One of the hardest decisions that a political leader has to take is when to engage in negotiations and when to refrain. This has been the dilemma faci...

The Israeli arrogance is based on the feeling that the relative quiet in the West Bank will last forever. But already there are signs that it will not last long.

It is clear that if the Israelis and the Palestinians hold fast to their positions, it will be nearly impossible to allay distrust, leading to a continuing deadlock because distrust cannot be negotiated by simply agreeing to establish a new trusting relationship.

The most puzzling aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may be that after 65 years of violence, enmity and suffering, it remains unresolved when coexistence is inevitable and a two-state solution remains the only viable option.

Although a majority of Israelis and Palestinians realize that coexistence based on a two-state solution may well be inevitable, intractable voices on both sides simply refuse to accept this reality.

Genuine efforts can and must be made to mitigate distrust through a peace process based on reciprocal and reinforced provisions, to which both Israelis and Palestinians must commit to reach a lasting peace agreement.

Hamas, which has for years opposed the PLO, agreed to join the efforts to reform the PLO. Talks behind the scenes produced positive results. A new PLO will soon see the light, provided that reconciliation continues and that elections take place in Palestine.

Israel remains the poorest developed nation in the world, with 23 percent of her residents living in poverty -- half of whom are Jews and the other half Muslims. Notwithstanding security, this is the most significant issue affecting Israel today.

The beginning of the end of occupation also requires telling Israelis that the settlement enterprise runs contrary to peace.

The bilateral peace process that the U.S. has doggedly sought to insulate from outside "interference" is not only an empty exercise but has served to provide Israel with cover for its settlement project.

Area C, covering about 59% of the West Bank, includes the entire Jordan Valley (with small exceptions for Jericho and the village of Uja), as well as all areas of natural West Bank development, and it is the area of focus for Palestinian activists of late.

The hysteria on display in Washington over UNESCO's vote to include Palestine as a member of the world body, though largely a manufactured effort, was, nevertheless, irritating and a sad commentary on the dysfunctional nature of U.S. politics.

I splurged on myself this month. I spent $10,000 to make my life easier. This money was not spent on buying a new car or a more comfortable bed. In fa...

In their frantic efforts to stop the Palestinian leadership from going to the UN, Israeli officials and propagandists pose what appears to be a mistaken choice.

The religious men and women patiently clutching their water jugs on July 10, waiting in line at the Israeli border crossing looked like the average Palestinian. What was different in this group was that they were holding Israeli passports.

If the recent months have proved anything, it is that the debate over which attempt towards revolution for is more effective, violent or nonviolent, has been settled for Palestinians.

While the political situation for the Palestinians is steadily improving, this can be easily shattered by one mistake by a militant thinking he knows best.

If Hamas is no longer Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority is no longer an authority, what options do the Palestinians have?

The coming months will reveal whether we are, indeed, witnessing the dawn of the post-Oslo era in Palestinian politics, and whether a new leader will be required to revive the Palestinian cause.