"The ground reality has changed and it is time that the Israeli's should drop the old stereo type slogan that arabs are determined to destroy the Israel. Self-pity is never helpful for any nation". I'm very sorry to tell you but the palestinian leader speak on tv every day and we hear the same words all the time" NO RECOGNATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND LIBERATION OF ALL THE TERRITORY FROM JEWS IN THE NAME OF ALLAH! I think that you are a victim of the palestinian propaganda that hit the world many years ago. Palestinian propaganda is based on lies only. I'm sure that you are very far from the reality of this country and its history and I'm sorry about that.

Interesting that Jordan, having lost the West Bank after foolishly going to war against Israel in 1967, isn't clamouring to get it back. Just like Egypt, that refused to take Gaza back. Is there something they know about the so-called Palestinians that the world doesn't know about?

very high among them... imo - there would be not much trouble, when israel had kept a "low profile" in the occupied territories, so - held the areas under military control... the problem are mainly the settlers. with them, you knocked yourself out there... jmho... also, in egypt racism is high. maybe higher than in the west bank population... you wont occupy them either. their government has to handle it. and so the palestinian government will have to... probably with joint UN forces... and disarmed they will be anyway...

and on the other side, you are pushing in the settlers... oohh, how dangerous. if you want to hold it for "security reasons", then move the settlers out, and hold it for SECURITY REASONS - ONLY... talkbacks are referring to murders, to prove their points, which happened in the west bank. pull out the settlers, and make an agreement with abbas, that you will keep some IDF there... i would really think, you would have a chance with this: the arab league and the rest-world might even happily(!) agree to that... the land-stealing-settlers are the problem. either "security" or settlers... NOT both...

Hamas does not accept the existense of Israel. It will be willing to make a HUDNA (cease Fire) for ten years. I's based on Muhammed's HUDNA with the Quairish, when he conquered Mecca. After 2 years he violated the agreement and Stablished his rule in Mecca. Arafat bragged about Muhammed's deal. refering to any deals with Israel."if the prophet did it is valid for us". So on one Hand we have Hamas, and in the other we have Al Fatah the political party of Abbas. They have not recognized the existence of Israel. One of the most ardents representative to this line of thinking is Dahlan. THe other reality in the Ground as No 1, Mr. Cardiff avoids recognizing is the "small" detail, that in the Coats of Arms of the Palestinian Flag, the Palestinian Map does not limit itself to the "territories" But to the Map of the Mandate. That is all Palestine, including today's Israel. The final reality in the Ground is the no Recognition of Israel as a Jewish State. Clearly Erekat said: WE cannot recognize Israel as a Jewish State because that means renouncing the "risht of Return" of 7 million Palestinians to their Homes in proper Israel..Which means in simple language the Destruction of the Jewish Homeland, and thus declare all the land, Palestine. Besides the Gaza experience is not a past it is still a present. BY abandoning the settlements in Gaza, peace did not arrive. Violence increased and operation Cast Lead was only done after 8 years of bombardment to the Jewish cities. Four of those years were after leaving the settlements in the Area. The Blokade in Gaza was for the same reason. Smugling of weapons to be used against Israel. THAT IS THE REALITY IN THE GROUND. ABBAS DISCOURSE IS FOR THE MEDIA, IN THE MOSQUES HIS DISCOURSE IS MUCH DIFFERENT.

Clinton did not go to Ramalla the Palestinian Council was gathered in Gaza for his visit. Get your facts straight. And yes there was a promise to remove those Clauses by the PLO, form the PLO charter.', regarding the destruction of Israel. IT WAS NEVER DONE. (read the charter) Again the Palestinians and for that matter the Arabs will tell you what you want to hear, but another thing is what the do in REALITY, ON THE GROUND

You dont understanD the reality. The Palestinian Propaganda got ito your brains. The problem is not the settlements. We left Gaza's sEttlements and part of west bank settlements and violence increased. Hams took over and Hams's Charter does not recognize Israel. Without Hamas all peace talks are futile. Before 1956 (Sinai War),1967(6 Day War),1973(yom Kippur War) , there were no settlements.The Arabs and with them the Palestinians wanted to anhilite us. Thing have not changed. Before Iran was friendly when the Sha, lived. Today Iran wants to wipe us of the Map. This is not Blah Blah Blah. The worls thought of Hitler as Blah,Blah,Blah. What Happened. Iranians are Holocoust deniyers. THE SETTLEMENTS IS NOT THE ISSUE THAT IS AN EXCUSE FOR NOT MAKING A PEACE AGREEMENT. If there was to be a real peace agreement settlements wont be an issue. We left Gaza and we will leave most of settlements, but the PLO charter and Hamas Charter wont budge, They don't recognize the right of existance of Israel That is the issue the recognition of Israel by the Palestinians without reserves in mind or in writing. The low or or high profile is irrelevant.

Things you mentioned were offered to Arabs but they turned down the proposal.

Usually, they are the first ones on the case.

Hi Eli, I hope I'm wrong, but their posts may have simply been deleted by the moderators. I thought these forums were meant to foster debate, not 'groupthink' I have tried a couple of times to send in my response to Mr. Sherman's article, but no to avail. It's a pity because I really wanted him to address the points I raised in my reply. Kind Regards, Jeff

When the Arab League made their "offer" in 2002, Israel said lets talk about it. Arab reaction was silence. In 2007 when they "offered" again, Israel said fine lets sit down and the Saudis said it is a take or leave it offer. Israel has under Barak offered virtually all the territory in the West Bank with some Israeli land to make up the difference, Olmert not only talked about pulling out nearly half the settlers in the West Bank but also handing over parts of Jerusalem. The Palestinians turned him down. The Palestinians right now won't even talk. They come up with excuse after excuse. Hamas daily states it will not make full, lasting peace with Israel and Abbas more or less says the same in Arabic. What exactly would the Palestinians and Arabs have to do for you to accept they simply don't want peace?

any conflict has two ways to fight in middle east conflicts there are the two fighting in israil it is mostly goverment fighting in others mainly in palastine it is individual fighting //i think the individual fighting is more accurate for the future of any cnflict whatever the state of goverment is

article. We need more, many more such works to explain to reasonable rational people why we are where we are and what it is that we do there.

"...Israel, by virtue of its being Jewish and of having a Jewish population, defies Islam..." So the Hamas charter says in writing that Israel is Jewish. And yet they say they'll never recognise the Jewish character of Israel. Clowns. Scary clowns, but still clowns.

When Churchill clearly articulated the threat to Europe from Nazi Germany, was that self-pity? When, after the war, he turned his sights on the Soviets and said, "An Iron Curtain has descended across Europe", was that self-pity? And when Owain Glyndwr fought against the English, was that self-pity? No. But when a Jew expresses concern about the repeated and well-documented promises of the Arabs to wipe Israel off the map, all of a sudden it's self-pity. Don't worry, I'm not accusing you of being anti-Semitic. Heaven forbid. That, of course, would be self-pity.

de-legitimize the national home of the Jewish people realized what Israel has been facing for so many years, contrary to Arab propaganda.

Martin you are completely and totally correct. Please try to convince our Israeli govt to accept this and act accordingly. Roy Chweidan, Israel