THIS IS WHAT PEACE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE COME TO:

Officials try to lower expectations for upcoming peace summit

Fearing the outbreak of a new round of Palestinian violence, senior defense officials warned Monday against building up high expectations from the Palestinian-Israel peace summit scheduled for November in the United States.

If peace negotiations are going to result in Palestinian Arab violence, imagine what the establishment of a second Palestinian state will accomplish!

Supposedly such violence would only result if the meetings fail "to bear fruit"--the truth however is that the Palestinians see these negotiations as a series of one-sided concessions leading to the return of more and more land. It has absolutely nothing to do with true negotiations or real peace.

Only Israel would be expected--and agree--to negotiations under these kinds of circumstances.

Political Ira Sharkansky writes:

Israeli leaders have offered reasonable proposals. They are not willing to commit suicide for themselves or their population. The ball remains in the court of the Palestinians. It has been there for the better part of 60 years. They have to do more than demand ever more generous terms from Israel.

The historical facts clearly say otherwise--Israel has committed itself to concessions that have severely hurt Israel and put it in danger. No one seriously can think that the ball is in the court of the Palestinian Arabs, since the Palestinians are never held responsible for their actions or their lack of action in following through on their obligations under the Road Map or elsewhere. Merely on the basis of the consistent measures taken by Israel and demanded by the West, the Palestinians expect that they can demand ever more generous terms from Israel.

It is time to take actual concrete actions to disabuse Abbas and the Palestinians of the idea they are entitled to a free meal ticket--with Israel as the main course. It is time for Olmert to act the part of Prime Minister--and not Maitre D'.

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