Hamas' pronouncements are very indicative of Israel's dilemma. If the Palestinians cannot agree amongst themselves, how can Israel risk negotiating with any of them? The Palestine Authority may do one thing, Israel may make concessions in turn, but there is always the risk that the Palestine Authority might be removed from power (there are, after all, so many competing Palestinian factions), and be replaced by a rejectionist group such as Hamas. Back to Square 1. Is it worth the risk? If you are Israel --- no. The Palestinians have to clean out their own house before any negotiations can go forward. And we all know that is never going to happen. Israel is not being obstinate. It is just doing what it must to ensure the survival of the State of Israel and, by corollary, the Jewish people.

PA, Hamas, Al Aqsa, Al Qaeda, Hizblablah, Ayatollah, Watevala all have one thing in common. destroy the Zionist state. Only Obama is stupid enuf to engage talks with them. You know why? He thinks he's a hero. So far, no US leader has ever brokered any peace in the ME, not even that devil, Mohd. Jimmy Bin Carter. My advice to you, Mr. US President is to use the stick, not carrot, use action and not sanctions.

government. Bibi will do token lip service to the "outpost" problem but he is not going to stop building in Jerusalem. How absurd, but then abbas has no plan and he has no power. hamass would kill him if he signed a real peace treaty, but his life is safe, very, very safe.

THE CULTURE OF HATE, THAT HAS SINCE BEEN ENGINEERED AS PART OF THE PALESTINIAN ARABS CULTURE AND WAY OFLIFE ! ABBAS HAS THREE MONTHS TO PUT ALL BEHIND AND MOVE ON ! PALESTINAINS THIS THE LAST CALL ! TAKE OR STAY AS LOOSERS !

Let's see. Arch-terrorist / Holocaust denier Mahmoud Abbas, Barack Hussein Obama and his administration figure they can force an "obstinate" Netanyahyu out of office in a couple of years as Hamas looks on. All this for the sake of peace. Livni, waiting in the wings, has got to be ecstatic!

If I were the Palestinians, I wouldn't hold my breath for any events mentioned in the Washington Post article to occur. Obama may nat even be around by the time anything like that happens.

I agree with thr previous post. THERE IS NO PARTNER FOR NEGOTIATIONS. Abbas rejected an agreement with Olmert for the same reason Arafat rejected an agreement with Barak and unleashed bloodshed instead. Arabs are interesetd in destroying Israel and will only accpt an agreement that gets them to their goal part of the way. It is the Arabs who should be pressured to accept the agreements already tabled and get on with their lives as any other normal nation

Not much different than what was offered generously by Barak in 2000. The difference? Hundreds dead, thousands wounded, Pal economy in ruins, Gaza over-run by terrorists, Christians being targeted by Muslims, Iran's influence gathering, and lack of Arab support for the whole damn thing. Nice job, guys. When the PA threatened another Intifada in response to Israel's legal home demolitions, I almost swallowed my gum from laughing so hard. Almost as funny as "Arab Cultural Day in Jerusalem"...I suppose they showed Mein Kampf, Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and performed dances from Iraq they claim as their own.

Israel has destroyed 3 settlement blocks in the past 2 weeks while not building any. The natural growth Israeli officials talk about is simple births among settlers. What does the world want them to do, put a legal limit on their ability to have children? If anything, settlement construction is frozen; yesterday, today, and most likely tomorrow. The Palestinians can claim all they want that Israel is halting the process, but Netanyahu specifically said he is willing to go into negotiations with Abbas immediately without any preconditions.

This all looks most encouraging for Obama's policy, -as it disintegrates while in process of being unfolded, while in meantime N Korea and iran create nuclear bombs, all of which is "linked" to Israel. Olmert provided a map of PA state but would not give copy of it to Abbas. Sure, because that map was pasted to the Brooklyn Bridge which also was part of what Olmert 'offered' Abbas. Perhaps Abbas can show us all what Olmert & Abbas did sign in agreement? As for US waiting for Likud government to dissolve, seems no thought given to Israeli voter reaction, in subsequent election in such scenario, who may well vote for Leiberman party majority government, or a Likud led by Feigelman . Will Kadima still exist in a couple of years ?

is that Barack Hussain Obama knows very well the significance and popularity of Mahmood Abbas in the Palestinian society... that is it ... nothing more nothing less .. Any adventures in this path will cost America before Israel dearly. Hint: Mahmood Abbas to Palestinians is what Shimon Perez to most Israelis.

Please dont forget this was the main man in charge of the Olympic massacre in Munich. Would you like to make a peace deal with?

....that the US govenment pressures, cause the government to fall apart, and lead to new election. This government which every one is calling "right wing" is actually quite in the center, when this one falls apart and we go to elections, I am sure the next one will be much farther right, at which time foreign influences will be ignored, and the current two state solution will finally disapear for good. Abbas is very short sighted and quite childish, he is also in the cross hairs of Hammas, and Fatah.

and his supporters are brave enough to give first priority to Israel's interests without unconditionally surrendering to pressures which otherwise might destroy us.

Not sure if it's translation or politics, but it doesn't make sense. And if and when Bibi is no longer PM, who do they PA expect to get? Livni - no chance. Lierberman - every chance. Mike

Time to start asking China whether it will protect Israel in return for the arrow3 and numerous other military projects that the pentagon needs to protect america. If they push drop the big one.

y-net we just love the pictures.they deserve each other-no doubt arrafat looks up from hell in a jealous rage.

HAS A CONTROL OVER US ! WE DECIDE WHAT WE WANT ! THE SOLUTION IS HERE IN ISRAEL WITH IN REACH- THAT IS WITH US JEWS. ABBAS- OBAMA- HAS NO SAY ! WE JEWS DECIDE !

...Arabs have no interest in peace, in a mutual accommodation, in co-existence. They would do all, out right or in stages, to see that Israel does not exist, its Jewish population is expelled or worse, and that Jewish civilization of which Israel is its cradle is no more. After all, the Fatah's and Hama's Charters call for just such an outcome, and their actions come as an illustration to their "just national aspirations". Is Obama and his people blind to this at all...??

If Bibi buckles under pressure (no excuse whatsoever if he did) I only hope that we get the toughest Right wing government ever

" . . the Palestinian president "cannot be trusted when it comes to the interests of the Palestinians." . . . DER!~

Do you even know why Israel seems to be in a dilemma besides the fact that it has proven time and time again that it really doesn't want peace? Israel is supporting a political party that does not represent the interests or causes of its people. Go to the west bank. Fatah is virtually on the termination of its existence. Hamas is the party to negotiate with, the true representative of the Palestinian people. Use your brain for at least once. Imagine if in the US, even if Obama won, countries refused to negotiate with him and his party and instead chose to speak to the republican party, one having very little support, just like fatah. The fact that Israel backed fatah and supported the coup against a democratically elected govt which Israel knew that most pals wanted Hamas, this is yet another dilemma. Why? Israeli fools like you, Sarah, and Israel itself demand that the Palestinians stop the violence and recognize it when Israel didn't even recognize Hamas! Hypocrisy! And don't give me that trash that Hamas is all about violence. Hamas stopped it's rocket fire for a while after it was elected and offered Israel year long truces if it would just stop starving it's people. Israel rejected. Sarah, recognize the rights and decisions of the pals. The fact that you keep calling the shots is not helping your people or your country, and Israel certainly hasn't gotten any safer.

Bo won't have time to pressure Israel he's way to busy destroying the US.

Erekat mentioned peace based on a two-state solution. I think Bibi and many Israelis want more that it would be two states based on a peace solution. They want to ensure they have peaceful neighbors, and afterwards they can talk about creating another state. Or at least have a situation where the governing body of Israel's neighbor prevent citizens from launching attacks from its soil. After that, they can talk about 2 states. I think this is how Erekat's vision differs, even though it is a subtle difference.

Oh, honey bunny, I have absolutely NO dilemma. If Arabs in Israel make trouble, throw 'em out. Send them to one of their brethren's 23 nations. If an Arab neighbor makes "trouble," warn it not to. If it desists, fine. If it doesn't:: nuke it to hell and gone. See? No dilemma whatsoever. Really. We are so, so, sick of YOU.