Moreover, "Palaistine" is just a Greek name for Israel. In Hebrew, "Israel" means "wrestled with God" (Genesis 32 22-32). Now translate "wrestlers" to Greek & you get ... "palaistes". This name was used also by Jews when writing in Greek, like Philo of Alexandria in 1st cent CE.

The hood of a bus is ripped off tonight in New York City

JD Vance may well be the most vile, smooth-talking liar in politics since Barack Hussein Obama.

If I never see the word Pahlavi again I would be so happy

To the Heads of State and leaders of the G7 Countries: The United States of America,  Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union In preparation for your upcoming summit meeting in Évian-les-Bains, France on June 15-17, 2026: Mr. President, Prime Ministers, Chancellors, distinguished leaders, I come before you not as a government official, but as an Israeli peace activist and negotiator, someone who has spent nearly fifty years working with Israelis and Palestinians, speaking with political leaders, peace activists, ordinary citizens, and, at times, even with those whom governments refuse to speak to. I am here to tell you something that many people no longer believe: Peace between Israelis and Palestinians is still possible. But it will not happen on its own. For decades, the international community has supported a two-state solution in words while allowing realities on the ground to move steadily further away from it. Today we are at the edge of a cliff. The decisions made in the next year may determine whether two states remain possible or whether Israelis and Palestinians are condemned to permanent conflict. The Gaza war has taught us a painful lesson. There is no military solution. Israel cannot bomb its way to security. Palestinians cannot fight their way to freedom. The alternative to a political solution is not victory for one side. The alternative is endless war. The G7 countries possess enormous political, economic and diplomatic leverage. It is time to use it. I also want to speak plainly about the role of the United States and of President Trump. The reality is that no international leader today possesses more influence over Israeli decision-making than President Trump. He has demonstrated repeatedly that when he chooses to make an issue a priority, Israeli leaders listen. He also has significant influence with key Arab partners whose participation will be essential to any lasting peace. If that influence is used not only to stop wars but to build peace, it could become one of the most important diplomatic achievements of our time. The G7 should work in partnership with the United States, helping to create a unified international framework that combines American leadership, European commitment, regional participation, and international guarantees. Only such a coalition has the weight necessary to move the parties beyond the failures of the past. I ask you to support five concrete steps. First, make it clear that the goal of international policy is the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and security beside Israel. Not as a distant aspiration. Not as a slogan. As a real political objective with a timetable. Second, support the rebuilding of Gaza under a legitimate Palestinian governing authority that rejects armed militias and is capable of delivering security, services, accountability and hope. The people of Gaza deserve a future beyond war. At the same time, Gaza cannot be rebuilt while armed organizations continue to operate outside the authority of the state. There must be one legitimate governing authority, one security structure, and one monopoly on the use of force. Disarmament must be part of the political process, implemented in a way that provides confidence to both sides and is linked to the broader framework of peace, reconstruction, security, and statehood. Third, insist on security arrangements that guarantee that Gaza and the West Bank will never again be used as launching grounds for attacks against Israel. Israelis must know that peace means security. Palestinians must know that security will not be used as a permanent justification for occupation. Both peoples deserve safety, dignity, and freedom. Fourth, support democratic renewal. Neither Israelis nor Palestinians should be denied the opportunity to elect leaders capable of making peace. Too often, leaders have become prisoners of political survival rather than servants of their people’s future. If current leaders cannot deliver a political future, then new leaders must emerge through democratic means. Fifth, create an international implementation mechanism with real authority, resources, and accountability. We do not need another declaration. We need a process that survives changes of governments and political crises. The conflict has become internationalized. The solution must be internationally guaranteed. Ladies and gentlemen, The people I meet on both sides are exhausted. Israeli parents want their children to live without fear. Palestinian parents want their children to live with dignity and freedom. These are not contradictory aspirations. They are complementary aspirations. The future I believe in is simple: Israel as the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people with full equality for all of its citizens. Palestine as the democratic nation-state of the Palestinian people with full equality for all of its citizens. Mutual recognition of the historic connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and of the Palestinian people to the Land of Palestine. Open borders for cooperation. Strong borders for security. Regional integration. Economic partnership. And an end to the belief that one people can achieve its national aspirations by denying the aspirations of the other. History will not judge us by the speeches we give. History will judge us by whether we had the courage to act when action was still possible. The choice before us is clear: Two states, mutual recognition, security, and peace. Or perpetual war. I ask you to help make the right choice. The window for a two-state solution is not closed, but it is closing. Future generations of Israelis and Palestinians will ask whether we acted while there was still time. Let our answer be yes. Thank you, Dr. Gershon Baskin