Peace Map: Take one difficult step at a time in Middle East

May 13, 2003

In the Middle East, every step toward peace seems to bring one or two in reverse.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell spent the weekend earning concessions from Israel and the Palestinians. Then violence erupted, and on Monday, Israel imposed harsher travel restrictions on the Gaza Strip than those that were lifted while Powell was there.

Clearly, this is going to be a test of not only American statesmanship, but perseverance. Like walking in last weekend's winds, you know the way, but it's hard to keep on course and there's a formidable force trying to push you backward.

But steps were taken. Powell won a pledge from Israel to free 180 Palestinian detainees and let 25,000 Palestinian workers enter Israel. He got new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to accept the road map for peace without exception. In the first such high-level meeting in nearly three years, Abbas is slated to talk with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon later this week, before Sharon comes to visit President George W. Bush.

Sharon will bring a set of issues about the road map Powell has been pushing. Recognizing that because of their shared nightmare of terrorism, Israel has never had so strong an ally in the White House, Sharon must also bring a willingness to keep moving forward.