Israel is not all alone in light of the developments in Egypt. Perhaps it is a perfect time for Israel to reform itself and try an honest effort to make Palestine a reality and consequently an honest and equitable partnership. Nothing ever stays still and there is always a day of reckoning...perhaps it is time to recognise it and have a future.

...long-term and stable ally in the region has been and continues to be Israel. And once they realize it, they should invest in cultivate the good relationships with the nation-state of the Jewish people instead of attempting to place hurdles in its way of defending itself...!!

This op-ed is surely different than I've previously read on Y-Net. I was not aware that Harriri was considered a friend or ally of the current Israeli government. That must be breaking news. As for Jordan, why would Abdullah have any reason for optimism about Netanyahu making a deal with the Palestinians? As for the US, all the US has received from the current Israeli government is an "up-yours." Not exactly something to encourage the US to even put out much effort since negotiation is not part of the Netanyahu lexicon. He dictates, period. As for making a deal with either Syria or Abbas, Netanyahu was elected to avoid making a deal. And his government would collapse if he tried - more so since Barak showed his true colors. BTW - Olmert did not go far enough to make a deal with Abbas, despite all the concessions Abbas was willing to make. And Netanyahu has lots less flexibility than Olmert ever thought he had.

If the current developments dont prove land for peace with arabs is a fallacy than what will? So now in addition to all the above, you want mortars from Syria again? The stupidity is astounding. Realistically the only thing Israel can do is keep the nuke missiles armed and ready, as that is the only deterrent Israel can offer against so many foes.

You are better off under Israeli rule than you would be under oppressive and tyranical Arab dictators. Life in a Jewish country is superior to that in any Arab lead country. You have jobs, food, homes, your own culture and religious freedom. And you have peace. Jews are benevolent and intelligent. You could not have asked for any greater blessing than to live under Jewish sovereignty. Be appreciative of this situation; cooperate and be peaceful. We will take good care of you in the One State we have together, unlike what is going on in Arab run (ruined) countries. Forget the idea of having your own state as that will be your demise. But, if you are really anxious to live under Arab rule, move to Egypt or Tunisia or Yemen or Iraq or......

Democracy is a precondition for a stable peaceful relations between states. We got better than we should have expected from an Egyptian and Jordanian autocracy but in the long run no treaty with any Arab government is more stable than the government that signs it.

But relax, No one in the ME volunteers to die on a hopeless war with the Jews. If they become Nazi Islam - we'll have our Churchill, Itamar Eichner !!

about the Obama administration that instead of appreciating the alliance with the Jewish state has allowed his inner most hostility toward it to take over. Let us hope both the people who surround him and the American public will assist him to realize that Israel stands alone in the region in facing the forces of Islamism that threaten the entire Western civilization and he should provide support to these brave defenders instead of trying to undermine them.

The west should realize that supporting so-called dictatorship-allies in the ME on the basis of supporting Israel is making them lose all their interests in this region. It's high time for them to realize safeguarding Israel is costly fot them

Itamar, you should stop smoking grass! Israel has ALWAYS been alone in the ME. The peace with Egypt is a joke and Turkey is, for now, replaced by Greece (a nice slap on the arrogant Erdogan ugly face). And do you sincerely think that if Israel is threatened we will care what the Turks think? If before we were very careful not to insult our allies, do you think that now, that they are declared enemies we will care if they will moan when we'll use their air space for delivering our promises to Assad or Ahmedinejad? By becoming our enemy, Turkey has practically lost any say-so in what we do or do not do. But don't hold your hopes so high! Mubarak will prevail and guess what: he will realize that HIS only trustful "ally" in this world is Israel - the only country whose leaders didn't run in front of the closest microphone, trying to mess with Egypt's internal affairs and paying lip service to their local Leftist cretins. And believe me - he KNOWS who his real friends are now, after Obama the clown made a show of himself and showed all the US allies that US is not to be trusted for as long as this inexperienced kid sits behind the wheel. So take your Leftist slogans and shove them you know where. I wonder which banner you hold during the racist demostrations in Jaffa.

Time for Obama and the US to wake up to the reality that, with the LONE exception of Israel, ALL military aid and weapons that the US pours into the Middle East are likely to be aimed at US soldiers. Israel is the LONE reliable ally of the US in the Middle East. Without Israel, the US has NO reliable friend in the Middle East.

Replace your blind, agenda-driven sloganeering with some honest thinking.

YES a different perspective is seen when one lives closer to the fire. An naive spectator far away thinks it harsh and apartheid-like when Israel Army screens palestinian travelers. You cry out 'Its not just..! " ...we cry for a different reason : That spectator turns a BLIND eye to the terrorist bombers that get through the screening... here in Israel we mourn the dead and injured women and children victims. The US and h Obama have different objectives (petroleum ? ) When the US completes its realization of error (secretary Clinton for example) it will be TOO LATE for us. moshe

Israel needs no one except God.

Hey Mark, stop drinking that Niagra River water....you forget that you're downstream from the Love Canal! The current Israeli government is known as a solid supporter of the United States. Israeli military, intelligence and economic cooperation continues as before, possibly even stronger than before. Mark doesn't like the fact that Bibi isn't knuckling under to Palestinian demands for a total construction freeze. That's the only source of conflict between the US and Israel - everything else is business as usual and business is very, very good. It's more like "up yours, Mark of Lewiston" for trying to pretend that the situation is something other than reality. Harriri harbors no offensive or aggressive positions towards Israel - that makes him a buddy of ours. Abdullah is a tiny king in his tiny impoverished kingdom - which abandoned the Arabs over whom they used to rule - another fact you forget: Ramallah and Jenin and Nablus used to be Jordanian and their residents were Jordanians, not "Palestinians". Another recent fiction. As for Syria and the Pals, are you using that same Niagra water in your hooka? The Pals couldn't sign a peace treaty if they wanted to, and Syria isn't about to do it either - since they'd have to sign a full peace treaty and open their border. They ain't gonna do that while dictators rule. Too bad for you Mark, but the only stable, democratic country with the highest level of human rights in the middle east is still Israel. You hate that fact, don't you?!?

Fayyad's government is not corrupt, and the whole world except "Israel" & Micronesia supports the government's plan for Palestinian statehood by the second half of this year.

Now when all Attention is Elsewhere, Israel should Seize the Opportunity, to a Preemtive Action, for which She has Prepered Herself for Years. This is the Opportunity and WaY Forward. Orao.Srbia.

Since you did not dispute one thing I said, I guess you must agree. You elected Netanyahu to make no peace. So why should Jordan's king be optimistic that Israel wants a peace agreement? And when did Harriri become a Likud ally? Exxon Mobile wants to continue ME oil imports. Most rational Americans don't. And when was the last time your government didn't dump on mine?

Israel always was alone and always will be. People in Israel should know that we have no close fiends, halth friends or even distant friends in this world. Israel should dapend on itself and in politics should decide what is the best for Israel, but not for USA, Europe, Egypt or Palestines. We should know we will always be surrended by enemies, doesn't matter what agreements they sign. This agreements didn't worth the paper they where wrote on. The USA govermant never was our friend. They always damaded something from Israel. It was USA fault we were put in this situation with fals "peace process", which was not a peace but road to the hell. So now some of you think we should hurry, like a scaried rabbits and sign peace with Hamas? Did you think Israel have a Death Wish? I hope Netaniyahoo not that stupid. I hardly doubt we would sign any agreements with Arabs, when all Arabs world went to hell with riots? We will see what will come out of this "democracy, freedom" thing for Egypt, Yeman. Tuniss and Jordan. But anyway I can bet that our govermant would have no time to play any "peace" games, when we have alleged war from Arabs countries in making. They would be too busy to guard our borders and plan how to fight this future war. So no "peace" for Israel with Palestine in close future. I can bet Palestinians are angry now, because they put allot of money and hard propaganda work, buy playing a martir for ther world. Now nobody cares about Palestines and all people talks about Tuniss, Egypts, Yeman and other countries, who suddenly out of the blue decided they want "Democracy and Freedom". We already saw what their "freedom" means. They need Freedom, to have ability create kaos, rob properties, rape women (60 women was already raped and who knows how many was raped till today.) They ruin everything wich sacreed for thier country. They scream they want bigger sallary, they want jobs and all , but what they did? They ruind their countries economic, they robbed propertis, shops, supermarkets, which gave them jobs. Now there would be no jobs, not sallary at all. Now what they would cry a river, they have no money and would plead other countries provide them with money? I hardly doubt this riot was about "democracy and freedom". This riot was for taking power over the countries by Islamists. Most of people on the streets whas not real protesters, but paid thugs. I said it in other topics, that Arabs always was their own enemies. Now they would pay the consensus for what they done to their countries. I could bet they put Egypt in couple decads back in economic and now they would be needing billions, to rebuild, what they ruind. Poor brainwashed people. They already paying big prize with their lifes, family possasions and with their future. Because Arabs future is really gream from my point of view. But they said they wanted changes and they got what they wish. people should be carefull what they wish for, because their wish can come true.

I live thousands of miles from Niagra. Learn some US geography. There are more than one Lewiston and more than one Marion county - Can you guess why? Netanyahu has tried to embroil the US in a war in Iran and made announcements contrary to US policy every time it was possible to try and embarrass the US and the current administration. Neither is a friendly act. So why should Abdullah be optimistic? Is the Netanyahu gov making negotiating progress with Abbas? How has Israel kept that secret? Are you making a deal with Syria? Have you even talked to them in the past 2 years? It is hard to make a deal if you refuse to talk. Netanyahu wouldn't even allow his negotiators to touch the envelope the last PA proposal was in. Afraid of cooties, I guess. Wake up from your delusions, Brian. Move back to Israel.

For years, Egypt has built a huge and modern army for one declared reason: to fight Israel. Egypt could have forced Arafat to make a deal with Rabin or Barak, but refused. Egypt could have stopped the flow of weapons into Gaza and shut Hamas down, but they refused. Egypt could have normalized relations with Israel but they refused, preferring a cold war. The only thing that has changed is that Israeli leaders and the extreme Left have received more proof that the Right-wing is correct and surrendering Judea and Samaria will be the end of Israel. But of course, they will ignore the proof.

Mubarak is far from collapsing. Jordan is far from an enemy. Turkey is talking dramatically but has not made any real meaningful policy changes. The PA government is nowhere near anything resembling a collapse. Hezbollah has been effectively in control of Lebanon's military functions for years so as a practical matter Lebanon's position vis a vis Israel is basically unchanged. Hamas is still Hamas, Iran is still Iran. In truth, not much has actually changed other than a lot of dramatic sounding headlines. News writers have to make a living and drama sells. Kind of like reality TV.

No country has ever been Israel's friend. We have used each other when it was mutually beneficial and turned on each other when it was beneficial Obama is a perfect example of that. Israel has plenty of enemies and it has individuals who can be defined as friends jews & non jews alike but there is no such thing as a country we can call a friend.

You can safely pay no attention He's been commenting for years on a place he's never viisited, relying solely on what he scrounges from various anti-Israel sources He once complained he didn't have the funds to make the trip This is his outlet, just like reading tourist guide books without ever making the trip When you read Mark's rantings, just think of it as the voice of vast inexperience He's merely a peeping Tom, no more no less

Brian is concerned with a land that he loves, you on the other hand, have no attachment to the land Haven't you ever wondered why nobody has ever bothered to consult your for your expertise or opinions ?? I'll tell you why, you have none !! If this were a ball game, you wouldn't be in the stands, in fact you would be where you are now, far away from where history and the future are being decided You must be really frustrated, nobody pays you any attention, so you seek it here, because in truth, you're merely a nerd Just in case you dont' get it, I don't like like, because you're a troublemaker that contributes nothing

You have no idea where I've been in recent months or who takes or likes my ideas, either. Stop being Helen Thomas in a yarmulke.

The west backs the royal families in the Gulf rather than promoting democracy because those royal families create stability and ensure free flow of oil. The west backs the likes of Mubarak not for Israel's sake but again stability. Egypt controls the Suez Canal so it makes good sense to make sure you have a government in Egypt that you can control so they prop up Mubarak because he brings stability and he can be controlled, They west backed Arafat rather than pushing for to much democracy because he was a strong man who could keep control... he was stability. They backed Abbas because he was a so called moderate and provided the boat isn't rocked to much he could be controlled although he doesn't have the power & influence on the streets Arafat did. After fter Desert Storm the west intentionally left Saddam in power because he was a strong man who created stability. He made sure Iraqi oil continued to flow in exchange for food and medicines and the fact his army was smashed meant he was no threat to anybody but Iraqis. Today there is no more strong man & Iraq is a madhouse. Democracy is nice and in public the west promotes it but at the end of the day its stability which they want most and they don't give a damn about Egyptians, palestinians or even Israeli's. Every country in the world is in it for themselves.