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Citing continued failure and a flawed process the new Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, looks like it will be taking a  much different approach in peace negotiations that previous Israeli governments.

According to the Daily Mail: “Liberman said: ‘The historic approach has so far not brought any result or solution.’

He said they would need to find a ‘new approach’.

He added: ‘Past prime ministers were prepared to make wide-ranging concessions and the result of the Olmert-Livni government was the second Lebanon war, the operation in Gaza, severance of relations with Qatar and Mauritania, Gilad Schalit still in captivity and the peace process at a dead end.’

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials of the new government have spoken at length about the emotional and strategic ties between Israel and the United States, clear differences are emerging over the outlines for an Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Ultra-nationalist Lieberman made waves after after taking office last month, saying the past year of U.S.-led negotiations was no longer relevant and concessions to Palestinians only invite war.”

Looks like Israel will hold the Palestinians accountable for terrorism, as we demand that they acknowledge, officially, that Israel has a right to exist in their own Jewish homeland.

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Goodbye Tzipi. Wow, that wasn’t so hard was it? With just one more day left with Livni as Foreign Minister, she maybe having a hard time saying goodbye, but we can’t wait for tomorrow. The lady was a complete disaster as FM, dropping the ball on Iran, Hamas, two wars, Gilad Shalit and countless other issues. Hopefully on some of these issues, which happen to be existential for Israel, there is still time to clean up her mess.

According to Ynet: “Livni ended by promising those assembled that she would lead “a strong fighting opposition, an opposition that has something to say and something to offer. Kadima will be the movement that acts not only in the Knesset – it will be a social movement that stands as an alternative and that will show people what can and should be here.”

So in opposition she will have something to say and offer? Would have been nice to do it while you were actually in the government and trying to save the country.

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What appeared to be an imminent deal for the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, blew up late yesterday as the terror group Hamas, raised demands at the last minute and reneged on previous understandings. Leads one to believe that once again the terrorists are not sincere and they whole aim is to play with the psyche of the Israeli people, a tactic they learned from the Hezbollah terror group.

According to a Globes report: “Israeli government negotiators returned to Israel yesterday, apparently without a deal to free captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel Security Agency Director Yuval Diskin and the Prime Minister’s special envoy, Ofer Dekel, updated Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the results of the discussions that they had conducted in recent days. According an Israeli government spokesperson, it became clear during recent discussions that Hamas had hardened its position, reneged on understandings that had been formulated over the past year, and raised extreme demands.”

While the country all wants the release of Shalit, many questions were raised at the cost of the deal. Letting free more than 400 terrorists with ‘blood on their hands’ is quite a price and 1- will encourage more kidnapping attempts in the future and 2- may hurt the security of Israel as these terrorists are not rehabilitated and will return to their terror ways.

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So much for the concept of negotiating from strength. Ynet is reporting that the terror group Hamas has agreed to an Egyptian brokered 1 year lull in missile attacks against Israel. It seems pretty obvious tat just like the last case fire of 4-5 months ago, this year will be used for the Hamas to re-arm, and start attacking innocent Israeli’s.

The article says: “The Palestinian sources said Hamas has agreed to have Palestinian Authority forces manage the crossing, as long as the Hamas government would be able to send inspectors there and the two sides would cooperate and coordinate their activities. According to the report, Israel has agreed not to intervene in the Rafah crossing’s operation. Hamas was expected to demand that the opening of the crossing would not be linked to the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. This issue is expected to be included in the understandings, but not as part of the official agreement.”

This deal is an embarrassment to outgoing Israeli PM Olmert as well as to current FM and PM wannabe Tzipi Livni. What happened to their claims that any border openings would be contingent on a Schalit release? Second, why on earth would Israel turn over security of the border crossings to the Palestinian Authority?

Once again this government buckled under pressure and did more to harm its’ citizens than to help them.

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