Doesn't the speed of building settlements increase under a ceasefire? Barak talked of peace, but settlements continued to be built. Strategically, this would seem to be simply a tactic to stop the stealing of land. One can argue whether or not it makes things worse in the long run, but I don't think suicide bombing is a strategic decision, rather - on a human level - a display of impotent rage.
However, I take Jon's point that there can be no hope for peace whilst there are suicide bombings. More importantly, however, there is no hope for peace if Israel continues with building settlements and targeted assassinations. Moreover, it is fundamentally false to expect the Palestinians to make the first step (which, I know, is not what was being implied and I know you know that's not what I was implying!).
Simon
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