Why is Israel shunning Abu Mazen,yet he is moderate and commited tothe peace process?
603627
I think that despite his questionable past, Israel is more willing to negotiate with Abbas than they have been anyone else in recent history.  They are not shunning Abbas as a result of anything he's done, as much as they are shunning him for being a proxy for a Hamas led government that they are shunning as a whole. When Israel comes back to the table, Abbas will most likely be the one they talk to first.
1064846
Iran's president said that Israel need to be destroyed so maybe Israel should before he will.\n\nCheck the link for more info..
310601
I think firing Hamas is definitly out of the question, since there would just be pure chaos. Stepping down would not be a very good idea since if he did there would be no bridge to the PA that Israel or the US to use in any such negotitiations. I don't think he failed, he may not have been to affective. It's a hard line to balance to try to please the more radicals but yet also appear as a peacemaker at the same time. It's something that few leaders in that region have been able to do very well. If they appear to much with the radicals they are labelled as dictators or a supporter of terrorism. If they appear to much of a peacemaker and side to much with the West, then they appear as a puppet and weak. This pressure is doubled for Abbas and especially now with Hamas in the government.
146937
You are wrong Miguel.\nThe Acting Israeli Prime Minister is Ehud Olmert.\nAt least until the elections in March.
562060
Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working in conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took the lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However, progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Palestinian-Israeli violence between September 2000 and February 2005. An agreement reached at Sharm al-Sheikh in February 2005 significantly reduced the violence. The election in January 2005 of Mahmud ABBAS as the new Palestinian leader following the November 2004 death of Yasir ARAFAT, the formation of a Likud-Labor-United Torah Judaism coalition government in January 2005, and the successful Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip (August-September 2005), presented an opportunity for a renewed peace effort. However, internal Israeli political events between October and December 2005 have destabilized the political situation and forced early elections, scheduled for March 2006.\n\n\nhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/is.html\n\nhttp://www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/\n\n\nQuote from Charles Krauthammer - The Weekly Standard, May 11, 1998\n\n"Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the corner candy store."\n\nThe people of Israel (also called the "Jewish People") trace their origin to Abraham, who established the belief that there is only one God, the creator of the universe (see Old Testament). Abraham, his son Yitshak (Isaac), and grandson Jacob (Israel), are referred to as the patriarchs of the Israelites. All three patriarchs lived in the Land of Canaan, that later came to be known as the Land of Israel. They and their wives are buried in the Ma'arat HaMachpela, the Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Hebron.\n\nThe name Israel derives from the name given to Jacob (see Old Testament). His 12 sons were the kernels of 12 tribes that later developed into the Jewish nation. The name Jew derives from Yehuda (Judah) one of the 12 sons of Jacob. So, the names Israel, Israeli or Jewish refer to people of the same origin.\n\nThe descendants of Abraham crystallized into a nation at about 1300 BCE after their Exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses (Moshe in Hebrew). Soon after the Exodus, Moses transmitted to the people of this new emerging nation, the Torah, and the Ten Commandments. After 40 years in the Sinai desert, Moses led them to
863392
The historical homeland of the Palestians was originally what is now Jordan. When the UN formed Israel after WWII they offered to also create a Palestian state the Palestians rejected as their goal was to transform Jordan. They failed and at this point became refugees after Jordan kicked them out. The other Arab countries convinced them to leave Jordan alone and promised their support if they instead would overthrow Israel. As recently as 1998 THey have been offered official recognition if they would abide by the peace accords however for some reason they cannot. Every few years the Israelis pull back a little more in hopes of appeasing the Palestians and furthering peace. Most recently forcibly removing Israeli citizens from long established settlements in the West Bank. However it never seems to have any effect on people who want all or nothing today. Some blame the Israelis some blame the Palestians. If you look at history this has always been a violent region. Another place to look is at the role that European colonism played in recent events when France, Spain and France gave up their claims to the middle east in the late 1800 they created countries that had never before existed. This was not so bad except they did not give any thought to how lines where drawn prior to coloniaism. Many of the problems Iraq come from the fact that you basically have what was historically four different countries thrown together and these people have no desire to work together and no historical basis to believe they can.
349328
They are not denying the democratic process.  They are merely telling the new ruling party that the violence which has been indicative of the new ruling party has to stop and that the Paletinian government needs to continue to recongize the state of Israel as it had done previous to the last election.\n\nIf similar measures were taken when Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany and the Nazi party took control of the German government, maybe much death as well as a world war could have been headed off at the pass...
257200
wait. As an orthodox Jew let me answer the question. It is true that many opposed the creation of the state of Israel at the time because they believed that only the Messiah can come and recreate the Jewish state in Israel. Once the state was founded that became a mute point and from then on it was only a question of how one should interact with it. some try to limit contact while still living in Israel as much as they can. Others openly embrace Zionism and there is a strong Religious Zionist party in Israel. But I can guarantee you that 99.99% of all orthodox jews (there are always some nuts) want the state of Israel to continue, they might want some changes, but then again who dose not because they know if the state were to no longer exist millions of Jews could die at Arab hands and the rest would be scattered like refugees across the globe.
47499
It is more of a burden to the USA\nThink about it.\nEverytime, Israrel makes a mistake and the USA supports it, the USA is in for a bashing.\nNow, the third world countries are fed up with the US administrations's 100% support for Israel when Isreael makes blatant mistakes and crimes against Humanity.\nThe USA was willing and championed the cause of Human Right in the Balkan countries but it cannot do the same with Israel because of distrust of the Middle east countries and Israel bieng its only real trustworthy ally in that region.\nFact is, Iraq was the USA ally and Saddam was the USA's puppet until they (Georgie) pulled him down. \nNow look at the results. \nThe Shias are going to cause havoc there.\nSame  in the PLO.\nFollow Israel blindly and you elect HAMAS\nLOL\nIsn't that a treat.\nThe USA (Georgie) is now threatening HAMAS but he caused HAMAS to be elected. \nLiterally\nIsrael would eventually lead to the downfall of the USA
885908
He got the right ideas. Will see how he is able to implement.\n\nIf anyone calls him evil, than ALL the Arabs are evil as well. Because he wants a Jewish state for Jews, and guess what, Jordanians want Jordan for Arabs, Egyptians want Egypt for Arabs, Palestinian Arabs want Palestine for Arabs, Lebanese want Lebanon for Arabs, I shouldn't have to tell you about Saudis, should I? Syrians, Iraqis, Yemenis...\nAbout 1 million of Jews were kicked out of Arab countries, and they had no choice but to come to Israel. Now Liberman wants to separate Jews from Arabs in Israel, and I say "POWER TO HIM!"
443447
The president of Iran is a threat to the world, did you hear his speach today, he is hell bent on destoying Israel. How ever I think that Israel can take care of themselves and ouhgt to be able to. Let Israel go get him.
657892
Israel was imposed on Palestine by the UN, it is a racist state which is based on discrimination of non-Jews. \n\nWhilst I absolutly oppose Hamas and their anti semitism, it is a bit of a cheek for the USA and the EU to claim to be creating democracy in Iraq and then actively trying to undermine it in Palestine, simply because they do not like who got elected.  Still, at least it gives us an uptodate definition of hypocrisy I suppose.
409533
Forcing Israel to abide by international treaties and forcing Palestine to denounce terrorism would go a long way. Once Palestine is given the international recognition it deserves, the suicide bombers will have nothing left to fight for. Israel needs to step up to the plate and start abiding by all the treaties and UN resolutions it is ignoring for this to happen. And the US needs to stop picking sides. Arming one side while threatening the other is not diplomacy, it's bigotry.
540699
Because the Jews in Israel love land way more than peace. It has nothing to do with Religion-it's all about greed, war and intolerance.
699569
IT is about time someone spoke up,and thanks for your courage.Under the protection of the united states Israel has behaved so badly in it's dealing with its enemies.When one objects to their inhumane behavior,they raise the antisemitic flag.This is supposed to quell opposition to their actions.
259411
I think the governments of the West have made it very clear what the barrier is.  Hamas was renounce terrorism and its call for the destruction of Israel.  I think you call it a "Jew lobby" in our senate, but it's not because it's a Jewish state or Israel, it's because Hamas is calling for the destruction of another country.  That does not ever sit well with the United States.  If Hamas will renounce its former violence and become a legitimate POLITICAL party that will seek change through PEACEFUL and POLITICAL methods, then it will be recognized by the West as a legitimate government.  It will finally get the recognition by the world that it has craved.   Surely the leaders of Hamas are intelligent enough to see that.  Your prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, taught peace, not violence.  I see the election of Hamas in Palestine to be a golden opportunity for the leadership of Hamas.  I hope they do not do anything foolish that would ruin their chances of establishing a legitimate government.
646786
Israel has been trying to "mend fences" (no relation to the current security fence being built between Israel and the disputed territories) for many years but unfortunately does not have a partner for peace with the Palestinians. The USA is Israel's only ally because like Israel, the US is: \n- a democratic state.\n- a state that has been attacked by terrorism.\n- a leader in medical and scientific research.\n- a state where the people value freedom, capitalism and equal rights for women.\n\nIran's comment are nothing more that propaganda. If there is any justice in this world (and the UN) then the world will never allow Iran (a rogue state) to acquire weapons of mass destruction.