[adam_az]

You have to wonder if Sharon proposed it, knowing that the Americans would oppose it, and put the US into the position of defending the "occupation" to avoid interecine Palestinian fighting, whereas previously the US made statements that the 'settlements have to go.' The US supporting maintaining the settlements obviously eliminates US pressure on Israel to eliminate them. Sharon might have bet that the US doesn't really want the side effects of the policy it hoped to see implemented.

Or, it could have been a happy accident for him.

Your take? Arik is wiley, but is he this wiley?

[Piranha]

Very thoughtful analysis. I also wonder whether ultimately it would be better for Israel to have the PA (a disguised terrorist organization) in charge of Palestinian arab areas versus Hamas (an unreconstructed terrorist organization). If Hamas openly controlled the Gaza Strip, in my view that would significantly lessen international pressure on Israel to make further concessions to arab terrorists.