Without jeopardizing its security, Israel could take important steps to improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians and give them a real stake in peace. In his remaining weeks or months in power, Mr. Olmert could burnish his legacy, and the prospects for an agreement, if he announced a full freeze on expansion of Jewish settlements and reduced the number of roadblocks in the West Bank that are strangling the Palestinian economy. Those now maneuvering to succeed Mr. Olmert also need to behave responsibly.
Negotiating a deal will require enormous political courage—for both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. … Mr. Abbas’s position is complicated by the fact that his government controls only the West Bank. The Gaza Strip, where about a million and a half Palestinians live, is in the hands of Hamas. … Even in the West Bank, Mr. Abbas’s position is far from secure. Israel is right to insist that he take strong measures to contain extremists. He can win the political support he needs only by delivering concrete improvements in Palestinians’ daily lives and visible movement toward statehood. Israeli politicians unwilling to work with Mr. Abbas on these issues will only strengthen the hand of Hamas and other extremists. …
President Bush has five months left in office. He, too, could bring some luster to his disastrous legacy if he truly engaged in the peace effort: providing a lot more support, encouragement and, yes, pressure to get the Israelis and the Palestinians to do what is necessary to move toward a peace deal. Access the full article>>