Middle East Peace Summit: Success?

[Jon Shafer]

There doesn't appear to be a thread on this topic...

Is this summit which Bush is hailing as success the first step to bringing peace to Israel? Is it all smoke and mirrors? What do you think?

[GePap]

Too early to tell. Both sides have to act within the next few weeks.

[Spiffor]

Same as GePap, wait and see.
If anything, the whole area has taught us we can only trust action, not speeches.

[lord of the mark]

im more optimistic

for one thing the action has already started - israel has released a number of prisoners as a goodwill gesture.

second - some of the words were very significant - Abu Mazen recognizing Jewish suffering is something new from a Pal leader - I think this guy may be the real thing.
And Sharon acknowledging the need for territorial contiguity for a Pal state is a real sign of seriousness in negotiations. The Israeli settler right feels betrayed by Sharon, just as Hamas (and Arafat?) feel betrayed by Abu Mazen. Sharon confirms my sense of the last 2 years, that he is far more pragmatic then people focusing on his actions of 20 years ago give him credit for. (in turn folks on the pro-israel side must be prepared to overlook 20 year old statements and actions by Abu Mazen) I think he may turn out to be the Israeli "DeGaulle", as a Labor PM was not capable of being.

[dannubis]

the question still stands : will the two leaders retain enough support from their peoples so they can finish what they have begun ?

[DanS]

It is tough to know. Bush put on a good show, as he was supposed to do. But both sides will have to want peace.

[lord of the mark]

some evidence of action from the Pal side as well


This from Haaretz

"Abbas, who is also known as Abu Mazen, will brief the prime minister on the anti-terror
steps already taken by Palestinian Authority chief
security Mohammed Dahlan, and how he intends to deploy his forces across the Palestinian
territories.


An Israel Defense Forces officer told Israel Radio
on Thursday that the Palestinian security
services are showing the first signs of clamping
down on terror groups.

However, the unnamed officer added that warning of
possible terror attacks continue to flood in,
with dozens arriving every week. He also warned
that military activity in the territories will
continue. "

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by dannubis
the question still stands : will the two leaders retain enough support from their peoples so they can finish what they have begun ?

The entire israeli left and center will go along, of couse, and Sharon can bring along the more pragmatic sections of the right. So unless a far right crazy takes out Sharon with a bullet, he can do this.

On the pal side the situation is less clear. Certainly the Israelis must give enough to Abu Mazen to make the shift toward peace more palatable to the Pal street. And it would help immensely if the rest of the world would support Abu Mazen and oppose and isolate the Pal opponents of peace, like Hamas and Arafat.

The Saudis must follow through on their pledges and break financing for Hamas, which is already weakened by the fall of Saddam.

The europeans must support Abu Mazen, and diplomatically boycott Arafat.

[lord of the mark]

euros and the peace process

from Haaretz


"Arafat, who was frozen out of the Aqaba summit, is
expected to try and reassert his influence
– a cause aided by European diplomats who
told the United States they will maintain contact
with Arafat despite objections from Washington,
according to a senior U.S. official said on
Thursday. "

[lord of the mark]

israel has lifted the curfew on Jenin.
There are now no Pal cities under curfew.

[DinoDoc]

Re: euros and the peace process

Originally posted by lord of the mark
"Arafat, who was frozen out of the Aqaba summit, is
expected to try and reassert his influence
?a cause aided by European diplomats who
told the United States they will maintain contact
with Arafat despite objections from Washington,
according to a senior U.S. official said on
Thursday. "

Why are they purposefully undercutting Mazen's ability to cut any sort of a deal with the Israelis?

[BeBMan]

I just hope it was/is a success and the real beginning of a solution of this conflict.

[Al'Kimiya]

I guess a poll for guessing the number of hours/days for next terrorist attack is prohibited by the forum rules.

[Eli]

Al'Kimiya :

2 Israelis were murdered today at night...

[Japher]

How come it seems that every two years I see a picture of the President of the US sitting down with the Israeli leader and the Palestining leader? Nothing has changed, whay is to say it will change this time? Bad methods will always be bad methods, time will not change that.