Fri, 01 Aug 2003

Nurturing a fragile Mideast peace

It has been eight weeks since President Bush traveled to the Middle East and breathed new life into a moribund peace effort between Israelis and Palestinians. Although no breakthroughs have yet been achieved, words and deeds on both sides have been encouraging. For progress to continue, Bush will have to remain closely engaged with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

On Wednesday, he met at the White House with Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister. Four days earlier, he received the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, the first time a top Palestinian leader had been welcomed in the Bush White House. Bush must persist, despite the objections of right-wing Republicans like Tom DeLay, the House majority leader. With uncannily bad timing, DeLay is now touring the Middle East, trying to undermine Bush's vision of an eventual Palestinian state.

Abbas is the most reasonable and responsible Palestinian leader Israel has ever had to deal with, but his political position among Palestinians remains weak. If Sharon can find a way to work constructively with Abbas, he has a historic opportunity to clinch a deal that ensures Israel's survival as a secure Jewish state.

Abbas's challenge is to convince Palestinians that his peaceful approach can deliver tangible benefits. The most effective way for Sharon to support Abbas would be to freeze the further building or expansion of settlements in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

Building up settlements, confiscating Palestinian land and adjusting the route of Israel's border-security fence to include adjoining areas of the West Bank all fuel the fears of many Palestinians that a viable Palestinian state may soon no longer be possible. On Wednesday, Sharon stubbornly shrugged off Bush's previously expressed concerns about the security fence.

Abbas's next goal must be to move beyond the current cease- fire with Palestinian militants and begin dismantling all terrorist groups. He does not have the political strength to do that today, but cannot postpone it much longer. Wise Israeli policies would increase his leverage for that coming showdown.

-- The New York Times