The PLO-Israeli pact

Undoubtedly there is consolation in the fact that this is a transient stage. We dare to hope that the agreement's temporary arrangements will give way to something more permanent at the turn of the century; namely, Palestinian statehood.

Meanwhile, pending the implementation of a permanent status agreement at the end of the decade, Palestinians must live with partial withdrawals and modest autonomy expansions handed out in stages.

The interim scenario in the self-rule territories is precarious. At worst, with Palestinian control of the West Bank at only 30 percent, Israel could seal off the cities, as it did with Gaza and Jericho, or dispatch troops to protect Jewish settlers in Hebron.

With only Ramallah and Nablus offering any viable commercial potential, the economic entity of the expanded self-rule areas remains fragile.

The best that the 2.6 million Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza can hope for is tangible economic and political progress.

It is high time that the pace at which development projects are implemented, infrastructure needs defined and donor support coordinated exceeded the pace of negotiations.

Only active Palestinian presence, spanning the political, economic and military spheres in the self-rule areas, can overshadow the settlers' threats and secure a lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.

-- Al-Ahram Weekly, Cairo