THOUGHTS ON GAZA

Although I can feel sympathy for individuals and families losing their homes, I have also to recognize that Israelis should never have moved into Gaza in the first place. And all the attention to the pain of leaving cannot obscure that fact. The occupation was wrong from the beginning and is still wrong today. It has continued as long as it has simply because the United States stood behind Israel and protected it no matter what it did.

Things have changed, however, in the past few years. Because of the short-sighted polices of the Bush administration, the United States has lost so much influence in the world, especially the Arb and Middle East part, that we can no longer backstop Israel in its expansionist efforts. Nations of the world don't respect our purposes as they once did and will not follow our lead. More important, they realize that American citizens do not have the stomach for the kind of protracted and unconventional wars fought in the Middle East. Recognizing Americans' growing distaste for the war in Iraq, Israel also sees the handwriting on the wall and appears to realize that its survival now depends less on the United States and more on its relations with its neighbors. Hence the withdrawal from Gaza. As America's stature in the world continues to decline, we may see more softening of Israel's intractable positions and land grabs. On the the upside of decline in American influence we may be less likely to conduct pre-emptive attacks against other countries.

(I see that Bush has said the pullout will strengthen ties between Israel and the United States. We must always beware of any claim Bush makes, for what he says almost always is the opposite of what he actually seeks to make happen.)