There is no one to negotiate with. PA is at war with Israel. The PA leadership isn't there to build a country, its there to wage war. Anyone less than totally committed to war with Israel is pushed out or murdered.
Israel must make its own security arrangements, and by the nature of it of course its unilateral, you don't ask your enemy's permission before moving to protect yourself. You just do it.
Israel's only choice at this point is to choose, unilaterally of course, the border she is prepared to live and die by, and then get all her people on the safe side of it. And, then seal it. No one should have access to Israel by land, not for a generation, if arabs have business in Israel let them come by air by way of Amman or Cairo.
The one-way ratchet "land for peace" has to be turned on its head. Every violation of the border must be answered by pushing the border back. Every attack must cost the arabs in the only currency they understand, which is land. Any mortar lobbed over the line, any rocket, any tunnel under a checkpoint, any deluded teenager trying to smuggle dynamite in his waistband has to be answered by moving the line forward half a mile. Land for Peace has to be understood as referring to arab land.
Unilateral? Of course unilateral. These aren't Canadians we're talking about, these are arab terrorists.
What you say is true, but what is overlooked (and perhaps not well communicated) is that the convergence plan does not rule out a negotiated settlement in the future. For example,
Israel is keeping the Jordan valley, but will not annex it (yet). This means of course that the future status of it can be negotiated.
After a decade of demanding Israel withdraw, Israel will withdraw, and they oppose it. What can you do? Just as you said... do what is best for yourself and defend it.
The Bush retort, as well as the Olmert retort, should be simple. If you want a negotiated agreement, make sure the Palestinians are ready to make one and ready to honor it when they do. Until then, stuff it.
If things get really hot, Israel can stop collecting PA taxes and even withdraw their currency, forcing the Palestinians to either start a central bank, or sign onto someone else's currency.
"Land for Peace has to be understood as referring to arab land."
Yes, land for peace should work for both the goose and the gander.