Palestinian statehood

From proclaiming independence (Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat) is now trying to exchange his premature declaration for a new measure of American political support for a Palestinian state. The United States was already beginning to move in that direction. But it has no particular interest in rescuing Chairman Arafat from his erratic ways. Better to move toward support of Palestinian statehood -- a necessary end result -- in the coming talks on a final settlement. These talks should open once Israel gets through its May elections. Pending interim-accord obligations, further territorial withdrawal by the Israelis and more effective security measures by the Palestinians, need to be absorbed into the tough questions left to the final-settlement negotiators.

Meanwhile, the Israeli objections to Palestinians taking preemptive action on issues reserved for negotiations needs to be extended. On any given day the Israelis themselves are building thousands of new homes for Israeli settlers in war-torn territory meant to be submitted to mutual disposition, and squeezing out more Palestinians.

Palestinian unilateralism tends to the rhetorical, Israeli to the real. Let both sides get down to hard bargaining.

-- The Washington Post