Why do we presume that there is a solution to the Palistine /Israel question? Is it not also possible that there is no solution and one side will die from what is done to it and the otherside we die by doing it. One solution could be to remove every body from that land and use nuclear weapons to leave it covered with an inch of radioactive glass. This would make it unlivable, undesirable and hardly worth fighting over.

Superb observations Mr Cooke.

The fact remains that the west want to remain blind folded and don't even bother to wake up. Peace, real peace is what everyone yearns for but however the players may be willing to start the game, one wants to keep keep the ball in their own hands and never let the other join the race!

The simplicity of the matter is, why should palestinians recognise Israel when Israel does'nt recognise the very existence or say even the mere existence of a palestinian state?. Why should the existence of Israel be the first and foremost loyalty pledge when the palestinians are never recognised or given a right to return to the homeland? simple hypocrisy, simple idiosy and simple utter rubbish!
Even to a man who may be day dreaming will not have that in their guts. The actual reason is, the Israelis don't want to see any other player in reasoning, that is the true nature of its creation and terrorism they have kept on the poor palestinians. We know clearly that they don't want to see a viable palestinian state living side by side with them for the actual reason of their (Israeli) terrorism and injustice they have caused on the palestinians.

Untill such a time that a truely palestine born jew comes to the throne or becomes a player in the whitehouse visinity, which I doubt exists in israel or america today, there will be no true and sincere negotiating Israeli or american government representatives. And untill their hot temper attitudes cools for the sake of their own existence.

"The message out of Washington and Jerusalem-nothing has changed"

"But has the Bush and Olmert Administration missed the significance of the deal thrashed out in Islam’s holiest city?"

COMMENT: In short.. NO ! They have seen through the deception of Hamas and its claim that Palestine is an "Islamic Waqf till the resurrection".

Hamas is slightly off the hook because it can avoid in its own Hamas right recognizing Israel. They can participate in the 'Government' which may indeed offer concessions, but Hamas itself is more characterized by its leaders comments:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173173943943&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

At a press conference, Mashaal was asked if Hamas had now recognized Israel?

The Hamas leader did not answer directly, but said: "The Palestinian government insists on June 4, 1967 borders (for Israel), full Palestinian sovereignty with Jerusalem as its capital."

NOTE_THOSE_WORDS.. "did not answer directly"=TAQIYA.

They are as reliable as the Dey of Tunis signing treaties with the US, and then breaking them the moment the US is distracted by more pressing issues.

One could look at the conflict in Israel in secular and political terms and totally MISS the central issues at play.

Just one could look at the Barbary wars as simple international territorial and booty squabbles and again miss the most fundamental point driving the Arabs taking American, English Dutch and other seamen as SLAVES.

The driving force in the Barbary wars and the Israel Palestine conflict amount to the same thing.
ISLAMIC LANDS (in Hamas view)
The Algerian/Tunisan/Morrocan view was that they could do what they did, plundering, slaving based on....

[They asked him (the ambassador) by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

"The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners"

13(Melbourne)....11(Sydney) 'click'

Interesting article. I think that a large part of the studied indifference by the Bush and Olmert regimes is that the prospect of any rapprochement between the two major Palestinian factions is regarded as being contrary to American and Israeli regional dominance. Divide and rule is, after all, the oldest trick in the imperialist book.

Very amusing to read Boazy's pontifications about 'taqiya'. Is this the same Boaz who has been repeatedly exposed in this very forum for posting distorted truths and outright porkies in the prosecution of his bizarre ideas? Does he write such utter twaddle as he has above with a straight face?

How can the population including politicians who use issues deceitfully for their own return to power, be educated on the reality, the historical truth of what has happened.
Would it make any difference to our fears and prejudices if we were?
I do not know but believe it might.
So Ilan Pappe in The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine 2006 has given from released Government records and elsewhere the history of this era 1870’s to now. Cleansing or genocide has been the habit of the Zionists whose aim has always been not only Israel of its present borders but wider are claiming, dishonestly prior possession and religious right. Pappe is not the first nor will he be the last to record the happenings.
The Jews mistreated for a long period, more so than other groups unsuited to polite company and using this as a plea, has not been examined but common acceptance is that it is so, more than the Gypsies, Armenians---homosexuals, women and more.
Colonial times in the arrogant wisdom made space of other people’s land and with hopeful expectations this would solve the problem washed their hands.
Countries used the areas for their own ends, a bulwark against Russia (communism we were told) whilst Russia also sought territory and power. They too had their large Jewish population used periodically as in the West as site for diverting anger and accepted lobbies as road to power. People knowing no better also used prejudice convincing themselves their indulgence was warranted.
Sanctimonious righteousness is claimed. Saddam a tyrant is hanged, Zionists who cultivate the barbarity of Palestine agree as excuse to their purpose. Palestinians arguing they are at war retaliate, and it is labelled terrorism. Studies, Philo and Berry Bad News from Israel tell of the bias in reporting as do many others, the telling of ‘fact’ which will promote policy. Like Islam phobia a tool of uniformed unprincipled politicians. These people who have again mislead lied to us about Iraq and found new excuses justifying the activity.
continued

Sure Jews are human and the same mixture of niceness and nastiness as Australians but having sufficient number prepared to follow the Zionist line. Palestinians by all accounts are the same mixture showing equal brutality goaded by fear and frustration, poverty and dislike.
Does this make any difference. No. Because issues can be used particularly when uninformed prejudiced people are the mechanism. Just as Iraq misinformation lies are the currency of tribal mind sets.