Gaza is simply one of those problems for which there isn’t much middle ground. Israelis and Palestinians are both convinced not only that they are right, but that the other side is morally bankrupt. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
Fine piece. Ignatius thinks most Israelis now see their invasion of Lebanon in 1982 as a blunder. I think the Israeli savaging of Lebanon in 2006 was also a bluder, but Ignatius skips by that. Ignatius argues that US military power cannot transform the Middle East. He sees Syria as an enemy of the US, but I think this is not true. Assad wants direct US involvement with any peace deal he makes with Israel. Assad correctly warned the US invasion of Iraq would lead to a catastrophe, a point Ignatius makes himself.
US power and influence need to be brought heavily to bear on Israel, to move things off center. Time to get back in the box, meaning accept the 1967 border and get out of the Golan Heights and the West Bank. Accept the Saudi peace plan, with minor revisions. Give up the notion that periodic murderous ramages against neighboring countries can secure Israel's long-term future.