Once Judea and Samaria goes,,,the rest of Israel will quickly follow ,which is why Israel can not even think about relinquishing these areas .By the way ,they belong the jews only. And indecision causes derision...absolutely.

becuase that you are not looking like the victim you wanted everyone to think you were.. I do believe that resolving the issue is better than good PR .

while its a legitimate demand, when someone wants to keep their house, its not legitimate and not acceptable anymore, when they do it on the expense of: (1) their PEOPLE (costs and danger), (2) their COUNTRY (reputation and danger) (3) their FAITH (violating it, watering it down). the selfishness of the settlers, and their associated right-wingers, is horrible and destroying all the above - and more. im afraid, but i must say one thing: israel is not switzerland, and will never be. and those, who are THAT afraid of living in israel, that they even plea to oppress and expell people in busses, to have their "buffers" and "tank-slopes" secured, and are even too afraid to go to the temple mount, to go through the old city, to go even close to it outside, should think about themselves - BEFORE THROWING THE COUNTRY INTO A DISASTER...

Kind of a warped catch-22, isn't it Salma? You want to resolve the issue, but your leaders won't come to the negotiating table in order to resolve the issue that they can only resolve by negotiations. Hmmm... maybe it can't be resolved then? Or maybe the resolution will be something other than 2-states for two peoples? Maybe the resolution will be Gaza becomes part of Egypt and Arabs in the west bank go back to being what they were before 1967 - Arab Jordanians. This means, of course, that the Jews go back to being what we were before 1948 - Palestinians.

Solve the conflict. However, there is nothing "simple" about it. The conflict is a long, drawn-out, complex and convoluted strife between two different peoples: Arabs and Jews. And, of course, you can't solve it unless you NEGOTIATE! So, Salma - tell your leaders to get back to the peace talks. And you, eporue, stop showing us that you are simply a backwards person and start looking forwards - get your EU leaders to pressure the Palestinians (the Arabs, not the Jews) to negotiate.

To all those who keep asking how come a nation that makes loads of money, is responsible for an inordinate number of Hollywood movies and world media, has won an unproportional amount of nobel prizes, is responsible for an unbelievable number of innovations, saving so many lives etc. etc. cannot come up with a decent PR campaign to offset the lies of its foes. The answer is quite simple: all those people who have made all those loads of money, are responsible for that inordinate number of Hollywood movies and world media, have won an unproportional amount of nobel prizes, and are responsible for that unbelievable number of innovations, saving so many lives etc. etc. are too busy making loads of money, and inordinate number of Hollywood movies and media products, winning all those nobel prizes, and developing those innovations that save so many lives etc. etc. to waste their time on all those foes, who may have loads of money, but have never made a Hollywood movie in their lives (except mel, I suppose), are busy trying to buy all that world media, and probably have an undeserved nobel prize or 2 amongst them, and are responsible for innovations mainly devoted to wasting all those lives that the jews are working so hard to save.

dont you love it when someone uses a truthful assertion to prove a myth? israel is losing a pr war. thus everything it says must be wrong. it says maybe we shouldn't occupy. ergo, we should occupy. unfortunately, we are losing the PR war on many other fronts as well, so this cannot be the reason. unity of voice is held up as our strong point - not our weak point - whether related to occupation, religion, economy... as soon as we succumb to one "truth" we lose our vitality and uniqueness. so, people, believe what you wish to believe - but beware of sophists and demagogues such as mr. dann. they're no different from ovadia yossef, humeini or their ilk. use your own eyes, your own brains, your own beliefs. the more the merrier. as for what the others think? mr. dan would be the first to say: damn what the others think - when it suits him.

The author, like so many others, believes that there actually it´s possible to dramatically change the picture, that somehow, if we do it the right way, then our case would triumph. That´s an illusion. The mirror-illusion is the one embraced by some palestinians, who believe that great PR and marketing and shining skills in strategic communication would bring them their state. Illusions. You have to choose your battles and be realistic. It is possible to fight antisemitism or some other rigid anti-israeli sentiments. But that will not give us a PR-victory regarding the palestinian issue. The best thing for us to do is to netioate and promote peace. Then PR will be a walk in the park.

the undiagnosed schizophrenics who lead Israel to an abyss.

And I am the Palestinian negotiator sit with you at the negotiating table ( wow ), could you explain to me the view of Brian Cohen to solve the conflict, forget our " leaders ", and forget the Jordanian -Egyptian solution , because that's seventh impossible to happen.....I'm Waiting your brilliant solution ....Don't disappoint me , Mr Cohen .

Perhaps because PR can hide the truth for only so long. Ir is Israel's actions which speak louder than any words. Believing that it is only bad PR which has united so many in the world against Israeli policies is a fantasy to which many Israelis cling. Continue with your present policies. or adopt the idiocy promoted by the writer, and the pace of that which you fear will inly accelerate.

On any given day there are plenty of Jews near temple mount and plenty in the Old City and a less than 500m away is the centre of West Jerusalem but hey don't let the truth get in the way.

If you are not guilty of any wrongdoing, there is no need to defend yourself. That burden of proof rests with one's accusers. Since those accusers cannot produce a single shred of documented evidence to support their claims, what do we get? Well, let's see. Suicide bombers. Mortars and missiles. Two Turkish television series. One Turkish movie. Conferences on Holocaust denial. Accusations that Israel is deliberately attracting sharks to the Red Sea to ruin Egypt's tourist trade (well, as recent events have shown, the Egyptians are doing a pretty good job of it themselves). Ludicrous charges of a Mossad network operating in Iran (well, I'm sure there is at least one, but it isn't the ridiculous one the Iranians paraded forth on national TV). You don't need public relations to counter that.

BRIAN ! ...jerusalem, refugees, borders, settlements...

It's your conduct , stupid ,....

There is no negotiated solution to this conflict.

Going back to 1917 Balfour Declaration to UN 181, what was offer was always less that want Jewish leaders wanted but accepted it hoping to gain their full goals later. Balfour and British Mandate gave Jewish people only right of return with no land and only possible of shared rule. UN 181 gave Israel the right to form a Government but no land and with non-Jewish to have equal rights, which made a true "Jewish State" illegal per its UN charter. From the begin Jewish leaders wanted a true "Jewish State" with full Jewish land control over all the Holy Land but the West has never agreed with that, which is the main problem for the settlements, even more that the Palestinians. Israel wants to fulfill the Zionist dream while UN/US is only willing to offer 80% at best.

Look, two factors are hnidering the desired new strategy Moshe Dann encourages. First and foremost, he is of course right in what he says about past gov'ts. The problem is Israel's unbelievable small-mindedness, low self-esteem, lack of basic courage and lack of conviction/confidence. This state of affires was caused mostly by foolish and left-wing governments, but not only. Sharon also was to blame and he calculated wrongly. The kadima party is probably the worst in Israel. Horribly weak, unsure of itself and Israel's cause, defeatist almost to the point of treason etc. Israel simply cannot rely on them, cause that will be the country's death certificate. Livni is probably one of the worst politicians in Israel for her lack of vision, naivity and weakness and her perception of weakness. The second problem imho is the fact that Israel is afraid that the Arabs ("Palestinians"), but also the so-called int'l communityx might easily say in reaction to Israel's projection of sovereignity that "Hey, you want the territory? You can get it, but only with its Arab pop!" Therefore the solution may lie in proudly projecting sovereignity to Area C of J & S and constantly hammering away at Hebron's and jewish roots, Rachel's tomb etc as a middle-of-the-road route.

The ersatz "Palestinian" seven decades of terror is quite well documented. The six wars that have all been started by the Arabs is equally well-documented. The three rejected opportunities for a sovereign state of your own is also well-documented. Fifteen thousand mortars and missiles have been fired at Israel from Gaza; that's pretty well documented, too. Stop portraying yourselves as "victims." You are the perpetrators; you are the architects of your misery. Your constant bleating and endless whining is REALLY getting tiresome. Even your brother Arabs cannot tolerate you.

Our conduct? As opposed to what, the conduct of terrorists, suicide bombers and jihadists that fire missiles and mortars into Israel? The conduct of aggressors that initiated six wars and lost all six? You think the foregoing needs to be defended in a public relations blast? The people who hate Israel and hate Jews aren't going to pay attention. The people who support the actions of suicide bombers are not worthy of attention. So no amount of public relations will work. Israel's defenders know the truth. The innocent do not need to defend their actions. And all of Israel's actions have been retaliatory.

1. Jerusalem. So sorry. East Jerusalem has been formally annexed. It is the eternal and undivided capital of the State of Israel and there is absolutely nothing to negotiate. 2. Refugees. So sorry. That is not the correct term. Since the Arabs who fled Israel did so voluntarily, they are merely displaced persons. What a shame their brother Arabs have not seen fit to resettle them. The only refugees following the 1948 War of Independence were those Jews who were forcibly expelled from their homes in Arab and Moslem lands, and who left with little more than the clothes on their backs. Israel absorbed them all. 3. Borders? So sorry. As far as Judea and Samaria are concerned, those were decided in June 1967. Rather emphatically, I might add. 4. Settlements? So sorry. They are fully legal -- keep in mind that Judea and Samaria constitute non-sovereign territories and were acquired by Israel in the course of fighting a DEFENSIVE war. Israel is free to build and settle wherever it wants. Looks like there is nothing to negotiate. There never has been.

Dann's article is outstanding. The problems Israel experiences begin right at home. As Dann notes, Israel is constantly sending mixed signals. As a result, even our best friends don't know where we stand. Example: Until Ariel Sharon idiotically endorsed the Road Map To Hell, countless pro-Israel U.S. Congressmen were prepared to go to the wall to fight it. However, Israel undercut them. The evil racist building freeze sends the false message that Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria are on the negotiating table. It sends the false message that they aren't really ours. For nobody freezes building on land they legitimately own. The answer is simple. Israel must act like the rightful owners we are. Stop acting like tresspassers on our own land. This tiny land is ours now and forever. Let us massively claim, defend, settle and love it.

Imagine a small but powerful Jewish minority who doesn't believe that Jews have the right to settle in what they consider somebody else's land. This small minority has existed parallel to the birth and development of political Zionism, and has fought Zionism with every means at its disposal, short of outright violence. It flourished mainly among 19th Century Central European Jews, but it spread to England and America as well. Herzl was vilified. They fought with viciousness the idea of an independent Israel - even as Jews were being persecuted and killed by the Nazis!!!. Those anti-Zionists fled Europe - ironically, many of them for Palestine - and were in Israel when the country declared its independence. Their rhetoric subsided somewhat, but they were busy - very busy. Entrenched in places of influence, such as universities, they started to slowly cultivate their way of thinking in the minds of the young. Those youngsters grew up, became educators themselves, and assumed positions of power. They had children... Then comes the 1967 war and they are ready! They pull their strings and somehow Israel "forgets" to annex the territories. Inexplicably it decides to save them as bargaining chips for some future "Peace" with the Arabs. So, what do you do if you are part of that anti-Zionist minority? You don't say outright that Israel does not have the right to the land.... You obfuscate instead....You throw some bones to the nationalists and allow some resettlement knowing that they'll have to vacate their homes some day. But you work behind the scenes to undermine Israel's cause. And so, it happens: Jews are forced out of Sinai and Gaza by their own Jewish government... And now it looks as if they'll have to leave the rest of the reconquered land as well. In the name of "peace". But it's all done all in the most confusing manner possible - as described on Moshe Dann's column. While some Israelis are confused, the small minority of powerful anti-Zionists and semi-Zionists are not. They have been lying to you all along. Even as it's obvious that peace treaties have only a short shelf life, but land surrendered it's gone forever, anti-Zionists came up with arguments for more land concessions to gain good will in an increasingly hostile Middle East. I'm not sure they convinced anyone. ~~~~~~~~~~ SOMETHING VERY OMINOUS is the absolutely LACK OF REACTION from your leadership to the significance of the imminent loss of the peace treaty with Egypt - and its connection to future efforts to a further partition of the land. Perhaps the PM needs to be cautious at a time like this - but why did he join Blair agreeing to more concessions to the future state of Palestine? Why isn't there a national call for annexation? WHY THE SILENCE in the Knesset and in political organizations? No amount of money could have paid for this powerful anti-partition piece of evidence: The Sinai is gone and so is the peace treaty. But Jews are missing this vital opportunity to assert their rights to the land AND to their DEMOCRATIC RIGHT to reject another partition. Why?

Simple, who would have any respect for a country with a foreign minister of the stature of that of Israel? I don't

one note it is in 2011 good pr help in resolving the problem and resolving the problem lead to good pr israil used the old pr as if it is before 50 years think it may resolve the probllem and use an old resolving as if itis before 50 years think that it will lead to good pr . sure both are failed looking to another 50 years

The Biggest Enemy to Israel is the Israelis themselves. If one thinks wrong One Loses. The Greatest Victory id the Victory over Oneself. United we Stand Divided We Fall. Here is the Solution - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW4OPRb4uTs&feature=related -any other way, will only lead to More Suffering and Radicalisation of Israel into yet stronger Division. Orao.Srbia.

"..has refused to assert the legal and historical rights of Jews in Judea and Samaria..." "... has refused to annex Area C of Judea and Samaria, in which all of the settlements reside, over 300,000 Jews and a relatively small minority of Arabs..." What sort of nonsense is this? What legal right do these settler have to live in Area C, or any other Area, of the West Bank/Judea/Samaria- call it what you like!? Whose law gives them this right? Not a single state in the world recognises this as Israeli territory and it is illegal under international law. Not to mention the fact that this land legally belongs to its Arab private owners who in most cases hold documents proving their ownership. This article is meant to be about improving Israel's PR- the only way that will happen is if Israel kicks these loony's out of the West Bank, this writer included. To implement his suggestions would be the worst PR disaster Israel has ever seen

You have it exactly backwards. The non-Jewish world likes its Jews to be meek and fearful. They don't like Jews who speak their mind and are not afraid to confront the likes of terrorists, jihadists and vile heads of state. Jews (despite our well-documented contributions to civilization and mankind) were acceptable to others and tolerated ONLY as long as they could rather easily be expelled from countries, put to death at the stake and be made to file passively into gas chambers. Then along comes the tiny State of Israel, surrounded by a vast horde of enemies, and proceeds to achieve the miraculous in a scant sixty-three years, being victorious in six wars which were all defensive and despite having to deal with nearly seven decades of unrelenting Arab terror. Smart AND powerful AND an economic and technololgical powerhouse? Oh, the non-Jewish world cannot possibly tolerate that! There is no amount of public relations that can combat anti-Semitism. There is no amount of public relations that can combat jealousy and hatred. And if the very presence of Minister Lieberman -- who doesn't seem to mind telling it like it is -- is a constant thorn in the sides of Jew-haters --- hey, that's a good thing. Israel can NEVER win a "public relations war" because the only thing that will make most non-Jews happy would be if Israel -- G-d forbid -- were to cease to exist. There is no public relations blitz that can combat THAT. So why bother? Finally -- I 'll take Lieberman's moxie and his blunt manner over mealy-mouthed and self-effacing Jews such as yourself ANY DAY!