Dear Yuyutsu:

The offer made to the Palestinians in 2000 included well over 90% of what the Palestinian asked for, including areas in east Jerusalem. Arafat refused the offer point blank; he did not even bother to come up with a counter proposal, choosing to renew the intifada instead.
It is quite possible that any withdrawal from the West Bank would have been difficult for the Israeli government to execute, but the Palestinians were not interested at all in pursuing this proposal so I guess we'll never know.

Different Israeli governments have different policies, just as different Australian governments have different policies on various issues. But it was a Likud government that returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in exchange for peace, evacuating settlements in the process. The idea of evacuating settlements is not so far-fetched, even for a Likud-led government.

While it is possible that Netanyahu’s personal opinion is not in favour of a 2-state solution, it is the stated policy of his government. It is also the preference of the majority of Israelis, as various polls have shown. A government that goes against the wishes of its citizens will eventually be ousted.

isn't it obvious that the Israeli Government, by settling the occupied Palestinian Territories, has made it unrealistic to be able to negotiate an equitable two-state solution?

The alternative, which could be realistic, would be to have an Israeli state which was multi-theocratic, multi-cultural and truly democratic, where all citizens could concentrate on making a few shekels, paying the rent, having some leisure time with the family, stop paying huge taxes to support a militaristic stance, --and be happy?

Jonathan,

Thanks for your reply. It is interesting to note your examples of other nations who have waged war, annexed and occupied territories. But let me ask you this: why on earth would you want Israel to be added to, or included in, that list of despotic nations or idealogies?

Again, it seems, a case of pointing the finger and saying: “But they did it! Why can’t we?” The answer is simple – because history proves, time and again, that it is wrong. I can’t imagine why anyone who is purportedly proud of his nation would wish for their country to be counted amongst the very worst in terms of human rights. But, hey, it’s your choice.

While appearing to have a adopted a more softened approach to a 2-state solution since the Likud Party 1999 Charter, which stated (among other things): "The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state. Thus, for example, in matters of foreign affairs, security, immigration and ecology, their activity shall be limited in accordance with imperatives of Israel’s existence, security and national needs.", it is assumed by many (including those who know him well) that Netanyahu is simply treading the line between appearing to appease international demands and those of his own party.

In 2009, he outlined his conditions for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, including total demilitarization – no army or airspace. Unrealistic and hypocritical (as Israel cites its own array of military arsenal as key to its survival in a ‘hostile’ area, so how it expects the newly created Palestine to survive is anyone’s guess) and by imposing such conditions he and his party are deliberating blocking advancement of any peaceful solution.

But, surprisingly, Netanyahu is not the worst.

http://www.worldlikud.com/

In particular, I refer you to the article of 29/7/12 entitled “For Knesset’s Danny Danon, unapologetic Israeli nationalism is key to political success”

Scary stuff.

The slaughter of children in Gaza tells us it must be election season in Israel. The previous wholesale killings kicked off six weeks before the 2009 elections with Cast Lead.

Now preparations are being made for fresh 'ballot stimulated' incursions into Gaza.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/secret-israeli-plan-to-topple-abbas/story-fnd134gw-1226517023094

A warning about the above link. In it you will see the shrouded body of an 11 month old baby and a wounded child being rushed to hospital.

After a year of relative peace with only spasmotic clashes and no rockets being fired the fuse was again lit in July. Minor tit for tat then continued but we again saw an escalation three weeks ago. Israeli soldiers crossed the border into Gaza, were fired upon, the IDF responded with airstrikes which in turn were met with rocket fire into Israel.

“Israeli and Palestinian officials told AFP that an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire would go into effect at midnight (2200 GMT). The agreement was aimed at ending an eruption of bloodshed which began on Monday morning when two militants were killed in twin air strikes on north Gaza which were launched as armed groups fired at Israeli troops who had crossed the border.”
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C10%5C26%5Cstory_26-10-2012_pg4_4

Now with the killing of a senior Hamas leader Israel again prepares a ground assault on Gaza.

The fear of course is this round of election cycle killings might be even more horrific.

“Ahead of the Israeli elections next January, a merger between the parties of the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has been announced. They are to contest the elections on a joint list, intending to become the largest bloc in the Knesset.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/04/europe-impose-sanctions-israel-palestinians?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

The article notes; “Among the obvious outcomes of this new coalition is the fact that Likud has become more extremist, and Lieberman more influential and more dangerous.”.

What will these two be capable of?

Sanctioning a few Israeli businesses in Australia does seem fairly insignificant but ultimately better than doing nothing. Perhaps if every Max Brenner shingle evoked the images of dead and wounded children it might have a greater impact.

Avw,there can be no denying that elements within the Zionist movement believe that they are the chosen people born to rule this planet.Why does the term "Goyim" exist?

Non Jews viewed by some Zionists are no better than pigs to be exploited.A very racist view also held by Hitler.

csteele says:

"Perhaps if every Max Brenner shingle evoked the images of dead and wounded children it might have a greater impact."

And what images should every mosque invoke?