A historical injustice rectified
Even if little substantive progress comes immediately from President Clinton's Middle East visit to hasten the peace process, it has achieved a historic purpose. His presence in Gaza City was the first time that a United States president has stepped on undisputed Palestine soil. For the Palestine Authority (PA) is de jure a Palestine territory, though falling far short of its people's historical dream of statehood. If earlier Palestinian leaders met U.S. presidents or other heads of government they had perforce to meet on foreign soil.
At least now it can be said that a historical injustice has been rectified with the creation of a Palestine Authority and some of the important institutions that go with statehood. By his visit to Gaza, President Clinton has not merely reiterated the legitimacy of the PA but has also signaled the right of the Palestinians to their own state. In the Middle East, such things are more easily said than achieved.
Relations have proved to be a tangled web of atavistic fears, of a single people whose parting of the ways brought emotional antagonisms compounded by different religions and beliefs. Against such a complicated background, made worse by geography where the tiny Israel lies virtually surrounded by Arab peoples, security and tradition make a heady mix with an explosive potential that could engulf more than the region. Deep suspicion is at the heart of the problem. Each move by either side is scrupulously studied by the other to ensure it does not spell danger or a retreat from peace.
At least President Clinton witnessed the Palestine National Council repeal vital provisions of the Palestinian charter that denied Israel's right to exist. Now Israel must take a step forward to meet some of the requirements of the Wye agreement. Both sides need to keep their commitments.
We wish that the common border at which the Israeli and Palestine leaders shook hands yesterday be a border of peace and not a line of permanent division between them.
-- The Hong Kong Standard