One of Ours

...It's no secret that Israeli military officials are concerned about the dangers of having it appear as if Hamas violence is the reason for Israel's planned military withdrawal from Gaza. (That, of course, may account for the increased impulse to go after Hamas and its leaders in Gaza.) What is more remarkable is that every Palestinian I spoke with during a recent visit to the Middle East agreed, believing that Hamas would gain psychologically and practically from an Israeli withdrawal...

...[This] is a call for the Bush administration to begin parallel talks with the Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians and others to ensure a particular set of outcomes when the Israeli evacuation takes place. Fundamental questions need to be raised now, including these: What steps should the Palestinian Authority take so that it, and not Hamas, assumes control of the territories and Israeli settlements? What kinds of assistance and investment would help Palestinian moderates show that they, and not extremists, are able to deliver for the Palestinian people?...