Jim Baker Was Right

No American government since George H.W. Bush has made a serious attempt to prevent the expansion and entrenchment of Israeli settlements on the West Bank. No Israeli government has either. The issue sits there as a clear and overwhelming barrier to any progress toward a two-state solution. I wish more people would heed what Gershom Gorenberg is saying here, in a dialogue with David Frum. Ignoring this issue is tantamount to acquiescing to the worsening of the situation and making the long-term survival of Israel less secure.

I have no idea how these fanatics will be forced to leave. But they have to be evicted if there’s any chance for a grand bargain in the region. And Israel does not have a strong enough government to do it. Bibi? You’ve got to be kidding. Who else?