An Olive Branch?
The Arab League is pledging to normalize relations with Israel if the Israelis withdraw from all "occupied" territory.
Now, there are a couple of things worth pointing out on this one. First, it's encouraging that the Arab League has ratched down the rhetoric. The Israelis are the rightful heirs to the "occupied" lands, but the ship has sailed on that issue; if there's going to be peace, Israel is going to have to continue ceding the appropriate "Palestinian" lands: the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in particular. There's also the issue of Jerusalem... Yeah, I'm not going to go into Jerusalem right now.
The Israelis have rights on this issue, though. The Knessit and Prime Minister Sharon should set several conditions for the withdrawal, which they've done already, at least to a degree. The "Palestinian" territories must not be used as a safe haven for and a launching point for terrorism; President Abbas is already making a concerted effort to comply with this. Also, the Arab League must be made to formally and unequivocally recognize the right of Israel to exist, and to exist in the territories allocated for the Jews following World War II.
Basically, concessions need to be made on both sides of the fence. Even so, the Bush Administration's unequivocal policy of promoting freedom in the Middle East, coupled with the death of Yasser Arafat (terrorist), have resulted in an unprecedented opportunity to bring peace to the Middle East. We're seeing the dividends of these developments and policies today.
UPDATE: Here's another blurb from the AFP.
Arab leaders are expected to renew an offer to normalise relations with Israel, if it withdraws from all occupied land.
On the opening day of the Arab League summit in Algiers, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika called for the UN to issue a definition of terrorism.
He said only then could "an alliance between civilisations" be agreed that would protect all sides from terrorism. Only 13 of the 22 Arab leaders are attending the two-day summit.
Now, there are a couple of things worth pointing out on this one. First, it's encouraging that the Arab League has ratched down the rhetoric. The Israelis are the rightful heirs to the "occupied" lands, but the ship has sailed on that issue; if there's going to be peace, Israel is going to have to continue ceding the appropriate "Palestinian" lands: the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in particular. There's also the issue of Jerusalem... Yeah, I'm not going to go into Jerusalem right now.
The Israelis have rights on this issue, though. The Knessit and Prime Minister Sharon should set several conditions for the withdrawal, which they've done already, at least to a degree. The "Palestinian" territories must not be used as a safe haven for and a launching point for terrorism; President Abbas is already making a concerted effort to comply with this. Also, the Arab League must be made to formally and unequivocally recognize the right of Israel to exist, and to exist in the territories allocated for the Jews following World War II.
Basically, concessions need to be made on both sides of the fence. Even so, the Bush Administration's unequivocal policy of promoting freedom in the Middle East, coupled with the death of Yasser Arafat (terrorist), have resulted in an unprecedented opportunity to bring peace to the Middle East. We're seeing the dividends of these developments and policies today.
UPDATE: Here's another blurb from the AFP.
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