I'm almost certain you are wrong David!
I think the extensive involvement of the wider Muslim Brotherhood, as a peacemaking-peacekeeping element, paints a very different scenario, and finally paints the prospect of a genuine settlement and an end of hostilities, as actually achievable!
And just who wouldn't want to see a finally nutted out two state solution, and genuine self sustaining peace, as the now, most likely and logical outcome; even if that then means, the end of any further Israeli expansion into occupied Palestinian territory.
A totalitarian Iran had very few friends in the middle East, and even fewer, since the dawn of the Arab spring!
And there's an old Arab saying, my enemies enemies are also my friends!
Rhrosty.

Do you think the IDF will want to expose to the world again that they are a bunch of cowards and psychos who've just had their butts kicked, Singer?

The IDF are so brave when they hide in their warships, tanks, Apache helicopters, F-16s and F-18s, aren't they and rain missiles and shells down on women and children who have no defenses or army? They've been known to use snipers to kill kids and bulldozers to run down protesters?

The IDF couldn't stop the rockets and they couldn't shoot them all down and then a bus got blown up in Tel Aviv. Israel turned and ran!

Things are changing in the Middle East, Singer. The iron rule of Israel is coming to an end as is the bullying and meddling of the U.S.

We'll watch it all happening, you and me, Singer.

I'll be happy. You won't! But justice will finally come to the Palestinians.

Having just read this article and the first two responses, it is clear that at least the three writers are in complete disagreement as to what will happen next.

It will come as no shock to readers of OLO's Forum that I generally do not support David Singer and now is no exception, however I suggest that those with opinions on the subject of peace in the Middle East consider for a moment...

Reconciliation.
There can be no peace without reconciliation. Suspension of hostilities, perhaps, but not peace.

Balanced rights of citizens.
What will peace look like? I expect that mutual recognition of rights and a balance of these rights will feature. For example, the rights to representation in the UN and the rights to own and to use land and buildings. Some kind of equivalence regarding access to food, shelter, security, education, employment... maybe not immediately, but eventually.

Compromise.
This will require compromise, both of principle and physically. Compromise was once explained to me by a very experienced senior policeman, in relation to a dispute I was embroiled in over someone else's cattle grazing on my land uninvited. It is as follows.

"Compromise is reached when everybody hurts as much as each other."

That leads to my final point, which is that peace between Palestine and Israel will involve both nations sharing the pain, for the sake of peace. It can not come through a balance of terror. It can not be imposed unilaterally or by external nations. It must inevitably involve the pains of real compromise and reconciliation as Israel and Palestine, together, build peace.

Like David, I fear that that day is not imminent. Unlike David, I suggest that the time has come for Israel to reconsider their pathway towards peace.

David, what compromises do you consider to be appropriate for Israel's citizens to accept as a price of peace? What shape will the eventual reconciliation take? Or, is any compromise a sign of weakness and thus not to be considered? In which case, you are not seeking peace.

John. I would venture to suggest that the acceptance, by Israel, of 98% of Palestinian demands, as tabled by Yasser Arafat, would constitute a fair and reasonable compromise.

Rhrosty. Like you I would hope that David is wrong. Unfortunately, I think he may be right, for the very reasons he has elucidated in this (all be it necessarily) hastily cobbled together document.

I think it is good that the French were told to 'butt out' of the process and an Egypt as intermediary is to take responsibility for its implementation and maintenance.

However, with the latest move by the Egyptian Prime Minister re-writing the constitution
giving himself supreme authority over all, including the judiciary, the notion of Egypt being a just 'ombudsman' in this situation is fantasy.

David G. Be a good boy and run out and play whilst the adults are talking ok?

What the Zionists want is a Jewish homeland.
What the Palestinians want is THEIR homeland.

Well, I can name a Jewish homeland. A homeland where Jews have full citizenship rights along with the rest of the population - no superior rights, no inferior rights. It's called Australia.

There are dozens and dozens of such homelands. America. Britain. France. Norway. Italy. The list goes on and on. Far more than enough for the world's 14 million Jews. One, if the Zionists played their cards rightly, could also be Palestine - a secular, democratic, non-racist Palestine stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Jordan.

If the Zionists DON'T play their cards rightly in the land they have stolen, their options will shrink as the oil runs out so America doesn't need their disruptive services, and the non-Jewish population of Palestine continues to grow - the dreaded "population bomb". They could even end up with an Islamic republic.

Oh, and their nukes won't do them any good. Palestine is too cramped, with Israel in the middle of it.

It's their call.

Strumpet, when you next get your mother to write an infantile comment for you, tell her to ensure that you don't make a fool of yourself.

"Argue not with fools, frauds and fanatics. Seek better companions!"

Cheers!