A fresh formula for the Middle East

The Bush Administration had, until this week, demonstrated a deep reluctance to be drawn into the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. That era of silence may now be ending. General (Colin) Powell's intervention does suggest that, with little enthusiasm, the administration has concluded that it cannot permit the conflict between the two sides to reach the point where not merely the present version of a peace process but any form of dialogue becomes impossible to sustain.

The United States is not in a position to eliminate the distrust that Israelis have acquired towards Mr. Arafat or prevent Hamas from exploiting Palestinian resentment in the street. It can, however, and should engage in damage limitation. It will be months, possibly years, before the peace process is again in the sort of condition where Americans need concern themselves with being caught in administrative detail.

What the process needs now instead is a new and more realistic framework. The United States is uniquely placed to press the parties towards a fresh formula. It is a thankless task, but neither the EU nor the United nations could undertake it.

-- The Times, London