So, is this two used car salesmen grinning, or is it for real this time?

[mogster]

Israel ready to free Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, today offered to release a number of long-term Palestinian prisoners.
Mr Olmert said the offer was part of a series of concessions that would be made in exchange for peace efforts - including the release of an abducted Israeli soldier.

In a speech described as a major policy statement, he said the Palestinian leadership stood at a "historic crossroads" in its relations with Israel.

The offer came on the second day of a ceasefire between Palestinian militants and the Israeli military in Gaza. The ceasefire was being largely observed, even after militants fired some rockets into southern Israel yesterday morning.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1958178,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
-------------------------------------------------

Israeli PM offers 'hand of peace'

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he hopes to revive long-stalled peace efforts with the Palestinians, as a ceasefire takes hold in the Gaza Strip.
In a major policy speech, Mr Olmert pledged humanitarian and economic incentives if militants freed a captive Israeli soldier and violence ceased.

The speech comes against a backdrop of increased international diplomacy.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's aides said talks should resume immediately and unconditionally.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6187282.stm
--------------------------------------------------

[originalpckelly]

1. You know I wouldn't believe this...

"Oh this time it'll be different..."

Both sides don't like each other, they quite frankly despise each other very much. At this juncture I just don't see how those idiots can work it out.

The world has given the Israelis and Palestinians every single chance, and has done so much so that both sides would agree to live in peace, and every time they manage to fuck it up.

Why should we try anymore?

Why do we give a damn about these people anymore? There are thousands more in other parts of the world, who are dying every month.

Why aren't we talking about Darfur, where hundreds of thousands of people have died?

Why are these two peoples so special they should garner this much attention?

[mogster]

3. Do you think the shift in US politics had anything to do with it?

It is hard to imagine this happening prior to the Nov. elections, no?

[originalpckelly]

5. They'll pretend to like each other...

but behind closed doors both sides are already planning the next offensive against the other.

Why do we care about them?

More people die on the highways of America every year, than the people who died in the past ten years of this conflict.

There are far far more people dying in Sudan's Darfur, than have ever died in the whole Arab-Israeli conflict. Why do we give the Darfur so little attention and focus the entire world's sights on Israel and Palestine?

If these people cannot live together side by side, let the fuckers kill each other. There are people in this world whom want to live, let's try to figure out how to help them.

[mogster]

8. Do I detect a slight exhaustion in sympathy for the general conflict?

[originalpckelly]

9. I'm sick of these people...

and by that I do mean BOTH the Israelis and the Palestinians.

How many millions have been sent to this part of the world?

How much good would that do in Darfur?

Fuck the Israelis and the Palestinians, they don't want peace, they want to kill each other.

They don't deserve this attention anymore. They blown the chances the world has given them.

I know they don't want peace, they'll bullshit you and say that they do, but if they really wanted it, they'd have it.

War is not some uncontrollable force. These people are killing each other, if they really want it to stop, they'll stop it.

[mogster]

11. Many people want to kill each other

It is our duty to help them seek peace, and also it is a self-help, as this conflict endangers the world because of it's tensions and longevity.

As it is, I'm just glad to see peace sneak up behind our backs for a change ;-)

[mike_c]

2. why does the media always report the status of Palestinians...

...as "prisoners" while Iraeli soldiers are "abducted?"

[mogster]

4. I'd say it's a stance comparable to

Terming Chavez 'leftist' while Bush, well, he's still a conservative ..

But on topic; what do you think? Possibility for a peace? We sure could need some sun rays in that conflict.

[sam sarrha]

6. maybe some day they will free Palestine too....

[mogster]

7. I read in a Norw. paper today

That Olmert promises a independent Palestinian state.

In this article, headline reads Promises the Palestinians an independent state.

http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2006/11/27/484257.html

Ah, well. Hell, if they want to come together for peace talks, I won't complain :-)

[sam sarrha]

10. got to read Jimmy Carters new book.. calls it Apartide, you can replay it from NPR.com