Glimmer of hope

[Classical_Liberal]

Glimmer of hope

Egypt is sponsoring a meeting of Palestinian militant groups with an eye toward brokering a cease-fire with Israel, and the prime ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority may meet in the next few days. Perhaps the best thing the United States can do to guarantee that this glimmer of hope catches fire is to stay out of the way.
Israel has learned from sad experience not to embrace a Palestinian prime minister too closely. It did that with Mahmoud Abbas and quickly undermined his credibility.
His successor, Ahmed Qureia, must be seen by Palestinian militants and moderates alike as a true representative of the cause, not a lackey of the United States or a collaborator with Israel.
In both Israel and the occupied territories, the pressure to end the violence is strong. Three years of bloodshed have brought nothing but misery. Without question, the Palestinians are worse off in every measurable way; many are unemployed, cut off from normal travel in the occupied territories and their former jobs in Israel.
Israelis live in fear of terror attacks by suicide bombers as they watch their economy collapse under the strain of warfare. Palestinians live in fear of Israeli reprisals.............

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Nov/11202003/opinion/112542.asp