Mideast Peace: U.S. must seize opportunity with Israel, Palestinians

April 16, 2003

With both sides moving a little, the time is now for the United States to resume a leadership role on the difficult road toward peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Even while confronted with the tough job of keeping order and installing a government in Iraq, the United States must reconvene efforts to end the ongoing war in Israel that unsettles the entire Middle East.

In line with U.S. wishes, Mahmoud Abbas, the incoming Palestinian prime minister, selected a cabinet last weekend that includes reform-minded leaders who are not acceptable to discredited Chairman Yasser Arafat -- a point in their favor. If the Palestinian parliament approves the Abbas choices, the United States is then pledged to release the long-awaited "road map" to peace. It calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005.

Meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon indicated in interviews that he is ready to dismantle some of the hated Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories and said Palestinian statehood is inevitable.

Secretary of State Colin Powell this week urged Israel and the Palestinian Authority to start their own sharing of ideas for the future of the Holy Land, but clearly that will not be productive without the U.S. engaged as a broker. There is too much fresh blood from both sides on the ground between them.

While the Palestinians want a pullback from the settlements, Israel is insisting, and rightfully so, that Palestinian terrorism be brought to a halt before any talks begin. If Abbas, who kept for himself the post of Palestinian security chief, can make this happen, his stature as a negotiator will be greatly enhanced.

Amid these several positive moments on which the United States can and should quickly build, the fighting went on Tuesday, taking lives on both sides. In a troubling new dimension, peace activists are stationing themselves as human shields before Israeli forces hunting Palestinian terrorists. Two have been wounded and one, an American woman, was run over and killed by a bulldozer. This is only adding to a never-ending nightmare of violence and fear in a land that has come to be known for little else.

There is no good future in war without end. Important leaders among Israelis and Palestinians realize this. But they need help getting there, the kind of help only the United States can deliver. This moment at hand must not be allowed to pass without meaningful action.