The recent Annapolis meeting of nations concerned with peace between Israel and Palestine is as remarkable for what was not discussed as it is for what was discussed. Here are just a few key issues not discussed:

- Since 1972 to the present the US has vetoed 42 U.N. resolutions critical of Israel.

- From 1955 to 1992 there were 65 resolutions by the U.N. Security Council critical of Israel and none critical of Palestine.

- The illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

- The term Apartheid, which is used in most of the rest of the world, including Israel to describe the Israel/Palestine situation.

- U.N. Resolution 94 concerning the right of the Palestinian people to return.

- Sharing Jerusalem or ending the occupation of East Jerusalem

- The words, "Borders, Wall, Fence or Barrier"

If just these were on the table, there might be a better chance for success. A few more points to ponder in the quest for peace in the Middle East.

Israel says it is not building new settlements in accordance with the "Road Map" of 2003. BUT..... they are expanding the 133 illegal ones, which, in itself, is enough to destroy the option for a Palestinian state. Israel has over 560 border checkpoints which thwart economic viability by restricting trade in and out of the occupied territories. They also prevent access to health and education and inhibit practically all freedom of movement. Untold numbers of businesses have closed in the West Bank and Gaza because of the restrictions on trade imposed by Israel; hundreds if not thousands have been forced into unemployment. The concern of many is that those made redundant by the closings will join terrorist organizations in retaliation, thus making the security of Israel more precarious.

On average, Palestinians are not allowed to use more than fifty cubic meters of water per year while an illegal settler can use up to 2,400 and, to add insult to injury, the Palestinians pay double the price for their own water! Israel takes 800 million of the 930 cubic meters in the Palestinian-owned Israeli occupied West Bank. They also are forced to pay double the price the Israelis pay for electricity. The Palestinians are obliged to pay Israeli market prices even though the Israeli GDP is thirty times that of the Palestinian.

Israel collects the Palestinian taxes which belong to the Palestinians and then decides whether they can use their own money for health needs or education or to pay the salaries of teachers and doctors.

I will close with 2 paragraphs of quotes from former Time Magazine bureau chief in Israel, Donald Neff.

"Aside from the core issues – refugees, Jerusalem, borders - the major themes reflected in the U.N. resolutions against Israel over the years are its unlawful attacks on its neighbors; its violations of the human rights of the Palestinians, including deportations, demolitions of homes and other collective punishments; its confiscation of Palestine land; its establishment of illegal settlements; and its refusal to abide by the U.N. Charter and the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War".

And this final quote which if said by Bush would really achieve his aspiration to be a "peace president" regarding the Middle East. Again, from Donald Neff.

"The point is that aggressors have always answered the question of whether they want peace by their actions. If the United States really wants peace in the Middle East, it must insist that Israel abide by the judgment of the world community as expressed in resolutions by the United Nations. The U.S. can do this at any time simply by forsaking the use of the veto and joining world consensus. Anything less makes a sham of the peace process, and is demeaning to leaders of a democratic country".

The Hypocrisy: Israel is fomenting the terror that they are fighting against by keeping the Palestinians oppressed and occupied. I would suggest that the recruitment of terrorists would be vastly reduced or possibly even eliminated if the Israelis would address and rectify all of the above inequities and treat the Palestinians as equals.