Stardate 20020623.1619

(On Screen): Privateer suggests that Israel should permanently reoccupy all of the Palestinian territories. He makes a reasonable case that it would reduce the level of suicide bombings against Israel, and might eventually make the Palestinians see reason and stop the campaign, and return for some honest negotiation that includes giving up their hope to recapture the entirety of Israel.

Sad to say, the problem is that it may not be possible. That level of military activity is extremely expensive, and while Israel's economy is far more robust than that of any of its neighbors, even it can't sustain that level of military expenditure indefinitely. The war is already taking a toll on Israel's economy and it's only going to get worse. A policy of stalemate with the Palestinians which reduces the attacks but causes progressively greater cumulative economic damage will eventually become a political issue inside Israel, if it hasn't already become one.

Ending the bombings (or even reducing their frequency and severity) is certainly an important goal for Israeli government policy, but it isn't the only one. The Israelis will quite naturally want an end to the conflict itself, and to the economic damage it has brought. If Israel was infinitely patient, the approach Privateer suggests would probably eventually bring the Palestinians around. But it's not clear that the Israeli electorate will be willing to wait.

The longer such a stalemate lasts, the greater the chance that the Israeli electorate will turn to the right and elect a more radical government whose mandate will be to do whatever is necessary to pacify the Palestinians sooner rather than later.

The political situation inside Israel is a time bomb. If such a government takes power in Israel, whatever it does is bound to be truly horrible for the Palestinians.