JPost.com - Gershon Baskin Reporter

Encountering Peace: Who is not a peace partner?

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:19:01 GMT

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks can't be conducted in public or by the public; Netanyahu holds responsibility to negotiate with Abbas.

Encountering Peace: Truth, lies and legitimacy

Wed, 08 May 2013 20:58:04 GMT

Jerusalem Day marks the reunification of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

Encountering Peace: The Israeli economic breakout

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:59:02 GMT

Despite the global financial threats, the Israeli economy is still in the black and more healthy than the economies of Greece and Cyprus.

Encountering Peace: Buy Palestinian

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:26:10 GMT

No one can argue with the logic that says hungry, unemployed neighbors are dangerous neighbors.

Encountering Peace: Our memories, their memories

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:40:24 GMT

A veritable roller-coaster of emotions, filled with soul-searching, introspection and thoughts about the future.

Encountering Peace: We know how to make peace

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:00:49 GMT

The response in Israel and Palestine to Kerry’s words from politicians, pundits and journalists seems so cynical.

Encountering Peace: Reconciliation and peace

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 22:40:31 GMT

Many Palestinians are quite disturbed about the division and Abbas and Hamas are under significant public pressure to reunify the Palestinian house.

Free Ouda Tarabin

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:57:26 GMT

The Beduin Israeli was sentenced to 15 years in an Egyptian prison for allegedly spying for Israel.

Encountering Peace: Advice for the president

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:15:26 GMT

Mr. President, you are probably thinking, “where do these people get the chutzpah to tell me what I should do?”

Encountering Peace: No more unilateralism

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:45:50 GMT

The Geneva agreement proved that it was possible to reach agreement with the Palestinians on all of the issues in conflict.

Prisoners, atmosphere and negotiations

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:34:34 GMT

ENCOUNTERING PEACE: It is far past the time to release the 123 pre-Oslo prisoners. They have all served more than 20 years in prison.

ENCOUNTERING PEACE: The path we must take

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:08:07 GMT

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas did not start this to gain the attention of the American president.

Encountering Peace: Israeli-Palestinian peace is achievable

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:49:47 GMT

This agreement is possible. The concessions within are not losses but gains and both sides will be able to stand tall and declare peace and victory.

Encountering Peace: Netanyahu, the peace maker

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:48:45 GMT

It is up to PM Netanyahu how he will precede with forming the government, but there is no perfect solution.

Encountering Peace: Opportunities for US peace initiative

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:04:47 GMT

The coming months are crucial and in the absence of real Israeli and Palestinian leadership advancing peace, there is no replacement for an effective and confident US role.

Encountering Peace: Good governments make peace

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:17:43 GMT

The next government of Israel could so quickly find itself the most respected and admired among the nations. But that is not the reason to advance peace – that will be one of the many benefits.

Encountering Peace: Our celebration of democracy

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:28:39 GMT

We must continue to remind our MK and government that they work for us – we employ them on our behalf and they owe their loyalty to us, the electorate.

Close the gap in treatment of Israeli Arabs

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:08:09 GMT

Encountering Peace: The United Nations estimated that 711,000 Arabs became refugees following Israel’s establishment, joining in the battle against Israel’s birth.

Encountering Peace: Travels in Morocco

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:52:32 GMT

I am now in Morocco for a workshop sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency on public participation in environmental decision making.

Encountering Peace: Netanyahu: Commit to two states

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:58:21 GMT

2013 must be the year when the leaders go beyond themselves, move forward beyond the expectations of their people, far beyond their own expectations of each other and of the possibilities for peace.

Encountering Peace: One-state reality – not viable

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 21:27:21 GMT

There are millions of people living on the same land as us who are not Jewish, are not part of our state and do not want to be part of our state.

Encountering Peace: Partners in dispute

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:13:06 GMT

Partnership doesn’t come naturally and it doesn’t exist when only one side wants it. Partnership has to be created and nurtured and built on and supported.

Encountering Peace: Strategic errors and challenges

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:31:04 GMT

Will our own leaders demonstrate the same dangerous extremist tendencies of our neighbors in Gaza?

Encountering Peace: The stage is set for the final act

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:08:52 GMT

We have bought into the myths that they have woven together to justify our inability to grasp at opportunities for real change and breakthroughs to peace.

Encountering Peace: Are you worthy of my vote?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 22:45:21 GMT

What is necessary for Israel to do to bring down the Hamas regime? The answer is quite simple – make peace with the Palestinian people through their legal representative – the PLO and its chairman, Mahmoud Abbas.

Encountering Peace: Message to Hamas, Israel leaders

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:04:35 GMT

If Hamas would stop smuggling weapons and focus on building rather than destroying we could speak about a port in Gaza, and reopening the passage to the West Bank.

Encountering Peace: The leader and the leaderless

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:14:14 GMT

What Palestinian Authority chairman had to say to the people of Israel in his interview on Channel 2 on Friday night, I heard months ago in private meetings with him, following which I wrote detailed reports and analysis for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Encountering Peace: The end of rocket fire from Gaza

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 23:15:28 GMT

If it is true that both sides see no reason or have no interest to escalate the conflict at this time, we need to find a way to prevent the cycle from repeating itself.

It is not only the economy, stupid, it is also peace

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:37:43 GMT

Encountering Peace: We need leaders who tell us the truth, not spin doctors and mantra dolls. We need politicians who are as honest with themselves that are with us.

Encountering Peace: The challenge of statesmanship

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:07:58 GMT

If I were prime minister, who would receive my first phone call? It would not be a difficult decision – Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Encountering Peace: Zionist fantacide

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:50:36 GMT

It is a lie to claim that partition is no longer possible. It is squarely against the interests of Israelis and Palestinians to claim that the two-state solution is dead. Neither one of us is willing to concede the right of self determination.

Encountering Peace: Two states for two peoples

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:27:36 GMT

Fulfillment of UN Charter principles requires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, which should include the application of the following principles:

Restarting talks with the Palestinians

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 22:25:16 GMT

Encountering peace: I have no walls between me and peace. I cross borders, break down barriers and refuse to allow fear of “the other” to turn into hatred. I have gone beyond the walls and I know that peace is possible!

Encountering Peace: Nukes out of the box

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 22:44:04 GMT

The repercussions of an Israeli attack are far beyond the ability of any expert to predict.

Encountering Peace: What Abbas should say to Israel

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:50:41 GMT

When your leaders agree to renew negotiations in good faith, not with one hand out stretched toward us while the other hand is busy building new settlements, we will be there at the table, willing to reach a full and comprehensive peace.

Encountering Peace: Obama, don't let us do it!

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:17:16 GMT

We don’t need Obama to come to Jerusalem to convince the people of Israel of his good intentions.

PA leadership in crisis

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:04:52 GMT

PA President Mahmoud Abbas is aware of his sinking legitimacy in the eyes of Palestinians.

Encountering Peace: On Apartheid

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 22:26:51 GMT

We must be a free people in our land; in order to do that the Palestinians must also be a free people in their land.

Encountering Peace: Denial is no solution

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 22:07:21 GMT

I met an American-Jewish lawyer who visits Israel frequently; she is a strong supporter of our country, and a proud Zionist.

Encountering Peace: The Palestinian problem is gone!

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 23:05:32 GMT

Two weeks ago you were told that there is no occupation and that settlements are legal; now you can sleep well at night – there is no Palestinian problem either.

Encountering Peace: Time for change in Gaza

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:04:20 GMT

I know that it is possible to develop a new kind of relationship. I know that quiet will be answered with quiet.

Encountering Peace: Thank you, Mr. Sherman

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 21:52:38 GMT

As is typical of those opposed to the two-state solution, Sherman did not offer one constructive idea in his scathing attack.

Encountering Peace: Is my Zionist dream dead?

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 21:13:40 GMT

I see a great disaster about to unfold. I simply cannot understand why people are not shouting “don’t let this happen!”

Encountering Peace: Congratulations, Egypt!

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:08:31 GMT

I believe that in the end the democratic forces in Egypt will overpower the dictatorial tendency of military rulers.

Encountering Peace: Unity, disunity and peace

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:31:17 GMT

From what I hear around the area, once again the reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas have re-entered the freezer.

Despite it all, still committed to peace

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:51:29 GMT

That was the logic of Oslo: Israel would withdraw from territory and turn it over to the Palestinians who would guarantee Israel’s security by fighting against terrorism.

The future Jewish citizens of Palestine

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:46:10 GMT

The State of Palestine should require all of its citizens to study the state, its history, language, culture, etc., alongside of the particularistic subjects and content of the national minority.

Encountering Peace: Use your imagination

Mon, 28 May 2012 21:52:57 GMT

Let’s face it, neither Israelis nor Palestinians want to live under the control of the other side.

Encountering Peace: Peace directive in the hands of leaders

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:25:24 GMT

There is a debate going on locally and around the world on the question of whether perhaps it’s too late to achieve peace.

Encountering Peace: Observations, thoughts and questions

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:23:14 GMT

Summer is back and with it the middle class uprising, or the “Hebrew Spring” as some now call it.

Encountering peace: Not social justice, peace!

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:31:46 GMT

I am no less concerned about economic issues, but peace, security still most important issues that we face.

Encountering Peace: From Berlin to Jerusalem

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:16:55 GMT

Berlin has a rapidly growing Israeli population, mostly young people who are here studying, working or just enjoying the freedom that this multifaceted city has to offer.

Encountering Peace: The sunshine over the horizon

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:21:41 GMT

Cancelation of gas deal with Israel is another sad benchmark in the deterioration of bilateral relations.

Encountering Peace: Why not bring Assad to Israel?

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:51:08 GMT

Such an effort to prevent a group of idealistic, pro-Palestinian activists from entering the “only democracy in the Middle East.” What a success.

Encountering Peace: The economics of Palestine

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:58:37 GMT

Israel should at least make good on its promise of “economic peace” and ensure we won’t have riots next door.

Encountering Peace: Next year we will be free!

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:53:10 GMT

We must use our strength with the determination to make next year the year of peace with our neighbors.

Encountering Peace: J Street is my street

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:05:46 GMT

This amazing outpouring of support for a Jewish, democratic and peaceful Israel is a remarkable boost for the soul.

Encountering Peace: Don’t shut the switch

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:54:59 GMT

One of the items not transferred to the Palestinian Authority with its creation in 1994 was electricity generation.

Encountering Peace: Planning beyond the possible

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:03:03 GMT

The status quo is not sustainable, and leaders need to start going beyond what is presently thought to be possible.

Encountering Peace: The Palestinian challenge

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:54:20 GMT

Something must be done, and quickly, to save the two-state solution.

Encountering Peace: Q&A on the future of the Middle East

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:25:51 GMT

The divisions are not between Jews and non-Jews, but within each community there are conflicts between the pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian.

Q&A affecting the future of the Middle East

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:06:12 GMT

Encountering Peace: I say to both leaders, there are no better leaders than the two of you – Netanyahu and Abbas – to make real peace.

Unintended consequences of an Israeli strike on Iran

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:57:54 GMT

Encountering Peace: I imagine that int'l pressure would push Israel to reach an agreement on the Palestinian issue.

A victory for our side?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:57:50 GMT

Both Palestinian and Israeli leaders contributed to the failure of peace talks in Jordan.

Encountering Peace: Breakthrough dynamic

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:54:04 GMT

Decisions with historic consequences could be made by the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the coming days.

Encountering Peace: Fayyad’s dream

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:16:07 GMT

The victims of Israeli-Palestinian violence over the past 10 years were the victims of the absence of peace.

Shamgar: Did you ask why it took almost five years?

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:22:34 GMT

Encountering Peace: All of my direct knowledge and involvement testifies to the belief that we could have brought Gilad four years earlier.

Encountering Peace: Hats off to his majesty

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:51:11 GMT

The meeting in Jordan between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators won’t produce an agreement, but it is a step in the right direction.

Encountering Peace: What now?

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:48:32 GMT

Allowing the two-state solution to die would spell the end of the Zionist dream and the collapse of all we have worked to build in the Land of Israel.

Encountering Peace: Normalizing anti-normalization

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:29:41 GMT

I have asked Palestinian friends who support anti-normalization just how not talking to me will advance the cause of Palestinian statehood. I have yet to hear an answer to that question.

Encountering Peace: Half-way there

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:31:03 GMT

Our prime minister has learned to say the things the world wants to hear, but only his father really understands the truth: He doesn’t mean it.

Encountering Peace: To be (Ben-Gurion) or not to be?

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:41:44 GMT

Wouldn’t it be great if the ‘risks’ the prime minister spoke about at Sde Boker related to making peace with the Palestinians?

Further from peace, closer to reconciliation

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:24:59 GMT

If given a clear choice, I have no doubt that Palestinians will chose peace, but that is not the choice given to them at the moment.

Encountering Peace: Leadership that makes history

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:03:26 GMT

Real leadership is measured when one is faced with real-life situations that place diametrically opposed values and principles on the scales of decision making.

Encountering Peace: Despite it all, economic peace

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:55:23 GMT

Economic peace may be the only answer for the present time.

Encountering Peace: Let’s not talk?

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:30:15 GMT

President Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad are the most determined Palestinian leaders against the use the violence in the Palestinian struggle.

Encountering Peace: Unintended consequences

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:37:45 GMT

Palestinian logic to go to the UN was based on their sound assessment that no negotiated agreement could be reached with the current Israeli government.

Encountering Peace: What’s next?

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:01:18 GMT

Economic development is Gaza may not be a motivating idea for Hamas leaders, but it is in the interests of Israel.

My part in the prisoner exchange deal

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:45:26 GMT

How a ‘Jerusalem Post’ columnist played a key role in back-channel negotiations for the release of Gilad Schalit.

Encountering Peace: Confessions of a ‘yefeh nefesh’

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:47:02 GMT

I believe in peace, and I don’t want to rule over an unwilling Palestinian population. If that makes me a "self-hating Jew" to some, so be it.

Encountering Peace: Yes, but!

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:17:29 GMT

What is needed more than ever before is a secret track of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Reciprocity, mutuality – key to Mid-East peacemaking

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:49:57 GMT

Encountering peace: An open letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Encountering Peace: Maybe the whole world isn’t against us?

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:03:44 GMT

Almost the entire world also supports the State of Israel existing on 78% of the land between the river and sea.

Encountering Peace: The view from Cairo

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:30:59 GMT

What’s needed is stronger bridges, not higher walls.

Encountering Peace: The loss of youth

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:13:39 GMT

Their childhood was filled with fear; where did these young people learn to raise their voices with such clarity of purpose and determination?

Encountering Peace: I call it national suicide

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:36:37 GMT

If partition is no longer possible or desirable, the territorial conflict is transformed into what I call an identity conflict.

Encountering peace: Let’s talk to Hamas now

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:43:59 GMT

When it comes to dealing with the Gaza Strip, this is our only option.

Encouraging Peace: The summer of discontent

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:28:36 GMT

The social justice movement must remember to include calls for justice for Palestinians.

Encouraging Peace: Forgetting September

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:59:14 GMT

A proposal for a UN security council resolution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Encountering Peace: I should be a millionaire!

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:25:29 GMT

One aspect missing from protests is inescapable conclusion that Israel's economic health is based on peace with our Arab neighbors.

Encountering Peace: In search of a rational discourse

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:01:17 GMT

Israel and the Palestinians should draft a UN resolution to get them back to the negotiating table.

Encountering Peace: What gives me hope

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:29:21 GMT

Positive face-to-face encounters can help build up the sorely lacking trust between Israelis and Palestinians.

Reform! The end is at hand!

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:13:30 GMT

Israel needs to stop digging its heels in and instead take steps on the road to peace.

If... then...

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 01:52:19 GMT

Encountering Peace: In order to see change, regional leaders need to begin by formulating their messages differently.

A guide to September

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:48:58 GMT

Whatever happens in the UN in two months, it is essential that the two states for two peoples solution be preserved.

The greening of Palestine

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:24:10 GMT

Encountering Peace: The Palestinian path to independence should include as much energy independence as possible.

What you see is what you get

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:37:41 GMT

Everything in the Holy Land is as good as it’s going to be, so why do anything that might change the holy status quo?

Encountering Peace: September mania

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:46:51 GMT

The best thing that could happen is to return to negotiations; but if not, it's imperative to prevent a return to a violent intifada.

Encountering Peace: Off to the UN we go

Mon, 30 May 2011 23:13:53 GMT

Recognition of the state of Palestine in September could be the game-changer needed to get the two sides back to the negotiating table.

Meeting senseless aggression face-to-face

Mon, 23 May 2011 23:22:27 GMT

A recent trip to the weekly demonstration in Nabi Saleh shed a new light on the IDF and its operations.

Encountering Peace: The Palestinian Spring of May 2011

Mon, 16 May 2011 23:09:06 GMT

Even if September comes and goes without the great achievements the Palestinian leadership is hoping for, the Palestinian people feel that they are on the final leg of their journey to freedom.

Hamas-Fatah reconciliation: Opportunity or disaster?

Mon, 02 May 2011 22:57:26 GMT

Encountering Peace: It is important to remember that the Hamas-Fatah agreement leaves almost all the details to be negotiated.

Encountering Peace: Imposed peace plans will not work

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:17:58 GMT

What Israel and the Palestinians really need from the US and the Quartet is some parameter-setting.

Encountering Peace: The bombs bursting in air

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:44:32 GMT

It’s so easy to fall into the trap set for us by Hamas. We play their game with such excellence; we do exactly what they provoke us to do.

Encountering Peace: Israelis vote yes

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:54:05 GMT

A citizen truly concerned with the future of our state will call on our leaders to not only vote in favor of Palestinian statehood in the UN, but to sponsor the resolution.

Encountering Peace: Palestine is inevitable

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:04:14 GMT

The battle to prevent Palestinian statehood has been lost, and Israel had better come to terms with this emerging reality.

Encountering Peace: Abbas, man of peace

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:29:35 GMT

It is amazing – and telling – that Israeli media did not cover the extensive interview with Mahmoud Abbas on Channel 2 Saturday night, where the PA president reiterated his desire to end the conflict.

Encountering Peace: The clock is ticking

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:45:35 GMT

If there will be no Palestinian state, there will eventually no longer be a legitimate democratic Jewish state either.

Encountering Peace: The speech Netanyahu should make

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:16:00 GMT

It is now time for us to transform noble words into a new reality.

Encountering Peace: Learning from J Street

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:16:42 GMT

Why can’t we bring 2,000 Israelis together for an intensive three-day seminar focused on justice, democracy, peace and security?

Encountering Peace: Mirror, mirror on the wall

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:25:06 GMT

No matter how much concealer we apply, we cannot change reality or mask the fact that our Knesset has become a bastion of xenophobia.

Encountering Peace: Thank you in advance

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:26:49 GMT

When the Palestinians take to the streets, the squares and the checkpoints in mass nonviolent protest against the occupation, they will win. And when it’s all over, we will be grateful

Encountering Peace: The roots of democracy on the Nile

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:18:11 GMT

Our ability to empathize with the Egyptian masses rather than to only fear them would be greatly enhanced if we learned more about the opposition groups.

Encountering Peace: Encountering revolutions

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:24:14 GMT

The future of Israel is not linked to the corrupt, nondemocratic regimes we call "moderate," but to the masses of people who take to the streets demanding rights.

Encountering Peace: What does Netanyahu want?

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:44:32 GMT

Understanding what has been leaked, the PM should move forward with current Palestinian leadership as soon as possible.

Encountering Peace: To be suspect

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:23:28 GMT

The present political environment makes 1989 look like child’s play.

Encountering Peace: The view is clearer from here

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:03:25 GMT

Many Diaspora Jewish communities are already perceived us to be on slippery slope of xenophobia, racism and witch-hunts against human rights and peace activists.

Encountering Peace: The Forgotten Soldier

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:33:05 GMT

Gilad Schalit isn’t home yet because no one wants to give Hamas a victory.

Encountering Peace: Postponing the inevitable

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 04:09:04 GMT

There is very little Israel can actually do to prevent the world from recognizing Palestine. So what are we waiting for?

Encountering Peace: Wanted: A progressive leader

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:40:03 GMT

The left side of the political map is in total disarray.

Encountering Peace: So, what comes next?

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:31:59 GMT

Now that the US has finally decided that negotiations about negotiations are over, the real work will get under way.

Encountering Peace: The house is on fire

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 06:38:33 GMT

This isn’t about the tragedy in the Carmel. This is about the proverbial fire under the house of the Zionist enterprise.

Encountering Peace: Five minutes to midnight

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:41:54 GMT

It is time to put the ‘real’ peace offer on the table.

Encountering Peace: Imagine...

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:52:08 GMT

A letter to Ban Ki-moon, with a vision of a peace agreement.

Encountering Peace: The land of promise

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 23:24:23 GMT

Our peoples need leaders who understand that their leadership is not judged by how long they postpone the inevitable, but by how swiftly they resolve the conflict.

Chronicles of peace or epitaphs of failure

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:56:00 GMT

The stars seemed better aligned now to move peace forward than at any time over the past decade. What is lacking is any real call from the people of Israel and Palestine demanding it.

Encountering Peace: Declare victory and stop building

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:02:16 GMT

We, the people of Israel, need to stand up and declare – yes we won, we withstood the world, we are stronger than all the powers of the world combined. Now let’s stop wasting our precious resources on settlements

Encountering Peace: Two rights don’t make a wrong

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 06:51:07 GMT

Both Netanyahu and Abbas are correct in their respective assertions about the settlements but this shouldn’t prevent them from finding a creative way to make it work.

Encountering Peace: What about the Strip?

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:39:14 GMT

If we reach a peace agreement with Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, it would give hope to the people under Hamas rule in Gaza and offer them an alternative to the repressive regime

Encountering Peace: The indefatigable peacemaker’s advice

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:33:46 GMT

We;ve had the opportunity to take a step back and analyze the failed peace process and come away learning many valuable lessons.

Negotiations under false pretenses

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 03:30:08 GMT

Can the weight of responsibility and the small window of opportunity enable these two men to go where they have never gone before?

The audacity of not losing hope

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:20:24 GMT

It doesn’t look good at the moment,but developments in direct negotiations are all we have if we want this conflict to end.

Settlements and anti-Zionists

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:19:39 GMT

Continued building is suicide for the Zionist movement.

Encountering Peace: And we will dwell in peace...

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:07:21 GMT

History has shown us Israelis and Palestinians that we have good reason not to trust each other, so why should we now? Because we should see this as a challenge and not a doomed fate.

The way forward

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:38:04 GMT

The proximity talks must include serious discussions on the core issues – borders, security, Jerusalem and refugees.

A little bit of hope

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:38:17 GMT

Almost no one believe proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians will work, though they may still be worth doing.

Israel’s Gaza policy has strengthened Hamas

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:56:22 GMT

Hamas is stronger and richer and Israel is isolated and condemned by the international community.

Bring in the third parties

Tue, 25 May 2010 05:41:34 GMT

There can be no full peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians without direct int'l involvement – a peacekeeping force.

Optimism is also an option

Tue, 11 May 2010 11:06:55 GMT

I am convinced that it is possible to make real progress through proximity talks, and given the level of mutual mistrust, I even believe it is the preferred means.

City of Peace

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:46:31 GMT

J'lem should be the place showing that humanity can celebrate diversity.

Encountering Peace: The disposal of myths

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:44:12 GMT

We have been repeating the same truisms that fit appropriately with our justifications for our positions in this conflict.

A Gulf experience

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:53:19 GMT

While I was listening to my Bahraini friends talk about problems they face in their country, Israel’s challenges seemed so much smaller.

A free people in our land

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:40:53 GMT

If we do not negotiate, the Palestinian nat'l movement will drop the strategy of seeking a state and will call openly for full democracy.

Proximity means close

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:18:21 GMT

Proximity talks conducted through a very small team on both sides enable the parties to negotiate without looking over their shoulders with every step.

Deadly political babblings

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:52:43 GMT

Palestinians have an opportunity to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation ignited by Netanyahu's thoughtless words on the heritage sites.

Can Israel survive this coalition?

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:04:02 GMT

Netanyahu as a statesman needs to reshuffle his cabinet. He needs to approach Livni and propose to her that Kadima replace Israel Beiteinu.

A dark day for democracy

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:55:14 GMT

The witch hunt against Naomi Chazan, NIF is reminiscent of McCarthyism.

Encountering Peace: A dark day for democracy

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:24:50 GMT

The witch hunt against Naomi Chazan and the NIF is reminiscent of McCarthyism in the US.

Encountering Peace: Get real, get down

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:40:09 GMT

Israel and the Palestinians are quite aware of each other's red lines.

Encountering Peace: Israel - a leader among the nations

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:35:22 GMT

While we ask to see, in all the gory details, the destruction and death on the streets of Port-au-Prince, we wish to see none of the human suffering of our Palestinian neighbors in Gaza.