What is hypocritical is for the author to demand that the United States not push for an agreement with the PA based on the fact it is not a democracy, when Israel itself made peace agreements in the past with non-democracies like Egypt and Jordan. So its not ok for the US to push for negotiations because of lack of democracy, but it was ok for Israel to do it? This is clearly just another excuse for Israel not to negotiate peace and give up the occupied territories. No matter what the Palestinians or International Community do, its clear people like the author will find a reason to avoid peace.

Israel had peace with Egypt a non democracy because President Carter forced Israel to have an agreement . and now the Moslem Brotherhood who will be elected in September would cancell the peace. So now Israel should need to make sure its partners to be democractic before it gives more toa corrupt , undemocractic Abbas a state.

Obama is so CLUELESS when he deals with the Middle East. The Muslim Brotherhood is behind all of these protests, it's so obvious. If they had elections, they'd sweep into power, throw away the peace treaty with Israel, and start firing rockets into Eilat from the Sinai. Obama should know (Iraq, etc) that appeasing Arabs doesn't work. Besides, if a deal with the "Palestinians" ever happened, the PA would be run over in Judea/Samaria faster than you can say "Appeasement." Next thing you know, Grads will fall on Tel Aviv, Haifa, B-G Airport, and everywhere else.

obamas demands for mubarak to step down, is same as stabbing egypt in the back. and will put american lifes in risk.

israel made a peace treaty with Egypt because of another hypocrite; Jimmy Carter, number two; Israel cannot make peace with a figurehead who doesn't have popular support and without american and israeli support would fall and become an iranian ally against Israel. One more thing: Obama is a one term President, but Israel will be around forever!

"A recent study reinforces the claim that there is no Palestinian economy and..." - can the author please state the name of the study and who produced it so I can find and read it to see if the author's statement is correct?

1) I join the chorus of people hoping that Muslims will someday have societies where democracy and human rights are respected. There's a snowball-in-hell chance, but that's my hope. However, that has nothing to do with expectations that Israel should again partition its land, provided conditions in the PA and Gaza are right. The very idea of partitioning Israel to create another Arab country - and at what cost in terms of security! - is legally and historically WRONG. 2) Palestinians are not struggling with a lack of democracy as much as with their frustration to defeat Israel and conquer all of Palestine. Were they to hold a free vote between a Hamas candidate and a democratic, pro-two states candidate willing to live in peace with Israel, they'd choose Hamas by unanimity. They'd choose Islamists because Islamic parties are now carrying the nationalist banner. 3) Elections for the PA and Gaza? More to the point would be to hold a REFERENDUM in the PA/Gaza with a clear and short set of questions. For example, do they intend to live in peace with Israel or will they continue the struggle to conquer all of Palestine? Polls indicate there's an overwhelming majority intent on obliterating the "Zionist entity". It should be clear to everyone that conducting talks with a ruler who is not representative of the PA and Gaza majority is an act of deceit against the Jews of Israel. 4) Unity between the PA and Gaza leading to meaningful elections would eventually require an Arab land corridor cutting tiny Israel in two. Not a good idea. 5) That Israel should demand an independent PA judiciary? Fat chance! Israel doesn't even demand an end to anti-Jewish propaganda emanating from PA media outlets. 6) Obama's demand for Egyptian free and fair elections..... ISRAEL had free elections. The people spoke against partition, and the next thing we know is Obama ordering the Israeli PM to partition Jewish land, in contravention of what people had clearly voted against. That FAILURE TO RESPECT ISRAEL'S DEMOCRATIC VOTE against partition is the most blatant contradiction among foreign politicians - and some Israelis too. 7) MOST IMPORTANT POINT ======================= Even if by some extraordinary process the PA and Gaza were to turn into a paragon of democracy, there is always a chance that a tyrant will take power some day, and rip the peace treaty to shreds. Keep your land. If the Arabs want peace, then they shouldn't attack Israel. Simple. Stop bribing them with money and with land.

he supports democracy where it helps islamism as in egypt and does not support it in iran where democracy opposes islamism

One governing 50% of the people and totally opposed to recognizing and making peace with Israel, and the other (supposed "peace" governemnt) the 50% under the PLO,willing to negotiate, on its terms, of course. If the writer had bothered to read the article, he would note the specific application to the PA case, not the theory of "democracy" in general. Israel has a right to know the outcome of the PA democratic process, If the "palestinian" people are not of one mind in agreeing to recognize Jewish Israel, abandon war, forget about their idiotic "right of return" and sign a peace treaty with Israel recognizing its borders and legitimacy, and right to full normalized and diplomatic relations, they will get a demilitarized state from Israel. If they think that they can get a state while some or all of them continuing to wage war, make claims on Israel and reject its right to live in peace beside them - THEY GET NOTHING and deserve nothing. Israel has every right to know which it is before agreeing to anything. It is absolutely clear that Abbas and his PLO cronies represent their people just like Mubarek presently represents his. And if Mubareks successor, democratic or not, abandons peace with Israel (having gotten back every grain of sand), there will be war as IDF Takes the Sinai back and the door closes on "land-for-Peace (including a PA State) once and for all - as it should. Muslims either keep treaties with Jews or they do not. Israel has a right to know before giving up any more land. The article is 100% correct in pointing out Obama's hypocrisy (and what about democracy for the Saudis, who bankroll the killing of thousands of US troops in Iraq and Afgan, and who bankrolled the 911 atrocity). Lack of democracy in Saudi Arabia does not stop Obama from providing them with the largest US weapons sale in US history.

ALL THE MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES ARE TOTALLY UNRELIABLE, ESPECIALLY THE PALESTINIANS. WHY SHOULD ISRAEL DEAL WITH THOSE BANANA REPUBLICS, TOMORROW THEY ARE ALL GONE. THE SAME GOES FOR THE U.S. THAT CANNOT RELY ON ANY OF THEM.

If Egypt decides that the peace treaty with Israel is only worth honoring when it suits them, Israel should NEVER give land to any Arab regime again. Period.

What a nonsense writing.!!!. how can you demand democracy ..from a society which is under occupation form a foreign power and suffering every second....first ask to your own people ...whether it is fair to oppress another society upto such extant.....and by the way .. if you a) depend on US to repel any motion against your Israel in UN and b) receive monetary aid ..then ofcourse US has right to ask u anything...it does not matter whether you like it or not.

Why would you support a ountry that would contribute nothing to the world; not create or invent anything; nor ethical, not lawful, a 22 Arab country , gloriyfying martyrdom and suicide bombings and death; why do you want such state to exist? why hate Israel?

I agree , It should also be Saudi Arabia, UAE. Bahrain. Kuwait, All the middle east. but First Israel who receives 3 Billion In aid and 10 Billion in Laon grantees. When They start to treat their Own Arab citizen equal to Jews. When they stop discriminating against them even by not Allowing them to marry whom they want. It always easy to see other people short comings But it is hard oneself Racism. Yes you can be a Jew and a racist.

on your part, article talks about us and obaba and like all damncrats you are trying to switch the subject.

The Palestinians already have a huge country called Jordan where 80% of the population are Palestinians. Why should tiny Israel give away its liberated historic homeland of Judea and Samaria-Land of Israel to them? The Land of Israel is GOD-GIVEN and GOD-RESTORED to the Jewish Nation. Read Genesis, Exodus, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. NO humans should dare tamper with GOD'S Covenant with Israel.

Nice article. The Americans have always supported dictatorships when it suited their foreign agenda, and just as quick to consign them to history. For sure the PA are not representative of the Palestinian people, and totally corrupt. But when the Americans see them as willing collaborators in the illegal Israeli occupation and settler enterprise, then they won't withdraw their financial support anytime soon.

Obama really doesn't care if the Muslim Brotherhood take over Egypt. What he really wants is the eventual distruction of Israel as a collateral of the change. In today's Washington Post there is an article by far left winger and billionaire George Soros that says the U.S. relationship with Israel is the problem and many high State Department officials believe the same thing. Obama is a Muslim sympathizer, a communist and most likely not a natural born citizen of the U.S. No Israeli should trust a word he says. Look at his past deeds to get a feel for what he will do in the future.

Devide and rule.One entity in Gaza and another one in west bank. This way no palestinian state will be declared ever. First step is recognizing that Hamas is a sole representitives of Hamastan.

There has never been a country called Palestine. So whose land is it? Jordan doesn't want it after they got their ass's kicked in 67' and they don't want the people. You and the author are both wrong. Land for peace hasn't worked yet and it never will. If the people want peace let them be peaceful. Let them learn Torah!

The last elections were annulled. Who could run? Who could vote? Who would be allowed to win? Who would be allowed to serve except in an IDF jail. All these issues are controlled by Israel and the occupation government at present. Free and fair elections are not possible under occupation. Israel may as well just appoint a government. Choice is not possibly credible since the 2006 annulment.

So YOU are the HYPOCRITES. Israel should be FORCED into a Peace Treaty.

there are 11 Arab Israeli memebrs of Parliament; Arab is a formal luanguage; Many of them in Medical schools, and inuniversities; they all need to graduate highschool; freedom of expression and proected by rule of law; they live well on Israel with many kids taking advantag of Israeli welfare system; and thier standard of life is higher than in any other Arab in any Arab country;

Agree with the need for democracy... But demand this once the occupation is over andthe illegal settlements finished. After that let's request democracy both in Palestine and Israel where non Jews are discriminated

together with delight. The Caliphate is coming big time and faster that anyone predicted. With Egypt secured as a dyfunctional state, ripe for an islamic takeover,Iran in the main corner and Turkey almost "there" , who in his right mind can imagine the Old World continuing on...? I wonder how we're going to explain all that to our children? At least the "Hitler-generation" had nothing to compare to: it was unprecedented, but now??!!!!

Why would Obama so ambitiously want Mubarak to step down as if Obama is the Head President of Egypt? And why would the world listen to Obama's rant about democracy? Have anyone of you ever read/seen the real Birth Certificate of Obama to be an eligible President of USA? So, why are you focusing of what Obama is trying to distract you? He is an illegal President that breach the democracy loophole.

but if jews are discriminated wherever in west-Bank or abroad it would be ok, istn't it? typical french hypocricy. Have you been to Israel? I saw so many arabs students in israeli universities as well as arabs professors and dotors, as never in EU. Who are the discriminators here? french people, you hate more than you lie...BTW, in Israel there is already democracy, maybe you should change the Al Jazeera channel for once and open you little tiny hatefull eyes...

for your lucid comments! Very helpful.