[Conservative Coulter Fan]

Let me counter, first with a simple question: Should the U.S. talk with Iran, with the Taliban, with al-Qaeda, or other enemies? Would talking with Nazi Germany or Japan been a better policy? As for your point about deterrence, Is the US Eroding Israel's Qualitative Edge?

[Rockingham]

Unlike the US as to the Taliban and Al Qaeda, Israel is not at war with the Palestinians. We do talk with Iran in secret.

It is in Israel's interest to have multiple contacts with the Palestinians. Fatah and Israel have secret and informal contacts, but there are probably none between Hamas and Israel.

The US did have contacts with Japan late in the war, and we and the British had low level discussions and negotiations with various factions in Germany, although not with Hitler.

Israel's qualitative edge against her adversaries is always a matter of concern. Nevertheless, Arab societies, with limited exceptions, do not produce effective conventional military forces even when they have the best of weapons and equipment.