Submitted by Dave Levy, Oct 8, 2007 17:01

If the problem with the Arabs was just East Jerusalem neighborhoods, there could have been peace a long time ago, between the two sides. It's not that simple. Olmert is trying to show a good face, to satisfy Bush and Condi, the EU, the UN, the Arab League and the leftists in his own country. He is trying to be accommodating and compromise for a long sought peace.

However, the Arabs, after losing every war with Israel, were offered either a state, autonomy or at least the opportunity to negotiate the regions future. Every time, they refused, coming back with nonsensical and unrealistic demands (so-called right of return), among others.

Even today, the Arab leadership is demanding that 5m Arabs have the option of living in Israel proper. This is a core demand of the Palestinian people. Many of the refugees (mainly offspring), won't even consider a 2 state solution, which will be the final status. They simply do not want Israel to exist.

What actually should govern is UN 242, which mitigates the demands of both sides, as long as both are secure, something not yet achievable.

What good is it that Abbas might concede a few dunams of land, if Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran still want Israel to go out of existence. Who is going to enforce the peace against them, I ask, the UN?

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