The key to Mideast peace

Remarks by (U.S. President Bill) Clinton in a speech in Gaza City on the legitimacy of Palestinian rights, the chance to determine "their own destiny on their own land", and an acknowledgement of their "tremendous pain" were seized upon by Palestinians as a breakthrough. U.S. officials were careful to play down the comments and say they did not represent any change in policy position. But, not surprisingly, they upset the Israelis enormously for, while the policy may not have shifted, sympathy certainly has.

While Mr. Netanyahu, with his smooth English and polished television persona may not fit that image, and his personal feelings cloaked in a veil of political expediency, it has become glaringly obvious that his government is hostage to the forces of extremism in Israel. Once Israel could do no wrong in American eyes no matter how glaring its human rights abuses or bully boy tactics, but finally the U.S. is taking a more balanced view. That's not to say the U.S. has come over entirely to the Palestinian side. The fabled strength of the Jewish lobby in US politics has surely not faded away, even if it has been weakened by the actions of the state it promotes.

But the new balanced approach bodes well for U.S. peacemaking, ensuring the U.S. can wield its enormous power in the region as an "honest broker" rather than an overbearing pro-Israel weight. The people of Israel, polls show, are supportive of the Wye accords and the land-for-peace concept; the long-suffering Palestinian people have shown tremendous forbearance under Israeli provocation; Hamas has, by whatever means of negotiation or military pressure, been kept dormant; the U.S. is a new, fairer player.

On all of those grounds, Mr. Clinton does, despite everything, have some right to say the peace process is "back on track". The prospects for the successful implementation of Wye should be excellent were it not for the Netanyahu government and the extreme right-wingers essential to its survival. That government faces a no-confidence vote next week, but past experience suggests Mr. Netanyahu will wriggle through, somehow or other, and his government limp on.

It can only be hoped that all of the other parties maintain their patience, stay flexible, and wait for a time when the final factor for a genuine, lasting Middle East peace and a reasonable Israeli government acting in line with the views of its people comes into being.

-- The Bangkok Post