The New York Times reported on the 4 hour meeting yesterday between Israeli and Palenstinian leadership, the first such meeting in 5 years. When Yassir Arafat died, and the Palestinians elected a new leader, the promise of a Democratic peace seemed much more likely. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice may have helped a little in getting this meeting going, but the real reason for the meeting is that President Mahmoud Abbas has a constituency that he must answer to, as does Israeli Prime Minister Sharon.
The Palestinians and the Israelis are no doubt tired of the fighting and Democratic peoples do not like to fight wars. As long as Abbas and Sharon have to answer to voting constituencies, there will be talks. Furhter, so long as Abbas continues to denounce terrorism as a policy, I think there is a historic opporntunity in the next two to three years for a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority--perhaps even a Palestinian state.
The New York Times > International > Middle East > Israeli and Palestinian Leaders Meet for 1st Time in 4 Years
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