In the February 1, 2007 blog yours truly had suggested an urgent attention to Middle East Peace and especially following the plan put forward by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabai. After initial criticism the Israelis are now praising the plan as reported widely in press today and especially in this New York Times article today:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/world/middleeast/12cnd-mideast.html?hp
It is encouraging that Israelis and Palestinians have taken the initiative on their own. I guess finally they have realized the futility of war and conflict. It also seems that they have given up on Bush Administration brokering a peace deal and quite rightly so as this Administration seems to have no desire to achieve peace anywhere let alone the Middle East.
May be we will see peace in Middle East after all.
4 comments:
I hope you're right. The Palestinian/Israeli conflict needs an evolution in thinking.
WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP SO THAT YOUR CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE TO DIE???
I have friends in Israel, and it is encouraging that all of them - the majority of Israelis - want peace. Then the government of the minority gets in the way ... sound familiar?
Ajaz, I love your optimism but....
I'm working on an article on this very subject for later in the week. Then comes the report (today I believe) that says al Zawahiri says "Hamas has fallen into the swamp of surrender." The Hamas response: "We will not betray promises we made to God to continue the path of Jihad and resistance until the liberation of Palestine, all of Palestine." Hamas also said that its "...principles will never be changed." This obviously refers to the various charters and constitutions of Fatah-PLO, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
IMHO, Hamas did what it had to do to bide time - they have big plans.
I will be very pleased if you are right and I am wrong.
(I left a message for you at my place - and thanks for asking about my computer problems. I think it's over, but my 14 month-old Mac should not have died).
Boo
I am optimistic because history shows us that no matter how much damage one can cause, ultimately people get sick and tired of violence and killing and seek logical solutions. Israel with all its might and Palestinians with all the capacity for suicide bombings cannot bring good to their people unless and until they accept each other and resolve to live in peace.
Maggie
Menachem Begun was declared a terrorist by the British for throwing bombs and killing people. Ultimately he bacame Prime Minister of Israel and made peace with Egypt. Extremists leaders always have a better capacity to make peace because they can carry exremists with them. With Hamas in power I am more confident of peace than them being out of it. It doesn't however mean that peace is at hand. There has to be a serious effort and a dialogue between the parties.
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