I am very pro-Israel, though certainly I have my misgivings about them when I read about things like the Pollard case, and the selling of technology to the Chinese. I want Israel to survive and thrive, but I recognize that we can't always trust them.

I would certainly take them over any of the other countries in the region as an ally, though. They have the same quaint notions about democracy and the rule of law as we do.

I'd also say that in the intramural match between the settlers and Sharon, I am with Sharon. Sharon is doing the only politically possible thing that can move the peace process forward. I think the likely thing that will happen is that the power vacuum in Gaza will trigger a civil war between Hamas and the Palestinian Organization.

Hamas right now has the support of the Palestinian public, more fighters, and more arms. I believe they will lose, however. Everyone in the EU, the US, and Israel needs Hamas to lose; if the Palestinian Organization realizes this and becomes a de facto ally of Israel -- which Sharon's pullout forces them to do, for their own survival -- then Hamas is alone in the world.

My 2 cents. I'm no Middle East expert, but I'm thinking that this is the game Sharon is playing. The withdrawal from Gaza is just creating space in the noose for Hamas to stick its head through.