How long now till Israel invades Gaza?

Pat Fanning, Blacksburg, Virginia / USA

Edward Evans sees things the way they are. I second his opinion.

cvt, Florida, USA

The sooner Abbas quits, the better for Palestine because it will bring more focus into the anti-Israel forces. The peaceful approach sought by Abbas is a failure and the in-fighting between his camp and Hamas is a distraction that Palestine doesn't need.

Li Zhilin, Singapore,

So the corrupt Fatah crumbles like a stale cookie. Despite its collaboration with Bush and Olmert, it was unable to deliver anything to its people and should therefore be swept aside. Abbas could retire to that quarter of DC favoured by pro-invasion Iraqis. Maybe one of them can help him land a job as research assistant at a neo-con think tank. They are birds of a feather.

For some reason the image of the "irrelevant" Arafat comes to mind. Here is the reality of Israeli policy towards the untermenschen of the occupied territories: eventually every Palestinian moderate becomes irrelevant.

Sinisa, Hamilton,

Palastinians wanting their cake ? Do you mean to toget rid of the illegal occupation of their land by Israel; and the recent denial of democracy by US-sponsored Fatah ie lost an election but refusing to hand over power to Hamas?

Yes, those nasty Palastinians are indeed a selfish bunch.

patrick, omagh, ireland

ANY one who supports the islamists come from the very shallow end of the gene pool. watch and see, which sides are taken.

lost hope, sydney, australia

The article states that the vast majority off Palestinians wish an end to violence and back moderation. Yet it is these same Palestininian people who voted in Hamas, which had stated its objectives quite clearly.

Then again, these same Palestininian people will gladly take our taxes for their benefit, via Abbas, but do not wish to be tainted with collaboration with Western nations and Israel.

What we have here is a clear case of the Palestinian people wishing to have their cake and eat it as well, i.e., the destruction of Israel via Hamas, as well as Western aid.

DaveP, Beverley, UK

Perhaps he can take a post as a university lecturer. Or serve as the governor of a Jordanian-ruled West Bank district. Give Gaza over to Egyptian administration. Disarm Iran and perhaps Syria as well. Cease demanding non-bill-of-rights-constrained 'democracy' for these unprepared peoples. Then watch the region finally attain to something resembling stability.

Maynard, Oxford, UK

The failure of most columnists to put this dispute in a regional context is alarming, although they are quick to put it in a Western context. Israel is supported by 'the west,' which is untrue. It is supported by the US, Europe has long ago renounced support. The Arab States no longer see Israel as an aggressive power, Abbas is the first Palestinian leader to acknowledge, without duplicity, Israel's existence. But the real factor here is Iran. Leaving Iran unmentioned is ridiculous. A mention at least. It is the font of a new radicalism. Hamas is Iran, Hezbollah is Iran, and unless someone deals with that country there will never be a peace, in Israel, in Palestine, in Lebanon, in the Gulf, in Iraq, and in Afghanistan.

edward evans, London, England

It's over. The battle will be between Hamas and Israel. Hamas does not want peace with Israel at this time so the area should prepare for an active struggle between Hamas/Islamic Jihad and the IDF.

Andre, Machias, USA

If the Palestinians want moderation why on earth did they vote for Hamas

Paul, Preston, England

"The agreement he signed in Mecca four months ago to share power with Hamas is in ruins"...

And you expect us to sign a peace treaty with those guys? They will take the land and continue fighting us from better positions, and of course, it will still be our faults as always...

erez, jerusalem,