We know that pro-Israel does not mean blindly supporting policies
that are irrational, reckless, and counter-productive. Pro-Israel means supporting policies that are consistent
with Israel's interests and promote its survival as a Jewish, democratic state.
You've heard the arguments of the religious and political right-wing, and so have we. They've had their say. Now, we'll have ours.
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Does more land mean more security?
The only thing preventing the West Bank from turning into another "Hamastan" - like in Gaza - is the presence of the Israeli military.
The IDF's presence in the West Bank doesn't prevent the growth of extremist ideology and hatred of Israel. Rather, it may contribute to it by undermining the credibility of those Palestinians who argue against violence and who support the idea of a negotiated, two-state, conflict-ending agreement with Israel.
It is folly for anyone to call for Israel to repeat the mistake it made in Gaza by picking up and leaving the West Bank unilaterally. In the Gaza context, we warned that Israel's unilateral withdrawal - and implicit snub of President Abbas and the entire notion of negotiations -would play into the hands of Hamas and other extremists.
Rather, any future Israeli withdrawal should be part of a process of negotiations with the PA's leadership. A negotiated withdrawal, as part of a process that leads to the end of the occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, can provide credibility for non-extremist Palestinian leaders, strengthening them and enhancing their ability to govern, and to live up to Palestinian security obligations, after an Israeli withdrawal.