Kristoff's Chill

In his op-ed today, Nicholas Kristoff chills us:-

President Bush’s problem was that he loved Israel too much. He embraced Israeli leaders even when they responded to provocations by killing more than 1,300 people in Gaza, according to Gaza health officials — in retaliation for shelling that had killed fewer than 30 Israelis since it began in 2001.

Now, he should have considered this:

a) how does one respond to an out-and-out attempt to kill as many civilians as possible? what methods would he suggest if he had been the target of these attacks?

b) were the firings of rockets at civilians just "provocations" - or perhaps war crimes?

c) what should the Gazans, either government or populace, done in response to Israel's evacuation of communities and expulsion of the population thereof?

He quotes this peacenik:

“You have a complete breakdown of trust: ‘It’s my toy!’ ‘No, it’s my toy!’ ” said David Rosen, the former chief rabbi of Ireland, now based in Jerusalem as head of interreligious affairs for the American Jewish Committee. “We need someone who can move the parties beyond their own pain and vulnerability.”

and goes on

There are two major ways in which the Obama administration can do that.

First, it must push to reduce the misery in Palestinian territories. A peace deal with the Palestinians is not possible today, partly because the Palestinians themselves are bitterly divided between Fatah and Hamas. But nothing can be done anywhere as long as scenes of Gaza suffering are unfolding on television screens. [well, does Israel, besides dealing with the humanitarian situation, have to then wait until hamas and Fatah fight it out and then see with who it needs to make peace?]

That means that Israel must lift the siege of Gaza, completely opening the crossings. If Hamas resumes its unconscionable rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, then bomb the tunnels or strike Hamas targets in a proportional way, but don’t escalate. [thanks Nic, but we did that already and you still didn't like it]

Mr. Obama should also insist on a complete halt of settlement activity on the West Bank, and on an easing of the West Bank checkpoints that make life wretched for Palestinians. All that would also bolster moderates in the Palestinian Authority, making an eventual deal more likely. [can we stop all settlement activity of Arabs in israel as a quid pro quo?]

Second, the United States should focus on a peace deal between Syria and Israel. With a Palestinian deal impossible for the time being, the path forward is to try to peel Syria away from Iran. [try? oh, really now. that's a gamble we don't presume is doable] If that strategy succeeded, Iran’s subversive influence would be reduced, Hamas might be moderated, and there would be momentum for further gains. [if? if? and if not?]