It is time to make the most of 'a promising moment' for peace

Daily Star Editorial

It is "a very promising moment" in the history of the Middle East peace process. These are the words of the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, William Burns, who met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday and with top Israeli and Palestinian officials on Wednesday.

The stew is, indeed, thickening, and may be ready for savouring very shortly. Or so it appears. We have, however, seen it all before - apparent progress, raised hopes, and then ... nothing. We cannot afford to be overly optimistic, yet the signs are more promising today than they have been for years. If there is to be progress, nobody can afford to let up in the efforts that will be required to see this "promising moment" fulfilled.

The Palestinians are doing their part, with President Mahmoud Abbas securing a tacit deal with militant groups to observe calm for at least four weeks. This is no small achievement in the light of militants' recent defiance of the recently elected Palestinian leader. Palestinian security forces have moved into the northern Gaza Strip and have apparently already prevented attacks against Israel. Central and southern Gaza will be similarly policed in the near future. Israel has greeted these developments with cautious optimism and has given the increasing Palestinian security role its blessing, and has undertaken to halt its assassinations of Palestinians linked to militant groups.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is ready to resume diplomatic contacts with the Palestinian Authority, and a formal cease-fire is reported to be in the making. In the Abbas-Sharon summit that is now rumored to be in the cards and that may materialize over the next few weeks, issues other than security may be tabled. So far, so good.

History, however, tells us we cannot put too much faith in the protagonists to come to an agreement without assistance. This is where other words uttered by Burns may have significance: "The U.S. is determined to do everything we can to contribute to the opportunity of progress between the Palestinians and Israel." These are important words, and if there is to be real progress toward a settlement of the more than half-century Israeli-Palestinian imbroglio, then Washington had better make good on its words.

"It is very important ... for Syria [and] for other states to do everything they can to encourage and facilitate the opportunity before us," Burns continued. Indeed, it is important. It is more than "important" - it is vital. This is where the Europeans must make their presence felt. It is also vital for regional states to contribute - Turkey in particular has a role to play in light of Ankara's recent efforts to present itself as a genuinely honest broker to both sides. If the Arabs can put together something cohesive - a big "if" - then of course a constructive role can only be welcomed.

It is time to wrap up a deal, and the sooner it is done the better. Let 2005 be the year that sees the declaration of a viable, sovereign Palestinian state.

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Source: The Daily Star, January 27, 2005
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