NYT: "Israeli and Palestinian Leaders Pledge to Halt Attacks"

I'm cautiously optimistic about today's peace talks in Egypt. While I'm delighted to see Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas sitting down together and opening a channel of communication that's been long absent this conflict, I'm still concerned about Israel's tendency to put conditions on the peace process. As the Times notes:

Israel, in other words, is insisting that Mr. Abbas implement his obligations to destroy the infrastructure of terrorism in the first stage of the road map before Israel begins to implement its own obligations to stop new settlement activity and dismantle up to 50 outposts erected after March 2001. Hamas's statements today are likely to solidify that Israeli position.

Both sides need to work toward their end of the bargain, regardless of what is happening on the other side of the fence, in order for peace to come about.

In fact, Israel's part of the deal is easier to implement, at least in the beginning - the military attacks against Palestinians are all centrally directed, and could be immediately ended by a simple command from Mr. Sharon and the courage not to rescind that command at the first sign of activity from Hamas terrorists.

Mr. Abbas, on the other hand, is in the difficult position of needing to reign in inherently uncontrolable forces. There are terrorist activities even within the United States (Oklahoma, the sniper, anthrax), not because our government isn't powerful or dedicated to stomping out terrorism, but because it is possible merely to control - not eliminate - underground, illegal activity. Mr. Abbas and the Palestinian Authority must put every effort into controlling the terrorist elements active in Palestine, but Israel must recognize that not even the world's most powerful nation has the power to eliminate terrorist activity. Allowance must be made for that fact in the peace process.

In fact, Mr. Sharon holds in his hands the greatest weapon against the terrorists - not the button to Israel's unacknowledged nuclear arsenal, but the ability to move ahead in the peace process no matter what the terrorists do, thus rendering them completely irrelevant. The power the criminals presently posess allows them to bring the peace process to its knees simply by committing another atrocity. Take away that power - show by words and deeds that nothing, not even the most despicable action, is going to drag Israel and Palestine back into their bloody past - and the terrorists will lose both their incentive to act and their support among Palestinians. They are supported because they get results. Take that away, and they will be reviled as the monsters they are.

So I remain, as I said, cautiously optimistic. This is a positive development and a reason to be glad. I hope that both parties will now match actions to their words, and bring forth many more positive developments in the days and weeks to come.