When it comes to peace in the Middle East, we�ve tried just about everything and nothing has worked. And if you believe that, there�s a bridge over the River Jordan I want to sell you.

The truth is that one American administration after another has embraced the same false premises and, from that starting point, set into motion a �peace process� that ineluctably fails. Afterwards, they say: �We came so close!� Which is like saying: �The last time I jumped off the roof, I almost flew!�

Start with the assumption that the core issue in the conflict is the Israeli �occupation� of Palestinian territories and that the solution is �land for peace.� In 1967, Israel�s Arab neighbors fought a war to wipe the Jewish state off the map. When they lost, Israel took control of Gaza (which had been Egyptian) and the West Bank (which had been Jordanian). Israelis were willing to relinquish those territories � but they wanted a solid peace treaty in exchange. No Arab leader was willing to pay that price.