Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to Israel has been called “farcical” —with good reason. Unsurprisingly, the secretary assured the Israeli government of “ironclad” support for that country’s security. Equally unsurprising is that he has said little of Palestinian security nor of an aggressive Israeli settler movement and likely perennial Israeli occupation of the West Bank. The Israelis can rest assured that they may “manage the conflict” as they see fit. No matter the Palestinian body count, few questions will be asked, and our generous military aid will continue.

Blinken urged that both Israelis and Palestinians be nice, and look forward to a two-state solution. Anyone, including the secretary, who knows the situation beyond the superficial understands that neither Israel nor the divided Palestinians harbor illusions of a two-state solution. Both see the game as zero sum: There can be just one winner.

It’s not hard to see what will come. Palestinians will see intransigence as the way forward, in the vain hope that the Israelis will be persuaded or coerced to do what is right. The Israelis will see victory as within their grasp, and continue on a path that will more surely make them a pariah state than any enemy ever could. And our own government will continue to base policy on fantasy and indulge Israeli excesses in violation of international law. All will be wrong. Perhaps one day we at least will wake up to our moral disgrace. Of our “unbreakable bond” with Israel, we surely have had enough.

Ed McCarthy

Vienna