The rationale for having someone like Efraim Halevy participate in a meeting with Khalid Meshaal is that political dialogue that is of consequence must be based on mutual respect, not sympathy. The real partnership for peace – if such a thing ever comes into existence – will be based on the understanding that each side comes into the negotiation as a strong advocate of their own side’s interests. This is why talks between Olmert and Abbas are an utter charade. They do no more than satisfy George Bush’s desire to facilitate the pretense of a peace process.

If Carter and Mandela sit down with Meshaal, they’ll certainly win a round of applause from progressives and anyone else who doesn’t cower in fear whenever the word “Israel” is used as a political bludgeon. But among those who treat mindless support of Israel as the litmus test of moral rectitude, the meeting will merely be treated as ammunition to bolster their case that the greatest threat to civilization comes from weak-minded liberals. What will be lost is the opportunity to highlight the fact that the political leadership in Israel and the US is out of step with Israeli popular opinion.

Translation, please.

Obama’s response, “did not agree,” was the mildest of the lot. As such, it says a lot. What more could you realistically expect?

Thanks for providing the clip, Paul. He’s a real piece of work. (For definitions of “piece of work,” see here: tinyurl.com/57xkr5)

“Obama has said he is willing to meet with officials of hostile governments, but he puts Hamas in a different category.

Spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama “does not agree with President Carter’s decision to go forward with this meeting because he does not support negotiations with Hamas until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel’s right to exist, and abide by past agreements.”