Egypt reopens Rafah Border crossing ( Archived) (204)

Well what ever way you look at it from an Israeli point of view it is now a failure. The Gaza people will be energised by their ability to survive a five year blockade. They watched as the election victory of Hamas was quashed at the behest of Israel and the United States with the collusion of Fatah. How contraditory of two nations who harp on about the blessings of democracy. If Egypt were a small country I think Israel would sieze a buffer area just like thy did in Lebanon. I think Netanyahoo wants to string out talks of peace until such times as there is enough settlements to make Palestinian statehood impossible. This was Menachim Begin's dream and Bibi is the leader of the same party. Then he will have to settle for the only pragmatic solution which will be a one state solution for all.

Agreed.

So now that all diplomacy has failed,, all out war is inevitable.

As I said, a lot of people are going to die, almost all of them Palestinians.

Yes, Lots of Israelis will die when all the suicide bombers attack....... No matter what they will have to talk in the end... Just like northern Ireland... And when the US stops it financial support or at least reduces it... then the area will get real interesting

I can't see a military solution being in Israel's long term interest. But the settler movement which is part of the Goverment of Israel want all Palestinian land to fullfill their vision. I think you will have an uprising in the occupied territories similar to the one's we see in the other Arab States. This will follow the declaration of Statehood by Palestine in September which will be vetoed by the United States at the behest of Israel.

I thought the Sinai was handed back to Egypt years ago as part of a peace treaty and recognition of Israel.

That's why i cannot understand Israel moving the solution in that direction. The trouble with Israel is that it wants all the land and peace as well. Thats called having your cake and eating it. The more intransigent Israel is now the bigger the problem they create for future generations of Israelis.