[Heyworth]

""We expect that after the road map is published, the first things they [the Palestinians] must do is halt the terror and the incitement," the foreign minister said. If the conditions are met, Israel would be a "true partner, exploring all roads to peace," he added."

Of course, if the Palestinians stop the terror and the incitement, won't Israel have achieved everything it wants? Why would they then negotiate anything? And if the violence resumes then, it proves for the Israelis that the Palestinians don't really want peace. They really seem to have created a Catch-22 situation for the Palestinians. All they can do is hope that the US will actually put some real pressure on the Israelis for once.

[Sabertooth]

Of course, if the Palestinians stop the terror and the incitement, won't Israel have achieved everything it wants? Why would they then negotiate anything? And if the violence resumes then, it proves for the Israelis that the Palestinians don't really want peace. They really seem to have created a Catch-22 situation for the Palestinians. All they can do is hope that the US will actually put some real pressure on the Israelis for once.

Why should the Israelis negotiate even another pebble to a culture of terror?

There is already a palestinian homeland, Jordan, as declared by the League of Nations Mandate of 1922. In that peace deal, the Jews gave up 78% of the Transjordan to the fictitious palestinians in return for the first of many betrayals.

Pressure on Israel? It's not our business to put pressure on Israel to risk national suicide; we should butt out.

[FreeReporting]

Israel has surrendered territory in advance of cessation of violence acceding to previous peace plans. She knows better than to trust her "peace partners". Exactly as you have described, Heyworth, but applying to the other side.

I have the feeling that the road map is a concession to Tony Blair to buy him some approval in Europe. Israel is not a voucher but a loyal friend of the United States and should be treated as such.