With Israel moving toward elections, we will be hearing a great deal from leaders of the settlement movement.  By all accounts, their influence is growing in Israel, including in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud Party.  Unfortunately, there is much that these leaders do not understand. I actually agree with the settlers about one fundamental thing:  Israel is a vulnerable state, surrounded by enemies and located in an unstable region of the world.  I can imagine no scenario in the foreseeable future that would lead to a true peace between Israel and the Palestinians.  I would be delighted to see the appearance of a Palestinian Nelson Mandela, but that has not happened, and there is little reason to think that it will.

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