1. BobW said:

Within the last few decades the definition of "sovereignty" has changed. The public statements of Mazen and PM Sharon cover the agreed upon (imposed) arrangements, with veneer.

The confrontational rhetoric allows Mazen to both avoid assassination and to grow an embryonic government apparatus. Otherwise, Mazen get listed on a Hezbolah after action report.

PM Sharon is NOT "vigorously opposed" - in his capacity of PM - his personal opinions could be completely different. Great Power arrangements have been presented with little Government of Israel choice. The pending Arab state has basic Great Power border demarcations involving common frontiers with Egypt and Jordan. Hinterland arrangements are showing up in the public arena. Aluf Benn knows about the World Bank presence and avoided mentioning this. With the new definition of sovereignty, temporary borders can be viewed as permanent with the exception of additional Arab encroachments into the shrunken Israel. This might be available for viewing around a discussed "lilly pad" base to be established in an Elath-Aqaba enclave (requiring a large colocated military airfield).

Refugees can be deemed a "non-issue". The Arab population is a geometric progression. The Jewish Israeli population growth is negative. The sham Arab refugee issue is a diversion from the 2 related issues; will a Jewish presence be maintained in the Holy Land - and - will the Great Powers support a Jewish claim to a presence in the area, however demarcated. The non issue of refugees can be tested. If Israel evolves into an enclave only - or a large nation - He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Phillistines and to the bordere of Egypt. II Chronicles 9:26 - Israel's negative Jewish birthrate is bouncing against a geometric progression. It's not a Singapore example because Jewish declining births are tied to a failed economy. Gaza is lost under any circumstance.

America's Latin American immigration is generating a proposed solution Stateside with repercussions in Israel. There are proposals to eliminate duel citizenship. I am sure Aluf Benn and the rest of al Haaretz knows this.

The Re'ut Institute does not address the problem. Forget the PLO and PA organizational charts. Hezbollah is a de facto participant. Without addressing Hezbollah, any negotiating partners are cadavers awaiting a burial date.

Kol tuv,
BobW

2. Carol_Herman said:

Abbas is weak. And, he's in trouble. My guess is that he is also a puppet of Assad. And, as such "it's just a matter of time." Arik Sharon knows the terminal state of the palestinians, now. Not only that, once a "state" exists ... and there are free people in Iraq and Lebanon, to say nothing of Syria ... and, I'll throw in Jordan ... There's a whole influx of palestinians other arab states want to DUMP OUT. Maybe, that's the part that's not so obvious? The palestinians are HATED. But soon they might not be feared. And, then what? It's amazing to me that oceanfront property, in the hands of arabs, can be such a sewer. With the threat that Lebanon, too, can go back to being another sewer. Or they can force Assad out on the PUBLIC stage. That he doesn't go quietly into the night? Right now the best posture for Israel is to stay out of this fight as best they can. And, let the others "twist slowly in the wind." (To quote Nixon's charming wish for his own enemies.)