I think until the Arab League and Israel agree to meet on neutral territory to talk, both sides are just going thru the motions.

On the other hand, my relatives have been celebrating their victory for the last month. I have 3 dozen brothers, inlaws, nephews, neices and cousins living in the West Bank settlements. With Gaza becoming Hamastan, they and their fellow settlers feel they now have the West Bank under their permanent control. Ariel and Ma’ale Adumin and their associated settlements are expanding eastward toward the Jordan Valley where they will permanently cut the West Bank into three Palestinian areas. In honor of America they call them “reservations”. That’s the plan, it has always been the plan and I see nothing that will stop it now.

For the last 10 years, I’ve heard numerous Likud and now Kadima Knesset members give talks in West Bank Synogogues and during the Q&A outline the belief that no matter what they will never allow a viable Palestinian state. Israel will permanently control the Jordan Valley.

David, if you think Israel could ever move all those settlers out you are naive. The big joke about Bush stating that the large settlement blocks should be allowed to stay means Ariel and Ma’ale Adumim will expand to take over most of the outer settlements so the final result will be the same – 3 Palestinian reservations. You would not believe the amount of new construction going on in the E-5 corridor.

In short, this is why I am pessimistic.