This is the view of a non-Jewish Belgian author, who spent several years in the Middle East (mostly in Iran), on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after Ariel Sharon.

We must accept it as a fact, even when he recovers, that Ariel Sharon will be unable to resume duties.  After the elections, most probably, Ehud Olmert will be the new Prime Minister and will continue Sharon's politic. Will this lead to peace? The answer is "No". Let us suppose "Bibi", Benjamin Netayahu, wins the elections; he is against the Palestinian State and the dismantling of the Settlements. Can he offer a future peace? The answer is simple: "No". Nobody can bring peace in the Middle East as long as the people who pull the strings of the Palestinian politcs don't want peace. More detailed information is to be found on my website: http://www.westernfreedom.com and in My book "A Holy Terror".
Who are these people pulling the strings: Hamas, Al Aqsa, Hezbullah, Al Quaida, You can read the "Hamas-covenant" on my website mentionned above and then it will be clear what these people are up to.
I will illustrate my point of view a little more:

Koran-Yusufali 66:9: O Prophet! Strive hard against the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell, - an evil refuge (indeed).

Egyptian Foreign Minister Muhammad Salah al-Din :
The Arab people will not be embarrassed to declare: We shall not be satisfied except by the final obliteration of Israel from the map of the Middle East.

Fatah Leader, Ziad Ibu-Aid – June 20th, 2001: “We said from the beginning that there is no cease-fire for the settlers.”

Sheikh Hian Al-Adrisi- Al-Aksa Mosque September 29th 2000:
It is not a mistake that the Koran warns us of the hatred of the Jews and puts them at the top of the list of the enemies of Islam. Today the Jews recruit the world against the Muslims and use all kind of weapons. They are plundering the dearest place to the Muslims after Mecca and Medina and threaten the place the Muslims have faced at first when they prayed and the third holiest city after Mecca and Medina. They want to erect their temple on that place… The Muslims are ready to sacrifice their lives and blood to protect the Islamic nature of Jerusalem and Al-Aksa.

Ahmad Ragab columnist of AL-Akhbar (Egypt) April 18th 2001:
Thanks to Hitler, blessed memory, who on behalf of the Palestinian, revenged in advance, against the vilest criminals on the face of the earth. Although we do have a complaint against him for his revenge on them was not enough.

Sheikh Ibrahim Mahdi – June 8th 2001 :
Allah willing, this unjust state…Israel will be erased; this unjust state, the United States will be erased; this unjust state, Britain will be erased…Blessings to whoever waged Jihad for the sake of Allah…Blessings to whoever put a belt of explosives on his body or on his son’s and plunged into the midst of the Jews…

Dr Ahmad Abu-Halabia- Rector of the University in Gaza:
Fight them (the Jews) wherever you are. Whenever you meet them, kill them. Wherever you are, kill those Jews and those Americans who are like them. They are all in one trench, against the Arabs and the Muslims; because they established Israel here, in the beating heart of the Arab world, in Palestine.

This is sufficient for an article, I can show many more of these quotes by important Muslims. You want to hold peace-talks with these people? Well, I wish you good luck.

At the moment, no discussion can settle the differences. The Palestinian Authority can even make a peace agreement with Israel, but the next day there will be a serious assault. The Muslim terrorist groups don't want peace. I am even convinced that the worldwide Muslim radicals aren't interested in a Palestine State (See what happened in Jordan, they threw them out, with as consequence the complete destruction of Lebanon). A Palestine State would only mean a step closer to the enemy's front door.
Luckily, no Muslim State has at this moment the courage to attack Israel openly as, they also know that it would be the start of World War III. The United States would never accept such an aggression and Europe would reluctantly follow the Americans (I hope).

A United and strong West (Europe + Russia, United States, Australia, New Zealand and Israel) is able to keep peace in the Middle East. We must show we are serious about it and will unconditionally support the Jewish State. I support the Bush-politics, but it should be more efficient and he should have to stop imposing democracy in these Muslim States, as Islam and Democracy are by definition contradictory. If the West fails, then it won't take long before the European countries belong to the Maghrib states and will lose it's Christian culture. And the U.S. will have no other choice than dumping the "Old Europe" by losing at the same time a part of it's soul.

For further information:
Robert Maegh : degree@skynet.be
http://www.westernfreedom.com

Robert Maegh is a Belgian engineer, born in Germany in 1945. He spent several years in Africa and the Middle East. "A Holy Terror" is his first novel and a sequel can soon be expected.