As always, Israel apologists put the onus on the occupied Palestinians to bring about peace while Israel continues to occupy, murder and practice apartheid and ethnic cleansing in Palestinian lands.

Even Abbas, this most pro-US of Palestinian leaders, is about to give up when his US-trained and supported security forces are undermined by ceaseless incursions by the Israeli army into Palestinian cities http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1004402.html

The so called peace process in the Middle East has turned into something that is more about process and less about peace. The Israelis created an environment of a make-belief Palestinian government ruling over tiny Bantustans that are fully surrounded by Israeli-controlled areas, and greatly accelerated the colonization of the West Bank (the number of Israeli colonists living the West Bank more than doubled during the first 10 years of the Oslo process).

I think the process has to be redefined to recognize the fact that a Palestinian state is no longer possible (you only have to look at a map of the Jewish colonies which are spread all over the West Bank and are connected by "for-Jews-only" roads to realize this is the case). West Bank Palestinians, who have been living under Israeli control for over 50 years, should simply ask for their democratic right to be part of the state that rules over them (and that doesn't seem to want to let go of their land).

Palestinian civil society institutions were (and some still are) quite strong. There is also an enduring tradition of community and family support structures. The problem is the vicious and constant Israeli attempts to destroy any real potential foundation of a Palestinian state. Take Bir Zeit University for example, a fine academic institution, where Hanan Ashrawi was Dean of Arts. It got devastated by the constant Israeli closures, checkpoints and attacks which prevent students and faculty from going to school.

The fact, Susan, is that the "one state" solution is not something that needs to be created. It already exists (Israel is in full control of the West Bank and has been for over 60 years). What is needed is to give the Palestinian residents their civil and democratic rights (the alternative being the Israeli apartheid system that is practiced today with "for-jews-only" roads and settlements). There is a powerful transformation taking place now where West Bank Palestinians are gradually coming to the realization that the "two-state" solution is no longer viable. More people are calling for recognition of the status quo (i.e. full Israeli control of the West Bank notwithstanding the illusion perpetuated by Israel of a Palestinian "authority") and drawing the conclusion that integration with Israel is the only realistic option.

As for Gaza, it probably can evolve as its own state, possibly under international protection (people would probably vote Hamas out of power once they are no longer threatened by Israel). There is no hope of this though while Israel continues its choke hold on 1.5 Palestinian civilians there. Perhaps the current ceasefire will eventually evolve into some kind of permanent agreement.

It would appear that Obama has forsaken the advice of more balanced and knowledgeable Middle East advisers for the misleading advice of AIPAC man Dennis Ross to satisfy the Israel Lobby. As a result, we won't hear Obama complain, for example, about Israel's apartheid policies or the latest Israeli settlement to be built in the West Bank killing the peace efforts (assuming they are not already dead) http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331079273&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Ross served, sadly for America, as the US mediator between Israelis and Palestinians at Camp David! He has spent the past few years blaming the Palestinians for not accepting Israel's "generous" offers at Camp David! (what else can one expect from an AIPAC man).

As an aside, Ross was also involved in raising money for Scooter Libby's (another powerful Israel Lobby figure) Legal Defense Fund. Ross and Indyk are the last people Obama needs if he is to make a change for America in the Middle East.

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001226.php

You only have to look at the settlement colonies and the "for-Jews-only" roads that crisscross the West Bank to realize this fact. http://www.btselem.org/Download/Settlements_Map_Eng.PDF

Palestinians are not allowed to use or even cross these roads. Palestinians who dare cross these roads -which in many cases surround their communities- are often killed on the spot by the Israeli army as "terrorists".

It is a shame a black politician like Obama - who should know better - kisses the a$s of this racist state posing as a democracy!

If Obama is elected, one of the key benefits for the US will be a renewed goodwill in the world toward America. This will revive the soft power America traditionally enjoyed pre-Bush.

When it comes to the Middle East -the source of much of the instability in the world today- Obama has to steer clear of the Israel Lobby and its destructive influence which played a major role in leading the US to war in Iraq (and could yet lead to an even more destructive war with Iran if the Lobby gets its way).

Sadly the fact that Obama has Dennis Ross (a key Israel Lobby player) as his main Middle East adviser - having shunned people like Robert Malley who don't subscribe to the orthodoxy of the Lobby - doesn't bode well for the future.

It gets even scarier -if this were possible- with Mr. Neo-con Israel Lobby "Iraq war was wonderful. Now let's bomb Iran" Joseph Lieberman being positioned as a "good veep" for McCain!

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=865078