Could there be TWO Palestinian countries in Israel’s future? One Palestine in the Gaza Strip, dominated by the Chamas terrorists, the other in the West Bank, governed by the Palestinian Authority, whose Fatah party sponsors the terroristic Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade?
As ominous as it sounds, this could be the future, unless the neighboring Arab countries work with Israel to arrive at a solution that will benefit Palestinians and Israelis alike.
A promising move in that direction took place last week in Sharm el-Sheik, the Egyptian resort in Sinai, where three Arab heads-of-state and their Israeli counterpart put their heads together to come up with a solution. They were Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Palestinian Authority President Machmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The setting was symbolic. Located at the point where the Gulf Of Eilat meets the Red Sea, it was a reminder of the peace between Egypt and Israel that has existed for decades, ever since Israel returned Sinai to Egypt as part of the contract.
All participants expressed hope for a renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace process, now that Abbas has formed a new government without Chamas. The Arab leaders urged Israel to accelerate talks toward a speedy peace treaty that would result in Israel and Palestine existing peacefully side by side.
Abbas proposed setting a clear time table for negotiations. He expressed confidence that key issues, such as permanent borders, the so called Right of Return of Palestinian refugees to their original homes, including locations in Israel, and the future of Jerusalem, can be resolved over time. His top priority appeared to be the establishment of the Palestinian state.
Olmert, who favors a more gradual approach, tackling problems step-by-step, agreed to meet with Abbas bi-weekly. His preference is for dealing with the key issues before signing a peace agreement.
A most positive note was sounded by the PA’s new prime minister, Salam Fayyad, whose first name, appropriately, means peace in Arabic. In an interview with CNN last Thursday, Fayyad called for an “intensive and active cooperation” with Israel. He urged Palestinians to lay down their arms. “It’s about time we know what works and what doesn’t work,” he said. Armed resistance to Israeli “occupation” has not worked, he added.
“The simple, basic question (is): Are we better off now than we were then?” he asked, referring to the beginning of the intifada, the rebellion in 2000. “Then, the (situation) was not great. But guess what it is today? It’s catastrophic.”
Israeli critics of Abbas have pointed out over the years that he either has not taken steps to disarm Al Aksa, or has not been able to do so. His new prime minister, a political independent, declared, “Guns and arms are exclusively the property of the official agencies of the National (PA) Authority, meaning that no more will guns out of the purview of the authority...be tolerated.”
But what about the 1.2 million residents of the Gaza Strip, now ruled by Chamas? It is unlikely that the PA will be able to dislodge Chamas, which only two weeks ago defeated the government’s Fatah troops and chased them out of this little strip of land. Moreover, will Abbas be able to keep Chamas from spreading into the West Bank? Just yesterday the Israelis picked up a fully armed Chamas terrorist, perhaps the first of many others.
For those gathered at the Sinai conference one thing was clear, reported the Jewish Telegraph Agency. “A vibrant Israeli-Palestinian peace process could help stop the radical, Iranian-backed power that Chamas represents - and which all four leaders fear - from spreading.”
The picture of Olmert and Abbas shaking hands at the conference in Sinai, smiling at each other, expresses a hope for the future. Yet it’s a long road to peace and coexistence between Arab and Jew.
