Someone was sleeping in the Knesset. Just days ago, President Bush was promising to end appeasement in our time by denying terrorists what they most want: dialogue. Now Israel, clearly understanding less about 1938 than the American president, has gone and gotten chatty with Syria. (Not face-to-face; Turkey is passing notes.)

If we weren’t obligated to view this as a show of weakness, the U.S. might see some advantages. The Christian Science Monitor reports:

Israeli proponents of peace talks with Syria have argued that normalization of ties with Damascus would count as an important reversal of Iran’s growing power within the Middle East. Syria serves as an important link to two Iranian allies that have threatened Israel: as a conduit of weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and as host to the offices of Hamas’s political politburo in exile.

It’s hard to keep up. Washington withdrew its ambassador from Syria but is willing to talk to North Korea, who the administration accuses of collaborating with Syria to build a nuclear reactor. Perhaps Bush’s vow of silence isn’t absolute. Paging Mr. Khaddafi…

But we’d rather not talk about talking like that. Let’s get back to talking about no one talking to Hamas—especially not Barack Obama—because they deny Israel’s right to exist. Except that Israel is engaged in indirect talks with Hamas over a ceasefire in Gaza. And we’re frozen-smile pleased about the Lebanese deal that elevates Hezbollah—as long as we don’t have to start talking to them.

It comes down to this: when you have a real security interest, you try talking—something Israel, pressed from many sides, understands well. But when you’re just putting on a moral show, and there are no real interests to bring to the negotiating table, discussion would expose the nakedness of your agenda. “Because Cheney told me to” isn’t an ideal talking point.

So we’re left on the outside. Two major peace efforts have been launched without our help and in violation of our stated strategy. They’re all talking—and no longer listening.