Well, Teribus, your rant on Hamas, ironically, displays the very reason why sensible talks (by sensible I mean meaningful) are urgent and vital, and that will not happen until the US imposes strict conditionality on its military aid to Israel. I believe that, once that is done, Hamas will readily agree to cease hostilities (don't you think that their accommodation with Fatah is a bit more than baby steps in the right direction?) and that meaningful talks could take place. Meaningful in this context means that each side has a lot to lose by failing to compromise. At present, the Israel regime never has anything to lose no matter how horridly it behaves. I have little time for Hamas, who are indeed an obstacle to peace, but far greater obstacles are the theft of the best Palestinian land, Israel's legendary murderous bellicosity and the repression of Palestinian people in Gaza. The biggest of all obstacles to peace, though, are people like you and Netanyahu who have been duped into believing that there is no need to talk. Long live the pro-Israel lobby, eh? No talking means more killing. Churchill knew that. He wasn't my type but I thought he might be more yours.

Or, maybe, if Michael is Bibi's great uncle, you're Bibi's uncle.