Trouble with Optimism by KATHLEEN CHRISTISON

Optimism allows us, allows politicians and commentators, to ignore the real situation on the ground; it allows us all to ignore Israel's explicitly stated intention never to relinquish its domination of the West Bank (most recently elucidated by Sharon's senior political adviser Dov Weisglass, who crowed openly about having put the Palestinian issue in "formaldehyde" and, with full U.S. knowledge and support, frozen the peace process so that "you prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state and you prevent a discussion about the refugees, the borders and Jerusalemindefinitely"); it allows us all to ignore the gross land hunger and racism inherent in Israel's occupation policies.