This mantra has been heard for some time, yet often, without noticing at least three elements: 1) The basis for ALL peace talks and agreements to date, since the process commenced in 1991 during the Madrid Peace Conference, has been UN Security Council Resolution, 242, 1967. Nowhere in 242 is there either a call for or a suggest toward the setting up of an additional state between the Jordan River and the Med. Sea, nowhere!! 2) The reason no such suggestion was made was because it contradicted the fundamental elements of international law related to the Arab Israeli conflict and the need to resolve it, i.e. San Remo conference decisions, 1920; League of Nations decisions, 1922; UN Charter, article 80, 1945. These elements of international law have already established the partition of Palestine between two states, Arab and Jewish. The former, located on 77% of Palestine, between the Jordan River and the Arabian desert. The latter, only 23% of the territory, located between the Jordan River and the Med. Sea. The call for an additional partition of the 23% of the Jewish home, as defined in international law, is strictly a political one, not based on law. 3) Reality is that despite the on going pronouncements of this mantra, there hasn't been a solution along the lines of further partitioning Palestine/Eretz Israel (Land of Israel). Perhaps, due to the fact that it is unworkable, to say nothing about its lacking fairness to the Jewish people. Isn't it, therefore, time to re-focus on that which has been established in law, i.e. the 1921/22 partition of Palestine/Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) on the basis of 77% vs. 23%; Arab Palestine east of the Jordan River vs. Jewish Eretz Israel west of the Jordan River?

Suppose the U.S. government freed even one terrorist, and he murdered someone. The victim's family would be able to successfully sue the government for untold millions of dollars. Ringel-Hoffman urges Israel to unleash countless murderous terrorists against Israeli civilians. This is clear cut criminal negligence. There is no limit to the depravity of Israeli leftists.

- so has this Author of this article not either !. If the Palestinians where serious, they would not come with preeconditions as they always had. Those Palestinians know they can trust Israel, since so many times they had succeded to make a fool of Her, by extorting preeconditions from Her, and giving nothing in return. Dont give in to Kerrys Usefull Idiocy, and make Israel a Fool once more. Arn.Sweden.

Why does the author and people like insist that Israel is required to do yet another gesture for a chance at a paper of peace signed by the Arab Dictator of the Month club. Frankly, it's not worth the paper it is printed on. The commodity "Peace" is the ONLY thing that Israel would gain from any deal, and everything else Israel loses. If the Palestinians want a Nation of their own, and peace so badly, how about THEY make a concession (or come to the negotiating table and stay there) for a change?

Israel does not need to pay to sit at the table with the PA. Those prisoners may be traded at the very end of the talks, in return for a final peace treaty. Releasing these criminals for nothing except a seat at the table is just poor negotiating tactics.

There is nothing in the Palestinian demeanor that suggests they want reconciliation. They want to overthrow Israel and do everything they can to smear it. The leaders want to keep the people in their control by getting them free gifts like a prisoner release. Palestinians should get free gifts when they do something to enhance peace not when they are trying to degrade Israel around the world. It's Psychology 101.

make concessions? Isn't it about time the ersatz Palestinians showed a spirit of reconciliation? What is it with these left wing loonies like Ariela that can't see that it's impossible to reconcile with someone whose only desire is to kill you. I wonder what sort of olive branch she would have extended to Hitler? The only thing these people respect is strength and singing Kum bay yah and kissing their bottoms isn't going to do any good.

There is no justification to release Palestinians who've murdered Israelis while keeping Israelis who murdered in prison. Both groups must finish their sentences without exception.

They ask for prisoners, tomorrow for Tel Aviv and all women and children so they can be raped and enslaved and eventually killed. These are not civilized humans beings with conscience. I think its safe to assume that they do not regret and feel any remorse for committing their crimes and will try to do so again. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me is what we'll be saying if any of them get released.

If you begin negotiations with an enemy for the first time you may release prisoners as a good will gesture. If you are restarting negotiations for the 100th time after already releasing prisoners a dozen times, you don't release prisoners, it's pathetic. Though I hate to say it, Bibi is right, there is no such thing as pre-conditions when you're already in the middle of negotiations.

but on both sides. So Israel releases prisoners as an initial contribution to moving forward. But what of Abbas' other pre-conditions; are these also required to be met before Abbas resumes talks? And what concessions will Abbas offer up in return? Probably to return to the negotiations to demand the fulfilment of the rest of his pre-conditions. Let both sides return to negotiations and....... negotiate.

Peace will only come to Israel when the Palestinians and their fellow Muslims are given what they want. While release of Palestinian prisoners might be a welcomed start, so would a halt to settlement building, and welcomed even more, total abandonment of settlements. Withdrawal of Israeli troops from so-called Palestinian areas would surely be welcomed. But, any of those things, even all of them, would not bring peace, because, while they would be welcomed because they would contribute toward the Palestinians getting what they want, , they would not give the Palestinians what they want. What the Palestinians want is the destruction of Israel and its replacement with an Islamic state. Surely, liberal Jewish intellectuals who want to achieve peace can devise a plan to do that. Then, the Israelis would be gone, the Palestinians could have their Islamic State, and the Sunnis and the Shiites could get on with their more important killing of each other because they are infidels.

May we have the nominations, please...For framing the release of convicted murderers as a degree of "inconvenience,'"a really strong contender for the award, the author of this op-ed piece! And it's uncontested. She wins!

you will have to receive them the way we received Eldad Regev and Ehud Wasserman.

Ariela Ringel-Hoffman is on cloud nine if she thinks the Arabs will ever make peace with a standing Israel. Prisoner release is another means of encouragement to the Arabs to continue their war to the finish on Israel. The Leftists brought Arafat back from exile with his army and self-deluded Leftists will not cease undermining Israel until Israel vanishes.

The step towards reconciliation would be for the "palestinians" to recognize those in Israeli jails as criminals, terrorists, and murderers not as heroes to be welcomed home in jubilation. Also, the argument for saying Israel needs to pay a high price for peace is very weak. What price do the "palestinians" pay? They don't, they get the benefit of everything while Israel has to suffer the costs of everything, talk about one-sided negotiations. Even with all of this, there is still no guarantee of peace, only the prospect of a "Chance" for peace. The costs are too high and too one-sided. If Israel release all prisoners, it should be met with a rejection for "palestinian" demands of Jerusalem and the right of return.

waht can one say-peres, olmert, livni, beilin, bibi, now ariella. These are the chosen people? Feh!

Concentrate on the reality step! Real negotiations means: 1) King of Jordan is involved 2) Negotiate time and place to move to. 3) Negotiate how much money to assist them with. 4) But before all, annex all of the territories. This is a real discussion (negotiation) "The rest is nonsense!"

We need the Palestinians to sit down and negotiate based on two states for two peoples. We've done the concessions and confidence building before. Many times. That didn't get them a state nor us peace and security. If they want peace, then show us - sit down and negotiate. No prisoners, no nothing. Just tachlis.

There is absolutely no reason why Israel should make any unilateral concessions for the sake of negotiations doomed to failure. Let's have the other side make concessions: 1. Israel is Jewish. 2. Palestine gives up the right or privilege of return 3. Palestine acknowledges that Ramala is capital of P and Jerusalem is Israel's capital. Why release murderers? Let them rot in jail where they belong.

Vos Is Dos? Shalom

When they sign a peace treaty maybe but until then the pals should be giving confident building measures to Israel. They have been given more than enough already.

I believe that all arabs should make a serious effort for peace. That is all arabs should voluntarily repatriate themselves to their arabs countries of their origin. The leftists can also repatriate themselves. The land of israel belongs only to the Jews.

As Jihadi Psychos and Neonazis in Europe Return Judae and Samaria ought be Militirizes Densely .The Retribution for attacks on the Holy Land and within by any Tribe against innocents ought lead to long incarceration.Only a Interventional Democratic Humanitarian State also a iron clad sanctuary of Refuge for Jews and a proportion of Noachidic Peoples Post Shoah Armed Capacity is Just.

First, there is no word for compromise in the Arabic language. Second, how about the Arabs giving Israel some "Confidence Building" jestures.

The "Judenrat"- (Jewish council) in the E. European ghettos - task was the obedient execution of the Nazi commands, - including the orderly deportation of their fellow Jews. In every occupied country an indigenous, underground resistance was born that fight heroically the Nazis. Only the Jews walked to their death without putting up resistance. No wonder that with the departure of the Holocaust generation the spirit of defeatism, collaboration, appeasement, treason became the "chic", particularity to the internationalist hard left.