MEET THE PANEL Name: Gilad Kronman Age: 45 Lives: Beer Sheba, Israel Works: Optical engineer

There is not enough room for two full Jewish and Palestinian peoples to live west of the Jordan River and ultimately, sooner or later, other nations in the region will be forced to redefine their borders as well.

Q: Do you believe all three leaders, Bush, Olmert and Abbas are acting in good faith?

A: I believe they are all too short sighted - perhaps that is the nature of politicians.

Q: Do you believe that Olmert and Abbas are able to make the sort of compromises Bush has referred to?

A: These compromises were offered already in 1947 and utterly rejected by the Arab side. (Today is the 60th anniversary of UN Resolution 181.)

Again in 1967 and again in 2000, these very ideas were rejected recklessly by that side.

By now, the regional population explosion (in addition to the return of Palestinian refugees and the future possibility of Jewish migration) makes these rehashed ideas obsolete.

Both leaders are weak. It is absurd to think that Mahmoud Abbas can stand up to Iran and its Hamas proxies. There is no point in relocating settlers when borders still have to be redrawn.

Q: Did you hear anything new from the leaders that gives you cause for optimism?

A: No, but I heard pessimism. The Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, complained of being totally ignored by her Arab colleagues and instead "treated as a leper". This from what are nicknamed representatives of "moderate" Arab states. I would think that the minimum requirement for peace negotiations is mutual respect.

MIDEAST CONFERENCE VIEWS Jonathan, Israel Faysal, Syria Nadim, Jordan Gilad, Israel Abdullah, Gaza

Q: How likely is it do you think that the Palestinians and the Israelis can agree on a final deal by the end of 2008?

A: As I said, these proposals are of yesteryear. It may take a whole generation for the world to realise how much things have changed and that this is no longer a parallel-track issue (i.e. Israel-Egypt, Israel-Jordan, Israel-Palestinians, Israel-Syria etc) but rather a comprehensive issue where the Palestinians, Jordan, Syria and Egypt will be expected to make territorial concessions as well.

Q: What are the consequences for Israel and the Palestinians if this becomes another failed attempt at a final settlement?

A: The consequences are minor compared to a nuclear Iran whose president is on record for encouraging the destruction of Israel.