UN DECISIONS. IF YOU DO SO , YOU WILL ISOLATE AND EMBARRESS HAMAS.

You are right. Sadly, I fear Amb. Mitchell is still bound by his old policy, sometimes these people can not accept the fact that reality did not comply with their vision. Setting up and office in Jerusalem is not a good sign. He will end up having diplomatic meeting with abbas in Jerusalem and help establish Jerusalem as the PA capital, in violation of Oslo. Oslo,Wye,Taba et al are dead only Israel must still comply with them..

Amen. Israel is the occupier, not the victim. Israel's problems are of it's own making. Israeli's it is time you return to the '67 borders, tear down the separation wall, negotiate right of return for Palestinians, treat the Palestinians as you would like to be treated. Remember what is is like to be persecuted and please do not continue to persecute others.