There is only 1 issue Israel's continuing existence. PLO need to accept Israel as Jewish state. It is time for the US to formally declare there is no 'right of return' and push the PLO as hard as they pushed Netanyahu into accepting the '2 state solution'. As of now the PLO makes a mockery of the negotiations and everyone who enters into them.

The way forward is simple: (i) to ensure territorial congruity of State of Palestine, Israel finally concedes that its still proposed list of "consensus settlements" wildly overinclusive. Most centrally, as has been quite clear to careful observers for a long time, Ariel there will be no land traded for the sake of Ariel (nor, perhaps, for Maleh Adumim) -- Ariel (and maybe Maleh Adumim too) are to be evacuated; (ii) concurrently and a consequence of such, Palestinans agree to permit a long term lease of security control of the Jordan Valley to Israel together with with international observers, likely including Jordanian soliders, together perhaps with certain other subject-limited binding security commitments by the Palestinians.

...the most realistic way out of the Arab Israeli conflict and into an accommodation of peaceful coexistence between Arab and Jew, between the Muslim-Arab world and the nation-state of the Jewish people, Israel. 242 passed unanimously at the Security Council and has been accepted by ALL relevant parties to the Arab Israeli conflict, local and regional alike. Furthermore, UN Security Council Resolution 242 has been the basis for ALL peace talks to date and ALL peace treaties reached. 242 does call upon Israel to withdraw the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from territories captured during the defensive June 1967 Six-Day War. Yet, it calls upon Israel to do so to "secure and recognized boundaries"; not to the 1949 armistice (green) line. And, it expects such a withdrawal to be achieved after negotiations between the warring parties that will determine those secure boundaries. 242, however, does not call for the setting up of an additional state in the region, nor does 242 mention concepts such as "Palestinians", "Palestine", "Palestine territories" or a "Palestinian states". Indeed, 242 assumes, realistically, that territories - not all, mind you - that Israel will vacate will revert to their former rulers: Gaza to Egypt and the "West Bank" to Jordan. Is the ObamaClinton listening...??!!

Netanyahu seems to be offering A areas and Gaza only for PA state or staling with hope to deport all non-Jews at latter date. The PA and Arab League offer is 67' borders. This gap is too wide for any peace deal to happen and refugee issue not even on table yet. US/Quartet has 2 choices now, give up or use some kind of force, like sanctions and cuts in aid. The EU looks to be going for sanctions if no freeze by April, with S. America and E. Asia likely to follow at some point. Netanyahu's plan not to back down on building for political gains may backlash on him and Israel soon.

I am struggling to comprehend: why some Yehuda or Yaakov who decided to expand their houses by another room are more important to Ms.Clinton than the Iranian nuclear program, the on-going civil wars in Yemen and Sudan, the REAL threat of war between the two Koreas, etc. (the list can go on) ?

national home of the Jewish people and accept that a treaty will be the end of the conflict and the end of all demands, peace will reign. Yet, the Obama administration can't appreciate yet that this and no other issue is the core of the Arab Israeli conflict, local and regional alike.Jehu

peace for peace?

quietly. Nothing beyond that.

...the rejections go as far back to 1917, long before Israel existed and long before the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) set out to "liberate" "Palestine": 1917, Balfour Declaration, rejected by the Muslim-Arabs, local and regional. 1920, San Remo Conference, rejected by the same forces. 1922, League of Nations decisions, rejected. 1937, Peel Commission proposal, rejected. 1947, United Nations decision, rejected. 1948, Israel peace offer, rejected. 1948 to 1967, no independent Arab state was set up and Jerusalem was not proclaimed its capital city despite the fact that the "West Bank", Gaza and eastern Jerusalem were Jew-free, "cleansed" of all their former Jewish residents by the Arab rulers of the territories. But, the PLO was set up in 1964, three years before the Six-Day War of 1967, whose goal to "liberate" "Palestine"... 1967, Israel's peace offer, rejected. 1978, Sadaat/Begin offer, rejected. 2000, Barak/Clinton offer, rejected. 2008, Olmert/Bush offer, rejected. 2009/10, Netanjahu's offer to talk peace, rejected. The common denominator to all of the rejects: a categorical Muslim-Arab refusal to accept the right of the Jewish people of its own independent nation-state anywhere between the River and the Sea. Nothing has changed since 1917 to this day, but neither Obama nor Clinton refuses to look reality in its eyes and demand of the Muslim-Arab world to accept Israel's RIGHT to be, to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people...!!

Obama has shown no aptitude for foreign policy in any part of the globe. He has lost influence in China, Russia, the Middle East and now South America. Any nation that follows Obama policy is like a lemming jumping off a cliff. The USA is in shambles. Its military might dissipated, its economy a disaster. Clinton, Obama and his entire policy team have been outsmarted by every tinpot dictator on the planet. America as an ally? Just ask the Koreans.

For us NO compromises on core issues such as Jerusalem , borders and right of return....is that clear enough?!

where else in the world can one witness one side engaged in a political "peace process" use homicidal terror as a means of expressing its commitment to the goal of "peace"? (hint: the "religion of peace" that is involved in such "peace".)

Palestinians have/would accept the Arab peace plan of 2002, Israel rejected?

There are two answers. A deeper one and a more immediate one. The deeper one can be summed up as world Jew hatred. The state of Israel has always been at odds with the great powers. Jew hatred and world need for Arab oil have always made life difficult for the Jews of Israel. The more immediate answer is the dismal state of the present US administration. They don't have clout to make a difference in any of those crises you mention and they are losing in every domestic issue as well. They are quite desperate for any success, and they would consider partitioning the land of Israel as a major historical international success. I took a look at the Jerusalem Post headlines this morning, and they reflect a painful reality. One of them quoted Clinton saying that a "negotiated settlement is inevitable". In other words, Jews, this is a holdup. Hand over your land. The other headline was about CIA - Nazi ties after the war. The American government is still at it. Not with the Nazis anymore, but with others who seek the destruction of Israel and the Jews. And a third headline was about a new Israeli poll showing that the right wing is rising in popularity. It's always the big powers against Israel, and while the majority of Israeli Jews are against partition, the ever shrinking left is siding with those powers. Hence Clinton's private meeting with Ehud Barak. That's basically an overview of why the US neglects real threats to world peace and abuse of human rights but concentrates on harassing democratic, peaceful little Israel.

obama thinks all the islamic terror and lack of peace around the world comes from the Israel- pally, arab conflict. n.korea, iran other problems are to difficult for the thin skinned boy pres. to handle. he's to busy playing basketball and going to parties. his childhood being estranged from his muslin father also has had effect on his present thinking of the world as he sees it..

you must believe the revised history the nazis and islam about have been feeding you. my advise to ignorant people like yourself is to learn the truth and stay away from propaganda hate groups for your own good. maybe you just want and enjoy hate and blame to the Jews?!?!

keep posting lies Ynet

RIGHT to be, to exist as the independent nation-state of the Jewish people, a right afforded Israel by the entire international community based on historic, ethical and legal grounds. But the Muslim-Arabs, to this day, refuse to accept this RIGHT, eagerly awaiting the day they could wipe the tiny national home of the tiny Jewish people off the face of earth!!

You're right. The Arabs will never recognize Israel as the Jews' national homeland. The truth being as such, it is time for Israel to reciprocate by annexing the west bank and expelling only the non-compromising Arab population across the Jordan river back to Jordan.

You one off, Refugees.They all go to there new country. There now that is settled. As far as the other core issues once they are settled then the Pals can stop whining about the building. You see when you settle one the others are settled. Too bad the Arabs don't understand that? Or maybe they do?

You have an excellent analysis of Arab rejections and these rejections will continue in the future until there is Momentum for Arabs. Arabs want to control all land west of Jordan river. With the help of the US and Quartet they try to crab as much land as possible and finally with a "just solution" to refugee problem they want change Israel having majority of Muslims. With their already determined terms they can reach this target Momentum to sign a peace agreement. If Israel does not accept Israel is guilty for the failure. Problem with the state department is that they dont force Arabs to make any concessions, the talk of both parties means only that Israel needs to agree with everything. So far they have not asked any concession from Palis. Borders for Pali state are not important. As soon as the ink in the agreement has dried out, the Palestine state will be part of Jordan or Syria. Viable enough? The right of the return question is the most important security question for Israel.

Gentlemen, I must completely agree with you; thank you. It looks like Israel must withstand the pressure for 2 years more or (unlikely though) till Obama gets impeached by the Congress for losing the most important strategic ally in the ME.

for your people's predicament. And you can't blame Israel either, as you folks have rejected any number of generous peace proposals. You could have already been having cabinet sessions in Abu-Dis long ago. You just have to learn to stop overplaying your hand. Appealing to the UN is a perfect example of this losing strategy.

the Government pay a compensation for me. In the end, all we settlers know we will have to withdraw from the West Bank. Tell me how much I get and we close a deal. If the money is good enough, maybe I can even consider return to Rio...

How can so many smart people be so dumb?

If you have a problem with a Jewish homeland, let's look at it from the other side of the coin: "Palestine will be the national homeland of the Palestinian people." Sound ok? If so, then there's nothing wrong with "Israel is the national homeland of the Jewish people." See, national homeland for both peoples. If Israel is not the homeland for the Jews, then the non-existent "Palestine" cannot be the homeland for the Palestinians. The majority of us Jews are willing to give up some of our ancient homeland and recognize that the Palestinians have their own homeland on what we still know is our birthright. However, if the Palestinians aren't willing to recognize our national aspirations, then there's no sense in continuing the peace process, because it's a sham.

"Return to Rio" ...beautiful beaches ,samba and naked women.....sounds tempting.