Barak's brave plans
With Prime Minister Ehud Barak taking the helm of the Israeli government, there is renewed optimism that the stalled peace process in the Middle East will now proceed with a rapidness not seen under Benjamin Netanyahu's administration.
In an address to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, on Tuesday while presenting his Cabinet, which comprises representatives from the seven parties in his One Israel coalition, Barak stated that a resolution to decades of armed conflict with Israel's Arab neighbors was his top priority.
"I call on all regional leaders to take our outstretched hands and to make a peace of the brave in the area," he said, stressing the importance of peace with Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, as well as Palestinians, so "mothers can sleep peacefully in Israel".
A onetime army commando, Barak is fully aware that a protracted delay in settling disputes with its Arab neighbors will not benefit security-conscious Israelis, and will hamper the Jewish state's overall political and economic development.
To show his commitment to peace with Syria, Barak has hinted at the return of the Golan Heights to the Damascus government, and has pledged the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied southern Lebanon within a year. Barak also contacted Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat last Friday and the two agreed to hold a peace summit sometime during the following week to implement the Wye River peace accord suspended by the Netanyahu government. The implementation of the accord would mean the Jewish state must hand over an additional 13 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority and release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners now being held in Israel.
Judging from his initial undertakings, we expect Barak -- who defeated Netanyahu in the May 17 election and who has worked hard to form a coalition government representing left-wing, right-wing and religious parties -- could usher in a new political environment and outlook to the war-torn Middle East.
Much has yet to be done, however, to achieve a comprehensive peace in the region. Peace will not come unless all belligerent parties commit themselves to attaining it, either through political bargaining, give-and-take policies or dialog.
While Palestinian and Syrian leaders warmly welcomed the Barak administration, there are still many who doubt the new Israeli government will truly accede to and implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions, which call for the total withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from all occupied Arab territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Their suspicions are not groundless as Barak has not commented on the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank since his election victory. More than that, the new prime minister has made it clear he is committed to keeping Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital, while the Palestinians want to make east Jerusalem their future capital.
"On settlements and on Jerusalem, I think that Mr. Barak must take action," Nabil Amr, a senior Palestinian official, said.
Barak must wisely respond to such demands and faithfully implement what he promised during the election campaign if he wishes to see his dream of Israeli mothers sleeping peacefully and securely come true.
Only then will he be able to open the doors of countries which so far have refrained from establishing diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, building friendly relations with them and raising the stature of Israel in the international community.