Abe Sofaer is a Sop

Abraham D. (Avraham Dovid) Sofaer, George P. Shultz Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, was legal adviser to the U.S. Department of State from 1985 to 1990 and a graduate of Yeshiva University.

At the end of an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, he writes (and my comments are italicized & interspersed):-

Despite the difficulties involved (which are many), the key objective of Israel and its allies, as well as of any state or group interested in securing progress in the Middle East, is to make it possible for Israel to withdraw (that's the key to further conflict) from non-Israeli territory (er, why is it non-Israeli? Judea and Samaria with Hebron, Beth El and Shiloh is more Arab/Muslim?) without causing increased insecurity and danger for its people (pssst! that's an impossibility). While some of Israel's supporters speak of destroying and subjugating its enemies (this is a red herring; we're just trying to survive and enfeeble our enemies), the Israeli people know better than to pursue so futile a policy, and have shown a willingness to return territory for peace (which has proved a useless policy). Treaties now exist between Israel and both Egypt and Jordan (with a very, brrrrr, cold peace).

When it became clear to then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that the Palestinians were determined to make war on Israel, he established the policy of withdrawing from Gaza and building a fence to separate Israelis from Palestinian areas (which hasn't stopped the terror, the Kassams or the desire of the Pals. to pursue their terror policy or electing Hamas). He did not expect peace because of disengagement (of course he did, you twit!); he disengaged because he concluded that peace was unobtainable, and that separation was a more effective way to fight (even if, he was wrong. so?). The Olmert government was elected to continue the process of disengagement begun by Mr. Sharon, and its ability to do so (do so? the only thing Olmert might successfully do is disengage from the government, if not go to jail)will depend on the international community's understanding of its need to suppress the attacks that continue from Gaza.

Resolutions 242 and 338, which establish the principle of territory for peace (which hasn't worked since Begin yielded up territory and for sure not after Oslo), are cited in the final operative paragraph of 1701 as the ultimate objective for "a comprehensive, just and lasting peace." That principle applies as much to Syrian territory as it does to Lebanese or Egyptian territory. As uncomfortable as it may be to recognize, Syria must be given our attention (our security alert attention Abe). Fighting Hezbollah is indeed part of the war on terror that must be fought and won. But if victory over Hezbollah can best be assured by turning Damascus away from its current policies (along with an end to Syrian support for terror in Gaza and Iraq), then that is what we should try to do, conveying both a willingness to deal with Damascus fairly, as well as a determination to hold it accountable for failing to comply with Resolution 1701's demands.

What an idiot.

(Kippah tip: DB)