Hebron deal

The delay in clinching an agreement between Israel and Palestine on the question of Palestinian self-rule in Hebron is benefiting no one but the extremists in both camps. The attack by an off-duty Israeli soldier in a Hebron vegetable market on Wednesday, in which seven Palestinians were wounded, and the subsequent threat of retaliation by the militant Hamas group, obviously have not given negotiators the impetus to finalize the deal, which will mark a crucial step forward in the Middle East peace process. Earlier reports indicated negotiators were close to an agreement but by Friday it became clear they were still far apart on many issues.

Hebron is the last of seven West Bank towns due to be handed over for Palestinian self-rule under a 1995 Israeli-PLO interim peace accord. It also turns out to be the most difficult -- the 1995 deal set a March 1995 deadline -- because the two sides stumbled on the question of Israeli troop redeployment. Palestinians have already made concessions, like agreeing to an 80 percent rather than a 100 percent redeployment, allowing Israeli soldiers to remain in areas where 400 Jewish settlers live, and where the Cave of the Machpelah (the Haram al-Ibrahimi to Moslems), a holy site to both Moslems and Jews, is located.

It is ironic that the cave -- which houses the tomb of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -- is the very reason why a final deal has not been clinched. This has gone beyond simply religious sentiments. All religions advocate peace and not conflict, and certainly not violence, not the kind seen in last week's attack in the Hebron market, and other violence of the past. If we trace the history of the ancient town, known to Moslems as the Al-Khalil, which means "The Beloved", violence has often been used in the name of religion, both in ancient and modern times. So much blood has been spilled in the fight over the West Bank town. Abraham, or the prophet Ibrahim to Moslems, would surely have turned in his grave several times whenever his name was used as a pretext for violence.

A deal on Hebron now is more crucial than ever, lest the two governments give way to renewed violence and terrorism. A lot more is at stake than just the fate of the town and its residents. The entire Middle East peace process could be put in jeopardy if the two sides continue to stall on the Hebron issue. It could unravel all the hard work both sides have put in negotiating various agreements over the past few years. The bottom line is the delay could plunge the Middle East back into a period of uncertainty and violence.

Hebron will also be a test of whether a minority Jewish community can coexist peacefully in a predominantly Moslem town. This will also be a test of both sides' goodwill, and success will encourage similar arrangements in other Palestinian self- rule areas and towns -- present and future.

Time is fast running out for Palestinians and Israelis. Already there are signs that extremist elements are waiting to seize an opportunity to sabotage any deal on Hebron. It is now time for Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step in, take over negotiations, show their statesmanship and finalize an agreement. At a time when both parties are so close to a deal, statesmanship -- including the ability of these leaders to look beyond short term political interests and to the long term benefits for their peoples -- is probably what it takes to make the breakthrough.