Tough love for Israel?

[pelsar]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/24/opinion/edkristof.php

After I wrote a column last month from Hebron in the West Bank, my blog, nytimes.com/ontheground, was flooded with counterarguments - and plenty of challenges to address them. In the interest of a civil dialogue on the Middle East, here are excerpts from some of the readers' defenses of Israel's conduct in the West Bank and my responses:

To withdraw from the West Bank without a partner on the Palestinian side will find Israel in the same fix it has once it withdrew from Gaza: a rain of daily rockets. Yes, the security barrier causes hardship, but terrorist attacks have almost disappeared. That means my kids can ride the bus, go to unguarded restaurants and not worry about being blown up on their way to school. Find another way to keep my kids safe, and I'll happily tear down the barrier. (Laura)

This is the argument that I have the most trouble countering. Laura has a point: The barrier and checkpoints have reduced terrorism. But as presently implemented, they - and the settlements - also reduce the prospect of a long-term peace agreement that is the best hope for Laura's children.

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his answer- nothing more than some ifs and a belief that maybe..... and he actually believes that abbas has support.....


If Israel were to stop the settlements, ease the checkpoints, allow people in and out more freely, and negotiate more enthusiastically with Syria over the Golan Heights and with the Arab countries on the basis of the Saudi peace proposal, then peace might still elude the region. But Israel would at least be doing everything possible to secure its long-term future, rather than bolstering Hamas.

here he seems to have forgotten that the wall and checkpoints are in fact relatively new......there werent there pre olso and came as nothing else worked well......nor is there an answer there to any kassams or mortars that might just rain down on Jerusalem, netanya, afula etc as in sedrot, nor is there any kind of hint of if this enthusiastic negotiation doesnt work .....then what will he support in terms of israel defending itself...shall israel take back the westbank? rebuild the wall?....