Editorial
New peace effort in Middle East offers hope
While the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq dominate the headlines, developments in the seemingly intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict appear once again to offer some hope.
The keyword is “some” because there is no shortage of negative events: Small groups of militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza continue to lob Qassam rockets into western Negev communities, arms continue to pour in to Gaza through illegal tunnels even as frustrations mount among its 1.5 million residents because there is so little hope in one of the world ’s most densely populated areas, an ideal incubator for desperate action.
Those who yearn for a two-state solution to the conflict are placing their cautious bets on plans for another U.S. sponsored effort to bring the sides together. It ’s planned for Annapolis, Maryland this month, or maybe later. The date has yet to be fixed because U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is working on both sides to hammer out the basis for a common declaration.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is seeking to dampen expectations while his right-wing coalition partners threaten to leave if core-issues are discussed at the conference.
These issues are the need for compensation and resettlement of the original 700-750,000 Palestinian refugees and their descendents from the 1948 conflict that followed the United Nations ’ recognition of the State of Israel. The consensus-in-the-making is that those who wish to do so would be assisted in moving from camps in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to the new State of Palestine.
The Palestinians also demand some sovereignty over East Jerusalem and its holy places, the most sensitive being the Noble Sanctuary, site of the Al Aqsa mosque, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, with the Western Wall at its base. This is perhaps the greatest challenge.
Finally, the boundaries of Palestine must be determined, including the status of the Jewish settlements. Trading land of equal quality and area is proposed for the large settlement blocs to remain within Israel.
It’s a tall order, but the status quo is untenable, and concessions on both sides are necessary. Four million Palestinians must get a viable, contiguous state. the alterative is simply too frightening.