Palestinian peace-making, through the eyes of a Diaspora Jew

Haaretz, Adam Abrams (17/7/2009)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and various Western leaders have taken of late to touting the "illegal Jewish settlements" in the West Bank as a major obstacle to peace.

After visiting the settlements and coming to know them intimately first hand, I can agree that in many ways they do indeed complicate matters.

Nevertheless, forcing the settlers to leave the West Bank will not create peace, nor will it create a viable Palestinian state. Why? Because there is no viable peace partner to be found within the Palestinian leadership. I also believe that if Israel were to withdraw from the West Bank right now, Hamas would take control the following morning.