will lead Israel to its early demise. Releasing murderers in order to talk with murderers is the height of insanity and absurdity. This about tells the tale of why Israel in in a constant state of war. An enemy is to be vanquished, only then is there peace. You don't coddle an enemy expecting them to make peace with you, you destroy them.

Kerry and Abbas are preparing for WAR not PEACE.

How naive. What makes you think Israel has been or will be different from every other country? Peace - or more accurately, the absence of war - arises precisly because of a readiness to talk to murderers. 'Vanquishing' enemies belongs to the romanticised childish imagination. Perhaps, at long last, this Israeli government is beginning to understand that political realities need to be recognised to ensure the survival of the state.

(such as it is!?) nor is he to do with releasing Arab murderers! It is foolhardy to release these people,if taken in isolation.However if it would lead to a good agreement ,it would be worthwhile and lesser of two evils.But unfortunately there seems to be no SERIOUS intent from either side.The Arabs really dont want to recognise Israel as "the Jewish State"Especially with Leiberman threatening to expel our 20% Arab population,which is racist and crazy,no matter what the other side says about Jews in their proposed state.We should reassure them their position.Also As Israel keeps building settlements,how can they expect the Arabs to take peace seriously.I believe that Bibi just does not recognise the dangers ahead,as he tries to maintain the status quo ,whilst relying(presumably) on our military strength to save us.It is surely becoming increasingly dangerous for the normal residents of Tel Aviv to live here?

I'm sure there must be some perfectly logical reason Nafi can find to justify staying in bed with Yairi and not bolting the gov. After all, one more red line crossed can't hurt, i mean a few hundred terrorists never really hurt anyone. no wait, they did. Still, can't wait to hear is justification for crossing this one.

It's disgusting that Obama is even suggesting that murderers be freed in exchange for Pollard. Before any deal is made, Pollard should be asked if he sticks by his statement that he does not want to be released for terrorists. This deal is a lose / lose for Israel. Pollard is due to be paroled next year anyway & in exchange for releasing hundreds of terrorists & a building freeze in the settlements the palestinians aren't being asked to make any concessions in return.

Cowardice should not lead it.

Shalit, a conscripted soldier is not an equivalent to Pollard a paid spy. Pollard due for reprieve Nov 2015; Why take unecessary risk releasing 420 criminals?

The Zionists had political reasons for keeping him behind bars, why suddenly, in order to please Hussein Obama, do they want to exchange his release with terrorists murderers?

What does releasing terrorist murderers have to do with peace?

Your post is probably one of the best and most intelligent I have ever read in this newspaper.

I have had it with this "gov't". Why should good Israeli's serve, die when all around us we are surrounded on all sides and within with those who only bring us destruction? The worst of all isn't the terrorists, it's BIBI and our "allies". With friends like these who needs enemies? I'm renouncing my citizenship immediately. No more of this BS! The arabs have proven that they have more resolve than our current israeli leadership. Bibi might as well be palestinian!

This is treating Israelis like a bunch of country bumpkins. No more releases of terrorists. Finite. And the talks fail if they must

Or government has gone crazy .

conducted by the Obama/Kerry duo in collaboration with the thugs of the PLO in order to pressure the Jews to free convicted murderers whose place ought to be prisons, for the rest of their lives.

Peace is won when enemies are vanquished, really vanquished. Your theor of history is just that, romanticized theory. Examples: The USA bombing of Dresden in Germany thereby causing the German nation's final collapse in WWII; the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima thereby shortening the war in the Pacific by two years and saving one million allied lives (we didn't have to invade); Sherman's March Through Georgia thereby forcing the South to capitulate to the North during the American Civil War. I would suggest you read some books by military historian Victor Davis Hansen to gain an appreciation of what it takes to implement peaceful relationships between warring countries.

masters that he would be willing to release not 26 but several hundred arab murderers and terrorists, even though he himself said the next prisoner release would be dependant on the non-existant progress in the failed "peace talks", than the only hope Israel has is that Abbas remains a man of his word and repeats once again his favorite, although quite boring already, mantras..."I reject, I walk out, I demand, I go to the UN." That will be the only way to prevent the release of the killers.

"pleasure" of sitting at the same table with the thugs of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) - think of the origin and the meaning of the name of this organization...!! - the senders of the mass murderers whom they now demand to free, is a cynical act by the Obama/Kerry duo that ought not be permitted. If both sides have interest in peace, no one should pay anything in order to sit down and talk peace, no one. This attempt of extortion is only indicative that one side is not now and has never been interested in peace with the sovereign nation-state of the Jewish people, the State of Israel (read its charter to appreciate this point!!).

If this is true, Bibi should be made to resign (which is probably the aim of the US and this cinical ''deal). I thought these talks were about ''peace and not how many terrorists are going to be freed! STOP this discusting, cinical wheeling & dealing NOW!

I guess they'll continue talking to the Israelis thru 2015 asking for the same demands which can't be met...right of return, Eastern Jerusalem as capital, etc. we are giving up 1000 terrorists for Pollard who was due for parole in 2015? Can someone in Israel explain this to me, a dumb American. I'm speechless.

Any deal to release Pollard will involve releasing extra terrorists or giving up Jerusalem. What do you think it would take for the US to release Pollard?! The foolish people who ask for his release have started their own religion and they worship Pollard.

Can't remember who said this. So long as he sticks to his own words rather than giving others this advise. Can't see how Pollard - who is to be released next year is a good swap for hundreds of murderers. Maybe I don't know what a bad deal is.

Kerry is desperate and once again, Israel pays the price !

bibi is so weak that he is pathetic... How come he is so afraid of his own shadow ?

bibi now takes the cake as an unbeleivnable weakling offering olmert concessiosn for pollard whichamounts to a bribe simply to sit with abbas for another 9 months??!! This is the result of the father benzion raising a spoiled kid who cannot stand on his own feet period. Who on earth cannot say no- well bibi is unable to resist any pressure period. he is maddening since his concessions harm israel. And he is not alone. he has herzogn, gal on,s himon shiffer, no end of weaklings and cowards. After 48 and 67 and now a great general yaalon, people deserve better- who do they get-barak, peres, bibi, olmert. it is sad. But bibi now shows himself to be as sherman has written, AN ASBOLUTE COWARD AND CHAMBERLAIN.

bibi is bribed again. How does he defend israel? With concessions, giving this and that and the arabs give nothing but get freezes, prisoners almost everything. danon take action at the next forum and get bibi thrown out.

There is no excuse for Likud to continue to tolerate Bibi's leadership.