For years, many Israelis have questioned the notion, held by some Western diplomats and leaders, that terrorists can be swayed from their radical positions by dialogue and concessions. Well, here's Ayman Al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's second in command, to give the radical Islamist view on the subject:
"The very minimum that the mujahideen will accept is the following: withdrawing the infidel forces from all Muslim lands, stopping the theft of the Muslims' wealth by the threat of military force, conducting [economic] exchange at real, fair prices, stopping the support for the corrupt, apostate regimes in the Islamic world, releasing all Muslim prisoners, and stopping the interference in the affairs of the Islamic world ... The Muslims will not accept two states on the land of Palestine. Palestine belongs to the Muslims. It was occupied by the infidels, and it is the duty of the Muslims to drive the invaders out of it. Israel is a crime that has to be eliminated."
Stopping support for "apostate" Muslim regimes ... releasing all Muslim prisoners ... withdrawal from all Muslim countries ... eliminating the state of Israel ... doesn't sound like a guy too interested in dialogue, compromise, or even-handedness. Maybe those Israelis are on to something.