Clouds, Linings

Marc Lynch tallies Gaza's costs:

Israel's attack has generated tremendous outrage across the board, has worsened the divides between Gaza and the West Bank and between Hamas and Fatah, and probably will hasten the election of Benjamin Netanyahu next month.  The environment for peace talks will be as toxic as possible.  On the other hand, prospects for peace talks were already very shaky, and even before the Gaza war I heard more support for the "Syria First" option than for immediate moves on the Palestinian front.  The crisis forces the Israeli-Palestinian track on to the agenda, and perhaps strengthens the case for a  more even-handed approach (the appointment of George Mitchell is a very encouraging sign). What's more, if Gaza undermines the prospects for a return to Clinton-era "peace processing" this might actually be a very healthy thing...