despite that the speach didnot satisfy me as a jordanian i think mr. obama was honest and he will make differance for the cause of peace.....thank you mr president...

mahmoud jboor – I think that you are very accurate. Words, however kind, won't solve the problem. President Obama is very learned and kind and loving, in my opinion. I'm not African American, European American for the record, a U.S. female. He is a small spark, a starting point. Real peace comes from the people who live in that area of the world. As long as Israel continues to build and Palestine wants to go back to the 1900's, the 40's or 60's, peace probably can't happen. I would like it to happen. In my world, the countries of the world should all feel safe and have college students and not have hunger. Perhaps that is just my dream world, but it is my world in real life.

Perhaps a spark can start a fire. Perhaps not in this case. I'm really not wholly optimistic, but it's always worth the effort. I don't know if people are capable of existing together with different beliefs. Perhaps not. I like to think that humans are advanced. Perhaps hate is greater.

I wasnt that much aware of America tolerance to Islam and Muslims, maybe the reason for that is ignorance on my part.

The opening speech of Mr. President opened my eye and i really researched the American values in respecting minorities; this respect is the scale in which we can measure the level of civilization, thank you Sir.

Mr. president you talk of the holocaust and forgetting to talk of the melted bullets on the recent war against the Palestinian! i find this unacceptable.

You talked of " Palestinians must abandon violence, -long pause- resistance through violence and killing is wrong" another long pause – even when you talked of blacks march toward equal right you still didn't get an applause ! do you know why? its become resistance is very popular full stop.

I liked every thing else you said and i thank you from the bottom of my heart as a Muslim Jordanian Arab for every effort you make and choosing to talk instead of war.

I wish you success, may God guide you to what is right and bestow on you all the good things that your heart hold- Amen.

For the first time a US president has admitted the Palestinians have suffered unjustly and this is intolerable. He also pointed out the obvious truth that an Israeli state now exist and Israeli's now have a homeland. Sharing the region is the only way ahead.

Israel currently continues to expand settlements with claims their towns need natural growth. Sadly Israels expansion is paid by Palestinian contraction. Israel must accept Palestinians also have a natural aspirations to live within a homeland free of occupation and with enough natural resources to allow life.

Once Israel makes this humane decision, the Arabic world should embrace an Israeli state and forgive the crimes of Zionism. The Israelis should also forgive the attacks made by Muslim extremists and recognize that such attacks were a result of racist provocation and an occupation of another cultures home land.

Basically the Arabs were robbed of their homeland when Israel was created in 1948. It was wrong but its happened and the Arabs must reach into their souls, find forgiveness and recognize there is enough land to share with Israel. And Israel must drop their "chosen people" myth with their religious extremist views and recognize we are all Gods creation. God is not racist and would never choose one group over another. The world was made to share and Israel should realize its expansion means comfort to Jews and discomfort to Palestinians. This is wrong and Israels occupation must end.

Thank you Barrak Obama! Excellent speech. His language is what we need. He did'nt say 'terrorist', so as to change peoples misconception that all Muslims are terrorists. He said, "extremists". He also spoke to the hearts and minds of women, and young people; a demographic that have past been overlooked, underestimated, and passed over. But it is young people who are impressionable. Good people know this, bad people know this. Bad ones brainwash them into hating folks they've never met, or had the chance to know. I see it here, as army recruiters visit only the poor schools, and get young poor, children to enlist. I never hear about them visiting the schools on the good side of town. This is a tactic of extremists too. The prey upon poor, low income teens to join up.

But the best president this country will ever see is smart enough to sew seeds of hope into the hearts of young folks. And to let people know that we can have better relations.

Despite what Wolf Blitzer and CNN say, ( which is that he missed points and that he did'nt discuss policy, and that he was too hard on Israel, and that he does'nt have a trip to Israel planned) he is changing the ME's perception of the U.S. This is good. Letiing the world know that we have some fixing of our own to do, humanizes us, and lets the world know that Americas citizens have good intentions, despite all the negativity that the media tries to dig up.

GREAT JOB MR. PRESIDENT!!!!

People are complicated. The world is complicated. Young people hunger for security and knowledge. I think anyway. I won't pretend to know who did what to whom and when it happened in the ME. I've never even been to Egypt though I use to wish that I'd get to go. Doubt that will happen though. Party under the pyramids.

If Israel keeps building and the Palestinians want to go back to the 1900's, we can't move forward. It's not the U.S.'s place to impose our will on anyone. It's for them to work out. I think that President Obama's mission is just to wish them well and express support for those who want the young people to feel secure and go to college. That's maybe a mom view of the world. I'm a mom.

Hunk – Probably one of the worst, most shocking moments in American history was 9/11. It was televised live. Everyone watched. Counter clerks, janitors, firemen, business folks, innocently went to work and got killed. Their murderers were Muslim. That was tough. Then we saw news reports of other Muslims dancing around and celebrating. I try not to hold a grudge and think of Muslims as sweet and fair to everyone and open to everyone. It's just hard sometimes.

The ME is not a state or territory. They need to be left alone to do for themselves and figure out their own history and needs. That"s hard, like it's hard to leave my children alone when they drive alone because we always want to help. That's our nature, to like all cultures. But, people do need to figure it out and grow in their own way. I do wonder if there are Russian towns who celebrate their culture in all parts of the ME. That is very neat.

The president is not trying to impose our will on anybody, and nobody ever said that in here. People ARE complicated. I think sometimes they just want to argue or have something to say. In fact, president Obama said exactly that, in the speech. He said that it's not our place to force democracy, but that we would be a friend to any nation who offers democracy to it's people.

I could only imagine the hell it must be, to live with someone who always wants to be sarcastic, and make unnecessary statements, constantly going agaist the grain just for the sake of doing so. Someone who admitts she/he has no knowledge of the subject, but always weighs in. I was discussing this Idea that a person I know had...that religion is bad, and should be abolished. This person had made such conclusions ultimately. When I asked them if they ever read the bible, or any other religious text, she replied "no".

It amazed me that they had so much to say, about something that they know, absolutely nothing.

G. One of the most shocking monments in Japanese history was when the U.S. nuked 2 civilian villages, killing over 200,000 people in the initial blast. The bombers were Christian.

One of the most shocking monments in Iraqi history was when Americans invaded Iraq for no reason, and turned their country upside down. The invaders were Christian.

One of the most shocking monments in American history was when 'Christians' took the pow's of their day, and brought them to another continent and enslaved them. The enslavers were Christian.

Many BAD people have done BAD things in the name of Christ, and God. I try to follow Christ, and absolutely bow to the Almighty; and am a Christian. I pray that my neighbors at home and abroad will not group me with such evil doings, because I am a Christian. I am good to my nieghbors. I follow the 10 commandments. I do not blow up abortion clinics, or stadiums full of innocent people. I do not murder. I do not engage in opressive, radical behavior. I am a Christian.
Hopefully I can meet more Midlle Easterners than I already have in my life, so I can be a good nieghbor to them as well, and let them know that, although many Christians have done, and are doing bad, all of us are not, just because a few have done bad.

Hunk– crime is crime and we see it every day around the world , but you cant blame millions of people for ahandful of murderers commited....let us give mr. obama,s sincere efforts agood chance and support for the sake of people in US and the world....i think israilies must make their choices b/c world cannt tollurate the more !!

G Your constant attempts to care about humanity always end with a side swipe at Muslims. You are nauseatingly unaware of fact.
Every 5 years the Israeli army kills more Palestinians than the terrorists killed 8 years ago in 9/11.

Can you imagine a 9/11 every 5 years for 60 years? That’s what Palestinians have endured, along with the loss of their homes and their freedom of movement.

G your views are constructed with racism and not with any understanding for cause and effect. Israel must end its unholy occupation and the Palestinians must find the strength for reconciliation.

If you expect the Palestinians to end resistance, then you will also wish for an innocent man not to struggle whilst being hung. 9/11 was not carried out by a single Palestinian and your attempt to relate any crazy Saudi led gang with the Palestinian problem is purely an attempt to pervert facts and justify Israel’s brutality.

Israel is not only required to stop building settlements (i.e. cities) it must also return land it has occupied since 1968. Russia relinquished eastern Europe 50 years after WII and its time for Israel to realise it is the world’s last great occupier.

Two state solution without excuses for occupation. End of story.

I find it odd that countries blame the country of Israel for bad things and then say it doesn't exist and refuse to acknowledge that it exist. Israel seemed very patient to me for eight years while missiles got sent. I saw a picture of an elementary school with a concrete arch over it in case one landed there. As a mom, I wouldn't be happy taking my child to that school.

Judging people on race or religion is wrong. I hope all countries have tolerance and like Jews, Christians, Muslims, those that are Hindu, Buddhist, whatever. A good place likes them all and tolerates them all. I've never been to ME so hope that happens there.

I've been writing "2000" on checks now for 9 1/2 years. It still seems strange. I doubt that anything will ever go back to 19– anything. A lot has changed this past decade, and before, but a lot in the past decade.

From what I can see, the real problem is simple hate. Hate is not fixed by agreements or compromises. It's a disease that eats at people, makes them miserable, and ultimately ruins the present and future. There are no outside answers for that – it has to happen to the people involved. I doubt that it's possible, but wish everyone the best.

CS -

You have no clue when it comes to history (or anything else). The US did not nuke 2 civilian villages. They were cities and valuable military targets. The initial blasts did not kill 200,000 people.

Where do you get this stuff? You either lie outright or just make it up as you go along, like most terrorist supporters.

Among the many points that you miss, religion played no role in the bombing in Japan. They did not bomb Japan because it was not Christian.

That's the difference.
Once again, you fail to grasp the obvious point.

CS,

What's your point??? You keep referring to historical wartime events committed by the US. Are you making an attempt to justify radical Islamic extremism and the acts terror they commit by pointing out things done by non-Muslims???
None of the issues you mentioned were done in the name of Christianity !!!
Nothing you have mentioned of past US actions has or can justify the teachings of radical Islamic ideologies by the Imams in the name of Islam!! It's simply wrong. As much as you would like to try, you'll never convince anyone that the daily events of terror in the ME and Islamic countries are anything other the product of the teachings of radical Islamic Imams taught in the name of Islam!!! That's the key difference between your so called acts of terror committed by Christians and what we see everyday in today's' society--–No one teaches Christians how to hate and kill and torture and murder in the name name of God from the sanctity of the Church!!

John A Cut N Paste,

You say--"If you expect the Palestinians to end resistance, then you will also wish for an innocent man not to struggle whilst being hung."

You should voice your concerns with your President Obama, who you so applauded earlier in your post. Apparently he shares the same views as G., myself and many others.

Why do you praise his speech so-if you don't agree with his philosophy???

From is speech in Egypt -"Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding.

This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia, to Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: violence is a dead end. It is a sign neither of courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children or to blow up old women on a bus. That's not how moral authority is claimed, that's how it is surrendered.

Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern with institutions that serve the needs of its people.

Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have to recognize they have responsibilities, to play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, recognize Israel's right to exist.

But, unlike you John A Cut N Paste --I'll post the link to the text so that you don't think I'm making it up !!!!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gkyWk2MK7xeDw2b1jPhFS6KsvPegD98K2EOG0

John A Cut N Paste,

You said– "Can you imagine a 9/11 every 5 years for 60 years? That’s what Palestinians have endured, along with the loss of their homes and their freedom of movement.'

That is probably the most lame and obnoxious statement I've come across in quite some time !!!!

I'm sure those families of the office workers, firemen and policemen who lost their lives on 9/11 for simply going to work that day would like to meet you face to face to fully explain yourself!!!

Too bad they can't-–

I wonder when the Palestinians will find the will and the desire to go back to the negotiating table??? After all, they still need to decide among themselves who speaks for them. Or, has that now been decided since Abbas replaced all the Hamas members in the PA cabinet with people from other factions???

If the PA were to decide to go back to the negotiating table, they might be able to resolve the issues of settlements and permanent borders. But, it looks like there's not much interest on the part of the Palestinians.

John A Cut N Paste June 5th, 2009 1017 GMT

You Said-"For the first time a US president has admitted the Palestinians have suffered unjustly and this is intolerable."

If you're going to make statements--you should at least have some knowledge about what your stating before doing so. But, I guess since you claim to not be an American, it might somewhat explain your confusion. You are nauseatingly unaware of fact.

But even I, who is not American, know that there have been other Presidents' before Obama with a sympathetic voice to the Palestinians. Who also claim to be unmoved or swayed by the influences of AIPAC or similar organizations.

Jimmy Carter---"Americans don’t want to know and many Israelis don’t want to know what is going on inside Palestine. It’s a terrible human rights persecution that far transcends what any outsider would imagine."
http://www.democracynow.org/2007/9/10/fmr_president_jimmy_carter_on_palestine

Educate yourself on the subject at hand and you might not appear so foolish.

CS,

You Say-–"Thank you Barrak Obama! Excellent speech."--"GREAT JOB MR. PRESIDENT!!!!"

Now--maybe since he actually said it--- you'll accept it !!!!! The exact same thing I've told you repeatedly in response to your rantings about the international community and their attempts to dissuade the Islamic Republic of Iran from their pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Quote from Obama's speech in Cairo–"Now, I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nations should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that's why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons."

"And any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the treaty. And it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal."

Just you you know I'm not making it up, unlike you !!!!! -here's the link-http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gkyWk2MK7xeDw2b1jPhFS6KsvPegD98K2EOG0

Do you get it now???? "access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty"

Weapons -– NO !!!!!!

They do not have the right, based upon the treaties they have entered into !!!

Filipe your attempt to relate Palestinians with 9/11 is pathetic and desperate. You and your Zionist clueless Klux Klan are on the wrong side of history and you have no more excusses for Israels illegal and bloody occupation. Palestinians had nothing to do with 9/11.
Thanks for pasting Obama’s speech. It’s a shame you didn’t understand a word of it or any of my words.

From is speech in Egypt —”Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the centre of America’s founding".

What Obama was saying is the Palestinians have suffered injustice like the Negros once did in America. Obama, I and most of the sane world are saying the Palestinians temptation to use violent protest can be explained from the awful oppression they have experienced at the hands of Israel. But violent protest will not succeed. What will succeed is a gathering of public conscious, which will exert overwhelming pressure on Israel and deliver Palestinian freedom.

What I said is the Palestinians need to reach into their souls find forgiveness and reconcile with Israel, if Israel withdraws from its vicious occupation.

Nevertheless what the clueless Zionist bloggers on this site would like is for public conscious to be clouded with wild propaganda, so Israel can be left to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Palestine.

But thanks for posting the Jimmy Carter link.

Jimmy Carter——-”Americans don’t want to know and many Israelis don’t want to know what is going on inside Palestine. It’s a terrible human rights persecution that far transcends what any outsider would imagine.”

http://www.democracynow.org/2007/9/10/fmr_president_jimmy_carter_on_palestine

In many months of blogging Filipe, University Rector, G and all the other Zionist clueless Klux Klan members have failed to recognise Palestinians have every reason to feel aggrieved and such grievance explains their temptation to make violent protest. But we should also remember their protests have been provoked and far less deadly than the state backed murder of Israel’s army.

We should also remember that Jimmy Carter never addressed an Arabic community and broadcast to the world in the same way Obama has. Therefore as I stated in a previous blog, Obama is the first US president to do such a thing.

Filipe you said I should speak with relatives of 9/11 firemen etc etc. Please realize if racists like yourself and G never supported Israel’s illegal occupation & if America had not historically supported Israel’s illegal occupation, then radical Muslims would never have gained any support and those brave firemen would probably be with their families now.

The best way for America and Israel to protect against attack, is to end Israels illegal occupation and allow Palistinians a chance to live freely. But if people like Filipe, G or university rector keep viewing the matter as a reason to suppress Palestinians, you will continue to stoke hatred and attract suicide bombers.

A two state solution is the only solution. No more Israeli excuses are acceptable.

John A,

Obama refered to Palestinian suffering and their intolerable situation. He did not say that it was the fault of Israel.
If anything, the blame lies at the feet of their own leaders, Arab and Muslim nations and the UN who have spent the last 60+ years promising the defeat of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state on all the territory where Israel exists. Israel has agreed to territorial compromise throughout, but this has been rejected by the Arabs every time.

Israel fully understands Palestinian aspirations but cannot accept the reasons why these aspirations have not yet been met.
As mentioned, their leaders have rejected and failed to take advantage of every peace deal, proposed territorial compromise or voluntary Israeli withdrawal.
Also unacceptable are the false stories and lies that have continually been spread among their own people and subsequently around the world. Innacurrate slogans that are now widely accepted as fact and talk of a national homeland that never was.
You accuse Israel of wild propaganda while in reality it is Arab propaganda which has gone out of control and the Israeli truths attempting to counter the lies that you believe to be false.

For example, there is no "illegal occupation". The territories were won in a defensive war, neither having a prior legitimate, recognized sovereign.For this reason, under international law, the presence of Israel cannot be defined as occupation.
Even if there was an occupation, international law does not prohibit such situations or call them "illegal" but attempts to regulate them with agreements.
Even if the American president uses these slogans, it doesn't mean that these stateme
nts are in fact accurate.

Despite these facts, Israel does recognize the necessity for the Palestinians to rule themselves and agrees with the Road Map whose end result is a two-state solution.

Relative to population size, Israel suffered the equivalent to 9/11 every time a bus was blown-up, or a cafe or a disco.These were terrorist attacks against innocent men, women and children and at times were occurring on a daily basis.

In Jewish thought and philosophy, the concept of the "Chosen People"
does not refer to the Jews being above the law and superior. That is a classic anti-semitic misunderstanding and reaction.Yet another example of the use of innacurate slogans that find an accepted place in societal belief.

p.s. Filipe you refer to a former president and quotes he made 20 years after leaving the White House. Obama remains the first US president to speak so honestly while serving in the White House.

Filipe on so many occasions you demonstrate yourself to be racist and anti Arab. Are you so stupid to believe that Israel’s failure to join the nuclear proliferation treaty means it’s okay for Israel to escalate the arms race?

Israel doesn’t need nuclear weapons. Israel has the fourth largest air force in the world, thanks to American tax payers. Israel already has overwhelming power in the region.

The story of little Israel bravely fighting of enemies from all sides is total rubbish. Israel is the only occupier in the region and Israel is basically an enormous US military base which no amount of Arabic countries can match militarily. This does not mean Israel has formed a superior army, simple it means America has projected its super power presence in the region. Israel has more F16 than the hole of the European Union put together. In comparison the Arabs have no army that can pose a threat. So why does Israel need nuclear weapons?

How can Israel claim it needs such weapons for peace, when Israel has the only army in the region which illegally occupies land? For too many years Israel has enjoyed the super power backing of America. Israel has not used American power wisely, instead it has provoked hatred for America by occupying others lands and killing all who resist.

The only reason America is waking up to the cost of supporting Israel is because of 9/11, Iraq and the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Zionist policies have caused anarchy between the west and Muslims. Now this has brought risk to America, the White House reconsiders its policies towards Israel.

If Israel continues with its policies, it will bring the world closer to nuclear war. And for what? To protect a religion that was formed 6000 years ago. Six thousand years ago people were very primitive. Such primitive thinking could not comprehend racism, there for a primitive man would claim God has chosen him above others. God is not racist and there is NO chosen peoples. Also primitives might think cutting a babies boys foreskin off in a weird circumcision ceremony might bring them closer to God. Modern man would actually define such a practise as child abuse. You are free to have your 6000 year old rituals and beliefs, but not at the expense of creating hatred and world anarchy. As soon as Israel realises God never promised them a land at the expense of others, the better of the world will be.

John A,

American tax payers do not pay for Israel's F-16s. Israel pays in cash and in aid to the US.

If Israel has nuclear weapons, she has had them for decades and never used them in any of the numerous wars imposed on her.

People are begging Israel to join the NPT but at the same time denying her the right to join other international bodies. How ironic!
The world should be more concerned with the countries who have signed the treaty but break the rules every day.

As I explained above, Israel does not illegally occupy any land.

It is Arab/Muslim policies that have created anarchy.
Any internal conflict is dissipated by blaming Israel or distracting the population with another anti-Israel declaration.
It is Arab incitement and hatred that has failed to accept the religious,historic and cultural connection that Jews have to the land and the consequential legitimacy of a Jewish state in the region.

Judaism is not a primitive religion, but one that has evolved with time and in parallel with human cultural and scientific evolution.
The religion is based on the Land, the People and the Law.

Circumcision may seem wierd to a non-believer, however to a Jew it is the ultimate covenant with God. At least Jews perform the ceremony when it is least painful to the baby boy and do not subject girls to potential problems in the future. Ask members of the British royal family their opinion on the procedure.

John A Cut N Paste June 6th, 2009 2248 GMT

Filipe your attempt to relate Palestinians with 9/11 is pathetic and desperate. You and your Zionist clueless Klux Klan are on the wrong side of history and you have no more excusses for Israels illegal and bloody occupation. Palestinians had nothing to do with 9/11.

**********************************************************
Really, It is YOU who attempted to relate the Palestinians with 9/11 !!!!

What a lying fool you are !!!!!!

Here is MY post in RESPONSE to yours--

"Filipe June 6th, 2009 1448 GMT

"That is probably the most lame and obnoxious statement I’ve come across in quite some time !!!!"

"I’m sure those families of the office workers, firemen and policemen who lost their lives on 9/11 for simply going to work that day would like to meet you face to face to fully explain yourself!!!"

"Too bad they can’t—–"

*****************************************

Here is your ORIGINAL post --------

John A June 5th, 2009 2215 GMT

"Can you imagine a 9/11 every 5 years for 60 years? That’s what Palestinians have endured, along with the loss of their homes and their freedom of movement."

Try admitting the truth for a change !!!! Or is that simply impossible !!!

John A Cut N Paste,

There you go again, spouting off and calling someone a racist because they don't happen to agree with your ideology. You are a perfect example of exactly what you are accusing someone else to be!

If you can't prove you your point to someones satisfaction, you think they are a racist!

What have I said on this or any other blog that brings you to this conclusion??

Who said it's OK for Israel to escalate the nuclear arms race?? Do you think that they are?? What have they done to cause an escalation?? Have they threatened someone with nuclear annihilation? HAAAA!!!!

You need to get over it-- you're attempts at being a drama queen is quite amusing!!!

But at least you recognize the true superiority of the Israeli military and their ability to defend themselves. Too bad Hamas and the other radical Islamic factions aren't as smart as you. If they were, they probably would have given up throwing rockets and shooting rockets at Israel and antagonizing them to the point of eruption.

You should closely examine the polices of policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran and N Korea if you want to get a true understanding of who is the real threat to the world with respect to nuclear non-proliferation.

The Israelis don't have a thing to do with it!!! They have threatened no one in the 50 years with their nuclear capabilities !!!!

And I laugh again !!!!!!! At your lame nonsensical gibberish about Israel creating hatred and world anarchy because they practice circumcision !!!! What kind of a racist statement is that???

You are toooooo funny!!!!!

Are you loosing it ????

I admire the communicators. English is not easy. No other language is easy. French was hard for me. I hear that English is worse, but grew up with it. I thought French was tough. Speak it with a southern accent. It sounds pretty bad.

My hope is that we can see the human aspects of each person. Even the weak. I do think that is possible. Hatred is the root cause of all the bad stuff. That is really not fixable. But I do wish for the best. I hope all young people go to college and graduate. It's a very awesome feeling, as a parent.

John A June 7th, 2009 1047 GMT

Filipe on so many occasions you demonstrate yourself to be racist and anti Arab.
***************************************************************

John A Cut N Paste,

You are simply clueless to reality. Nearly 30% of the population of my local community is of Arab and North African descent, Muslims !!!!! And I am of brown skin--and you call me anti Arab and a racist!!!! You have no comprehension of reality.

What a hypocrite you are!!! Nearly every statement of every blog you post you a spewing hate racist thought s against Israel and the Jews!!!

Even though I've asked before, still you fail to post even a single comment I've made that speaks of hate or has racial tendencies against Arabs !!!
All you can do is make accusations--which are totally baseless, without foundation or merit. Simply because I fail to agree with your ideology.

Grow up! Or is this as good as gets??? Not knowing who your really are, saying you're not an American-–you might be nothing more than hateful adolescent plying on his mother's PC when she's not around!

Filipe wrote
I’m sure those families of the office workers, firemen and policemen who lost their lives on 9/11 for simply going to work that day would like to meet you face to face to fully explain yourself!!! I’m sure those families of the office workers, firemen and policemen who lost their lives on 9/11 for simply going to work that day would like to meet you face to face to fully explain yourself!!!
-----------------------------------------
Filipe G was first to bring 9/11 into this Palestinian/Israeli discussion. You Zionists do this all the time. One will make a ridiculous claim and then the other will criticise those who challenge their racist ideals.

As usual you can’t answer a single point but continue to make false statements. You claim I said” Israel creating hatred and world anarchy because they practice circumcision”. But Filipe we are not all mad or suffer from Alzheimer's, so nobody will be able to find your quote because it only exists in your sad and failing mind.

Again you show no support for a two state solution and your racist little mind twists facts to make statements like” Too bad Hamas and the other radical Islamic factions aren’t as smart as you. If they were, they probably would have given up throwing rockets and shooting rockets at Israel and antagonizing them to the point of eruption”.

HERE IS A SIMPLE FACT FOR YOUR SIMPLE MIND FILIPE. THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHO OCCUPIES OTHER PEOPLES LAND WITH THE USE OF MILITIARY FORCE IS ISRAEL. NO ARABIC COUNTRY IS OCCUPYING ANOTHER COUNTRY.

In reference to Israel you write, “They have threatened no one in the 50 years with their nuclear capabilities” Please understand my half witted friend, Israel did not acquire nuclear missiles in the 60’s and nobody has used a nuclear bomb since 1945. Poor retarded Filipe, the point is; if you acquire nuclear weapons you increase the risk of use. The world hopes the cold war has ended, but there has always been a threat of nuclear war even though no country has ever used such weapons since 1945. So Israel has escalated the arms race and we do not need to give thanks for radical Zionists not using such weapons yet. We could give thanks if they freed the world from this risk and abandoned them.

I don’t want to waste too much time answering half wits. But Miriam and Filipe please, you must be brother and sister to share such a low IQ.

Miriam, when a Rabbi cuts of a foreskin from a baby boy he caused pain against the will of that child. In any other society this would be called child abuse. The only excuse you have for such abuse is that you follow an ancient primitive custom. God gives us a body part and then a primitive belief allows you to cut it off. Judaism comes from thousands of years ago. Only primitive minds could think not eating pork makes them cleaner, circumcision makes the purer and God has a chosen people, as if gods racist.

Then there’s the laugh about the Promised Land. In ancient times the Jews were in exile from Egypt. Palestine was in walking distance from Egypt. If the ancients had aircraft the Promised Land could have been Australia, but as they had no way of reaching Australia they walked to Palestine and tried to start a life there (even though others had already settled in the region). The worlds a huge place, but god just happened to promise land within walking distance of Egypt.

All this could be seen as ridiculous and funny stories from our ancient past. But it stops being funny when Israel uses its army to occupy other peoples land in the pretence god gave it to them. All you are doing is using force and ruining life’s to protect some primitive folk law. It’s totally ridiculous in this day and age.

Israel was created in 1948, even though another people already occupied that land. 60 years later the most reasonable solution will be to share the land. Today only Israel occupies other people’s territories. It is Israel which refuses to share the holy city of Jerusalem. It is only Israel which makes excuses to stop meaningful negotiations. It is only Israel which has acquired the nuclear bomb in the Middle East. The only reason Obama is sympathising with the Palestinians is because America is scared Iran will acquire the bomb. If Iran had the bomb in 1948, the United Nations would never have dared to invent the state of Israel. But as the Arabs were never able to protect themselves from the west, it was the Palestinians who were displaced and paid the price for a European holocaust.

mahmoud jboor,

The world will be a much more better place , when the rightful owners of Palestine gain their land back and they live a normal life .

For years i been saying that Israel is heavy moral burden on the world and its bringing shame and disgrace to Jakob – PBUH- when his name is linked to murderers and broad daylight crimes against humanity. don't the Jews feel ashamed of this? I really wounder.

You KNOW OF COURSE WHAT ANGEL GABRIEL SAID: ISN'T THE MORNING NEAR .... .

God will not tolerate this injustice coming from the chosen people ... didn't they see the water coming out of the rock, didn't they see the opening of the sea, didn't the see the commandments didn't the see the mountain crack ... still they will will argue with god as to what the color of the cow and its specific color; when all what they should have done is to simply slaughter a cow, they are debaters by nature and they will never learn except to worship a cow . god forgiven them for all of that .

They will go back to thousands of years to prove they are from there but do any Palestinian need to go back that much in history to prove they are Palestinians , for me its enough of some one saying WALEQ instead of WALAK to know he is a Palestinian.

Salam.

John A Cut N Paste,,

Here it is you-- and you have the nerve to accuse someone else of having Alzheimers!!!!

What joke !!!!!!

John A June 7th, 2009 1047 GMT
Also primitives might think cutting a babies boys foreskin off in a weird circumcision ceremony might bring them closer to God. Modern man would actually define such a practise as child abuse. You are free to have your 6000 year old rituals and beliefs, but not at the expense of creating hatred and world anarchy. As soon as Israel realises God never promised them a land at the expense of others, the better of the world will be.

( John A Cut N Paste-Do you remember posting this?)

******************************************************************

And here it is again-- John A Cut N Paste---who can't seem to recall anything he has posted !!!!!!

John A June 5th, 2009 2215 GMT

Every 5 years the Israeli army kills more Palestinians than the terrorists killed 8 years ago in 9/11.

Can you imagine a 9/11 every 5 years for 60 years? That’s what Palestinians have endured, along with the loss of their homes and their freedom of movement.

( John A Cut N Paste-Do you remember posting this?)

**************************************************************************

Why do you continue to deny what you said??????

Because you can't defend it as being moral or just ?????

Why is it you feel the need to call others names constantly???? You sound more and more like an angry child which each post you make.
I'm really sorry for you that no one seems to accept your views. But there is good reason for that.

As for a two state solution, you should look back through the posts-- I have always expressed my support for a two state solution whenever it was discussed-– like now!!!! So you needn't worry your little head about it. But, keep on whining and crying about me being a racist because I don't support a two state solution!! Sorry -but once again --you just plain wrong !!!!!!

And there you go again-accusing me of being racist--why???--because I am critical of Hamas and their lack of intelligence ???? Please !!!!! Don't make me laugh !!!!!!!!

It's really too bad you can't increase the font size in the blog-–you might be able to scream a little louder!!!!! HAAAA!!!!!!

But obviously you're not aware-–Israel actually did acquire nuclear weapons capabilities in the 60s--- sorry you missed that bit of history. But if you don't really know the facts-–you should probably refrain from commenting. This can be validated through several sources.

Such as:
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/nuke/farr.htm

The Samson Option states that Moshe Dayan gave the go-ahead for starting weapon production in early 1968, putting the plutonium separation plant into full operation. Israel began producing three to five bombs a year. The book Critical Mass asserts that Israel had two bombs in 1967, and that Prime Minister Eshkol ordered them armed in Israel's first nuclear alert during the Six-Day War.[54] Avner Cohen in his recent book, Israel and the Bomb, agrees that Israel had a deliverable nuclear capability in the 1967 war. He quotes Munya Mardor, leader of Rafael, the Armament Development Authority, and other unnamed sources, that Israel “cobbled together” two deliverable devices.
**************
And also: http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Israel/Nuclear/

in late May 1967, Israeli engineers improvised rudimentary, but operational, nuclear weapons—the first time that Israel assembled nuclear devices.
*****************

So-I'll repeat-– Israel has not threatened anyone in 50 years with their nuclear capabilities--no one!!! So your claim of Israel being the cause to nuclear proliferation is baseless--as are most of the things you say on this blog!!!

And you can call it "occupation" if that makes you feel good !!!! The fact is, Israel Is there as a result of being attacked by it's Arab neighbors, and the dispute is yet to be resolved. The fact is--the Arabs lost the conflict.You simply can't blame Israel for the mistakes of the Arabs. If Israel was not attacked in the first place-–they would not be where they are. But as much as you hate it-it is up to the Palestinians to decide who can go to the negotiating table and speak on their behalf !!! Neither Israel nor the US nor the UN nor the EU on anyone else can do this for them. The Palestinians need to speak for themselves !!!!!

Why don't you take the effort to answer the questions we have all posed of you??? Offer some substance to back up your claims and accusations???

No, can't seem to do that???

But then that would actually take someone of adult character--obviously lacking in your case, since you continuously feel the need to call me racist, Zionist clueless Klux Klan, retarded, half wit, low IQ, etc........

Grow up!!!!!

Does your mother know your on the PC??

John A June 7th, 2009 1742 GMT

You said___

"Israel was created in 1948, even though another people already occupied that land. 60 years later the most reasonable solution will be to share the land."

***************************************************************

John A Cut N Paste,

Now that is an extremely intelligent deduction !!! And it only took 60 years to figure that out!!

Sharing the land was the exact original proposal put forth by the UN and Great Britain in 1947 !!!!!!!!!!! How amazing is that ??????

But no!!!!! That wasn't good enough for the Arabs--not in 1948 !!!! They had to have ALL of the land !!!!!!! Now look at them !!!!!!! At best--they're only going to end up with a portion of what was originally given to them--after 60 years of violence, hatred, torture, Arabs killing Arabs and wanton murder and extrajudicial executions!!!!!

But like you say--- A two state solution is the only option now !!!!!

Wow !!!! And it's only taken them 60 years to figure that out !!!!!!!

Go ahead--call me racist again because I'm being critical of their incessant ignorance !!!!!!!

John A,

you display obvious distaste for religion. Is this just limited to Judaism or do you have the same opinions of other religions? Your ignorance towards Jewish practice is blatant and refering to primitive customs as being specific to Jewish society shows either your lack of knowledge with regards to all religions or your anti-semitic sentiment.

Circumcision was widely performed in all societies when it became a covenant with God for the Jews. Today, 30% of the world's male population is circumcized for religious, cultural or medical reasons.
There are many ways in which parents treat their children that may be viewed as abuse in another culture, such as strapping babies in car seats or high-chairs, sqeezing babies into clothing, force-feeding babies artificial milk formulae from plastic bottles or ramming solids down their throats at 6 months of age.

Jewish dietary laws are not based on eating certain foods in order to become "cleaner". The laws are far more complex and as with all religious law is a guide to living a moral life, subject to restrictions that remind the individual not to take everything for granted.

The Israelites were in exile IN Egypt not exiled from Egypt!
There was no Palestine, the Philistines had recently invaded from Crete and there were no Arabs in the region. They lived in Arabia.
The Land was inhabited by different tribes, as was the entire region, who continually fought each other, winning and losing control of territory after every encounter.
The Jews are the earliest people to have a set of laws, recorded in writing, who still abide by them. Christianity and Islam were born later and based their teachings on the recorded and practised laws of the Jews.

There are many people in today's world who regard their land occupied by others. It is an insult to these people each time it is claimed by the Palestinians that they are the only "occupied nation".

Under Israeli control, every religion is free to worship in Jerusalem. The Waqf controls the Muslim holy places and the Chuches theirs. Under the Jordanians and Muslim control, Jews were forbidden to visit their most holy site, even though it is only a remnant of the Temple(s) which was destroyed, the land stolen and replaced with two Mosques.

circumcision, Johny baby cut-n-paste, is also a Muslim ritual. Of course there it does not hurt, right Johnny baby:

I [the author] have witnessed many peremptory circumcision operations in small booths close to the wall of the great Tanta mosque during the autumn mawlid or birthday celebration of the saint, Sidi Ahmad al-Badawi. There, peasant parents simply bring their little boys, from infancy up to ages seven or eight, and the circumciser and usually an assistant hold the boy down while his foreskin is removed. Sometime a man plays a flute or beats a drum. Afterwards the child will be given sweets, like ice cream, and paraded off in honor and triumph as if he were a little prince. Whether the celebration is makeshift and humble or ceremonious and lavish, it is a significant moment in the life of a boy and his parents and siblings. Afterward, if the circumcision takes place around puberty, the boy will enter into full participation in Islamic ritual life, although he may have performed prayers and fasting before, either regularly or occasionally.

Filipe you make up one statement, when this is proven to be false you quote another statement and pretend this makes your first claim correct. Filipe you are simply cuckoo and not even worth debating with. Obviously your child like mind will pretend I don't want to engage with your superior opinions. But the simple truth is debating with you is like debating with a mad man, a total waste of time.

Israels position is indefensible and you have never provided a sane defence of Israeli politics. You simply say others are wrong, go round in circles and offer no solutions. Are there not men in white coats looking for you.

Miriam you compare feeding babies with powder milk to child abuse and forget to remember the simple fact that circumcision causes pain to a child (against its will). This is the definition of abuse and claiming others do it does not make it less of an abuse.

You ask if I'm religious. I would like to think there is a higher spirit watching over us and all religions give good advise concerning beneficial forms of human behavior. I use to be a Christian until I started to examine the story of Judaism. The story of Judaism is naturally very closely related to the Christian story. But as the evolution of the Jewish religion is obviously man made hocus-pocus from thousands of years ago, it has become impossible to strictly follow Christianity as its roots come from Judaism.

Nevertheless this debate is about Israels bloody and never ending occupation, which is immoral and unacceptable in a modern era. A two state solution is the only solution. Zionists on this blog say that is what Israel wants, but no Zionist will commit to what they will give.

So if you want peace, here is a question. Should Israel share Jerusalem and return East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. Are the Jews willing to give any important compromises? So far the official answer from Israel is NO. What do the Zionist clueless Klux Klan on this blog think?

Johnny baby:

You ask whether Israel should share Jerusalem and return East Jerusalem to the Palestinians.

Absolutely, Israel should give (not return) all Arab areas of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians for their state. However, the Jewish quarter in which Jews lived for centuries until they were massacred and those who survived the Jordanian massacre were exiled, should remain in the Jewish state.

Have I replied to your question, johnny baby?

John A,

East Jerusalem was never Palestinian so it cannot be "returned" to them.

Who talks about "sharing" Jerusalem?
At present, the city is free for all to move around in, worship where they want, shop where they want etc (except that Jews are unlikely to emerge alive from certain areas).
Under Jordanian control, the city was divided, not shared.
The Palestinians have no intention of sharing.

The "Jews" have compromised in every peace discussion, proposal and agreement since before 1947 until now. It is the Arabs who have failed to do so.

In answer to your question, yes, the Israelis, Jews, Zionists, whatever you want to call them do want peace.

Miriam. You are off the reservation, saying that the Palestinians have no intention of sharing, while settlements continue to expand in the West bank. Not only is it ISRAEL who does not want to share, but it is also Israel who wants to consume all the land. Can you argue this? If you can, than why does Netanyahoo not support their dismantling?

Yes University Rector, you have answered with your usual Zionist duplicity. First you will hand back East Jerusalem, apart from the parts you want to keep. No wonder all negotiations fail with Zionists. And again you have failed to recognize the importance of holy Arabic sites which have also been worshiped by Arabs for thousands of years. Your answer explains the entire problem in a few words. Israel is not prepared to recognize that others have an equal right to Jerusalem.

Miriam as usual your answers are the most deluded of all. The Israeli government recently stated it would never share Jerusalem. Buy sharing we don't mean visitors to boost your tourist industry, we mean allowing Palestinians sovereignty of East Jerusalem. Why is this so hard for you? After all the United Nations granted you a place to live, why cant you do this for others? An unbelievably selfish and destructive attitude from our Zionist clueless Klux Klan bloggers.

John A Cut N Pate,

I don't recall any of my statements being proven as false! What??? Where?? Just be specific--show all of us !!! If you can't be specific--your comments nothing more than worthless gibberish !

I have no intentions or desire to debate you about anything. Is that what you think is going on?? I'm stating the facts and sometimes my opinion. Facts cannot be debated, nor can my opinions. My opinions are what they are-they're not up for debate and not subject to your approvals or blessings!

I don't intend to defend the Politics of Israel. I'm sorry that you expect me to. But it's simply not my place. Israel is a sovereign nation and fully responsible for their own laws and politics. It's simply no one else's business. You might consider this also-- it's none of your business either-– so why bother to make issues of things which you have no right, no control and no responsibility???? Internal political issues of a country are not subject to the approvals and blessings of outsiders.

You claim not to be an American-- but you certainly follow the mindset of a typical American who feels the need to impose their own views and ideologies on those of other sovereign nations!

And what's even more funny-– you claim ----"Zionists on this blog say that is what Israel wants, but no Zionist will commit to what they will give.

So if you want peace, here is a question. Should Israel share Jerusalem and return East Jerusalem to the Palestinians."

Another big laugh !!!!!

Like you are the self appointed negotiator for the Palestinian people !!!!!

What a laugh !!!!!! Who are you ???? Who left you in charge??? You are nothing in this!!! You are meaningless!!! Nothing you demand of Israel is of any consequence !!!!

Don't you get it ???? The Palestinians need to step to the plate and speak for themselves !!!!! And so far, they can't seem to get it together to do that !!!! And you want to hold others responsible for the repeated and miserable failings of the Palestinian leadership !!!!!

But I'll answer your question-- just to show you that I do have the moral character to respond to a question a direct question. You might try this for yourself sometime--I've posed plenty of questions to you--and you have replied to ZERO !!!!!

Your question about Jerusalem, what do I think??? I think this is a subject that should be negotiated between the Israelis and the Palestinian people--no one else !!!! This is exactly the position agreed to by both parties in the Road Map and the Camp David Accords. The Issue of borders and East Jerusalem should be decided according to the parties' previous agreements.

Get over it !!!

President Obama is in the way to be a modern Chamberlin
He doesn't require reciprocity of conciliation between West and Arabs

North Korea, Iran don’t care what president Obama says.
Arab countries, such as Egypt, Saudia,Syria are not democratic and are not required to change their depressing governments by President Obama

Christians are on the run on all Arab countries , no churches can be build in Saudi and president Obama is talking about honoring the Muslims in the west- without requiring the same approach to non Muslim religions in Arab countries.

President Obama is speaking about similar human values between Muslims and West, however he forgot to mention that modern human rights are not applicable in Arab countries.

The Arab teaching funded by the Saudis around the world based on the Waaby doctrine is very directly against infidels- however president Obama refers that the west has to learn to be tolerant to Islam and forgot to require the same from the Arabs toward all the non Muslim cultures

President Obrefer did't refer to many other conflicts with a history longer and number of casualties scores higher compared to Arab Israel conflict such as:
Kurds, Shia- Suna,Iran(Persia)-Arabs,Pakistan, India- Bangaladesh, Muslims in Thiland, Muslims in Phillipins, Muslims in China, civil wars in Algeria , Yemen, Lebanon, Polisario-Maroco ……. the list is longer
******************
However president Obama was very precise talking about the defending Israel.
He forgot to require the Arab states to recognize the right of Israel and that the Arab refusal to accept Israel at all in 1948 is the rout course of the Arab Israeli problems.
Israel will not be a modern replica of Czechoslovakia ahead of WW2.

John A and CS,

I'm not the one who is delusional.

Giving Palestinians sovereignty over East Jerusalem is not sharing. It's called dividing.

What is widely refered to as East Jerusalem is not just "east" but north, east and south. When Jordan was in control of those areas, every Jewish home was in the view-finder of a sniper's gun.
Are there areas of eastern Jerusalem that could become under Palestinian control? Perhaps, but not all of what they refer to as "East Jerusalem". That's just code for strangling the Jewish population and subjecting them to another seige and more starvation and eventual expulsion.

The UN granted the Palestinians a place to live as well as the Jews. The Jews accepted but the Arabs rejected it because they weren't prepared to share.

Israel shares the land with the Arabs who live within her borders.
If a Palestinian state is created they have no intention to allow any Jews to remain within the borders. That is not called sharing. That's called ethnic cleansing.

Johnny baby:

Yes University Rector, you have answered with your usual Zionist duplicity. First you will hand back East Jerusalem, apart from the parts you want to keep. No wonder all negotiations fail with Zionists. And again you have failed to recognize the importance of holy Arabic sites which have also been worshiped by Arabs for thousands of years. Your answer explains the entire problem in a few words. Israel is not prepared to recognize that others have an equal right to Jerusalem.
=====================================================

the holy arab sites? you ignore, as always that jews were in jerusalem before islam even existed

and where did I say "apart from the parts you want to keep"

I specifically refered to the Jewish quarter in the old city where jews lived for centuries until the Jordanian army, led by an Englishmab\n, massacred most of them and exiled the rest.

Can't you read? You call this "duplicity"

Israel is not prepared to recognize that others have an equal right to Jerusalem.
johnny baby

let's investigate Arab recognition that others have rights to Jerusalem

Can you give me some quotes?

I can:

Ocyober 25, 2007, the Mufti of Jerusalem:

Ikrema Sabri emphatically told the Post no Israelite temple had ever stood on the Temple Mount.

What's more, the cleric insisted, the Western Wall – whose massive stones the entire world knows to have been laid by Herod the Great during the Roman occupation of the Land of Israel – had nothing to do with any temple either.

"The wall is not part of the Jewish temple. It is just the western wall of the mosque. There is not a single stone with any relation at all to the history of the Hebrews.

"It was always only a mosque – all 144 dunams, the entire area," Sabri said.

"No Jews have the right to pray there. ... No Jewish prayer. If the Jews want real peace, they must not do anything to try to pray on Al-Aqsa. Everyone knows that."

November 7, 2008
Top Palestinian Negotiator: 'Jewish temples never existed'
Topics: Middle East News and Perspectives
In typical Islamo-blindness to reality and in an exercise of customary (for Islamists) historical revisionism, Ahmed Qurei, the Palestinian Authority official leading all peace talks with the Jewish state, stated in a small media briefing Wednesday that was attended by a Palestinian media outlet, an Arab affairs correspondent for a major Israeli newspaper, and World Net Daily that the Jewish Temples never existed and Israel has been working to "invent" a Jewish historical connection to Jerusalem.

You want more Johnny baby?

Or do you agree with your Palestinian friends that Jews have no connection to Jerusalem???????????

Hey all you Israel bashers

Do you agree that any Arab selling land to Jews deserves the death penalty, as is the law in the west bank and gaza?

CS?

Johnny baby?

mohammed garbagy?

University Rector – It's been going on awhile, have contact with Israel and get killed. Sell them land? I was surprised that was an issue – of course you get killed. It sounds mean to me. All of it. I still am slightly disturbed, not majorly though, that some places sent airplanes, with passengers here into our buildings. Was that Israel? I don't think so.

I fly some though. My husband flies a lot. I also rake up leaves and pien needles in our yard. So I wouldn't be writing here today if I had been flying and not raking up leaves or pine needles. Think about it.

G

that's the law in the west bank

sell land to a jew and get tried and convicted automatically

death penalty is automatic

Who in the Arab world is commiting to chenge the follwings?

Lisen......................Try to lisen once again.......................
No voice?
Why?

Reality:
Irak: half of Mosul Christian fled homes following attacks
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7676619.stm
Egypt:Coptic girls are kidnapped raped forced to convert to Islam
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=33483
Algeria: cathedrals turned into mosques
http://www.ordoesitexplode.com/me/2008/03/algeria-squeezi.htm
Sudan: Sudan slaughters Christians who refuse to convert to Islam
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/jihad.htm
Endless links can be added

It's truly amazing !!!!!!!

Peres offers interim borders plan.

Shimon Peres has said that Israel and the Palestinians should agree on a Palestinian state with temporary borders as a first step towards ending the Middle East conflict.

"The roadmap outlines a clear path and (the sides) should implement the second stage ... declaring a Palestinian state with temporary borders," the Israeli president was quoted as telling Javier Solana, the visiting European Union foreign policy chief, on Thursday.

Israel and the Palestinians should further make "a clear commitment that the borders will become permanent within a limited period." Peres told Solana, who is on a three-day visit to Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine.

The proposal was flatly rejected by the Palestinian Authority.

"We categorically reject Peres's proposal which takes us back to square one," Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said.

What is it that the Palestinians expect??? This seems pretty straight forward to me!!!!

But no!!!!!!!!!

This really smacks of the same mindset exhibited in 1948. Have the Palestinians failed to learn anything 60 years???

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009611115437425689.html

A Palestinian family has killed its 15-year-old son in the West Bank after accusing him of "collaboration" with Israel. Raed Wael Sawalha's body was discovered in the basement of a house in his village of Hijjah in the Kalkilya area on Wednesday.
The Palestinian Authority security forces announced that they have arrested a number of the boy's family members in connection with the killing.
The suspects confessed, saying they decided to kill Sawalha because of his alleged connections with the Israeli authorities, PA security sources said.
Sawalha is the youngest Palestinian to be killed on suspicion of collaboration.
Hundreds of other suspected collaborators have also been killed by Palestinians over the past few years.
A preliminary investigation launched by PA security forces revealed that Sawalha had been brutally tortured before he was hanged.
Villagers initially believed that the boy had either committed suicide or hanged himself accidentally while playing with friends.
Gen. Adnan Damiri, spokesman for the PA security forces in the West Bank, said the perpetrators were all members of the boy's family, including his father, uncle and cousin.

Last week, a 15 year old Palestinian girl was arrested by the Palestinian authorities for collaboration with the Israelis. (Other reports now say she was 22)

She explained that she had done it to escape the prostitution she'd been forced into by her husband.

She is now being sentenced to death by the same PA authorities investigating the murder of the 15 year old boy.

I'm not sure what punishment the authorities can then justify giving the boy's family!

US envoy pushes two-state solution

George Mitchell met Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, after telling Israeli leaders that peace talks must resume urgently.

"The only viable resolution to this conflict is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states," Mitchell said after meeting Abbas.

Palestinians 'committed'

Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said that Abbas's government was fully prepared to abide by its side of the deal.

"We are seeking to achieve a two-state solution and President Abbas reiterated also his full commitment to all our obligations emanating from the roadmap," he said.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009610224850885763.html

Amazing !!!! What a difference a day makes!!!!!

Or maybe it's nothing more than which one of the Palestinian "spokespersons" is speaking !!!!!

It's quite apparent that the Palestinians still need to agree amongst themselves who it is that really does speak with authority on their behalf !!!!

It shouold be obvious to most intelligent people that the Iranian election turnout had nothing to do with pride or national patrioic interest. More likely it is a clear indication that the majority of people are not satisfied with the way thinks have been conducted under the current regime.

miriam – It happens, sadly. As adults, we all know it. Women are abused. Big news. Not in this house. I dressed up my best, looked good (years ago) and told the future hubby that if he EVER touched me in an abusive way, to never fall asleep around me. Then I smiled sweetly. I reminded him after we were married. If he even raises his voice to me, I just look at him. He lowers it. He is over six foot and has to fight to stay under two hundred pounds.

On that note, my house is very calm, peaceful, and nice. I make it that way. It could be very different. If my "hubby" was not nice, my father, when he was still alive, wanted me home. My brother would love it. They are real men. Balance. I'm a real woman. They would have helped me in a heart beat, my brother still would. So where are these fathers and brother, the protectors of real women? I ask that of my own country most of all.