Shalom shalom v’ayn shalom. Peace peace and there is no peace. Many persons speak of peace, but only on their terms, rather than a true and equitable effort.

Regarding the U.S. push to revive the Middle East peace process, and the item by Shalom Achshav (Americans for Peace Now) in the July 23, 2010 edition of the Jewish Times, President Mahmoud Abbas demands that Israel must agree that the Palestinian land is the 1967 borders and to the idea of a third party, such as NATO and not Israel, guarding the borders of a future Palestinian state and also agree to an equitable land swap that would compensate Palestinians for West Bank land absorbed by Jewish settlements, before face to face peace talk negotiations can start. The swap would consist of some Israeli land bordering the West Bank being annexed to a future Palestinian state in compensation for major Jewish West Bank blocs becoming part of Israel.

Such a swap should not exceed two percent of the West Bank. All of these agreements must be in place, at least in principle, before direct negotiations can take place. In addition, Palestinians aim to establish their state on the West Bank and Gaza and East Jerusalem. Actually, Abbas and the Palestinian Authority have not the ability to make peace for the inhabitants of Gaza, who are under control of Hamas. Shalom shalom v’ayn shalom.

Israeli leaders view all of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish state.and is, by agreement, not obligated to the 1967 borders. In contrast to Abbas, Israel has not demanded pre-conditions or concessions of the Palestinians, prior to direct talks and is willing to negotiate all issues, once direct talks begin.

Dr. Howard E. Barsky Atlantic City