Elliott Abrams has an oped in today’s Wall Street Journal trying to defend Ariel Sharon’s legacy, and evidently further ruin the Bush administration’s. In his article, “Hillary Is Wrong About the Settlements,” he attempts to show that there was a clear understanding between the US and Israel on continuing the “natural growth” of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Lara Friedman has posted a take down of Abrams on the Peace Now blog, including this great intro:
On May 23, 2005, the Washington Post ran a an incisive op-ed by former State Department negotiator and Middle East advisor Aaron Miller, entitled “Israel’s Lawyer,” in which Aaron argued “For far too long, many American officials involved in Arab-Israeli peacemaking, myself included, have acted as Israel’s attorney…” I was reminded of that article when I read today’s piece by Elliott Abrams in the Wall Street Journal, which should, I believe, have been entitled “The West Bank Settlers’ Lawyer.”
Before anyone accuses me of casting aspersions on Mr. Abrams’ honor or motivations, let me be clear: I have no doubt he has taken the case pro bono.
Zing! Friedman proceeds to take apart Abrams article bit by bit. In the end I think it might not really matter, because even if we take Abrams at his word (which is know is dangerous given his history) it doesn’t add up to a whole lot. I personally believe the Bush administration did promise Sharon he could expand the settlements. But even if he did, why can’t that policy be overturned now? Haven’t plenty of Bush’s other stupid mistakes been undone?
Abrams ends with, “For reasons that remain unclear, the Obama administration has decided to abandon the understandings about settlements reached by the previous administration with the Israeli government.” Actually, the reasons are perfectly clear. The Bush administration’s deal with Sharon would have made any kind of two-state solution impossible. Obama is trying to at least keep the door open, but he’s going to have to do a lot more than just freeze settlements.
