We can’t be sure whether Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s call for a cease-fire this week was provoked by shifts in public opinion, heightened involvement of the United States, the release of the Mitchell report or increased Palestinian terrorism.
Whatever it was, we hope the findings of the Mitchell commission are only a starting point, signifying a new level of American involvement for this administration.
When George W. Bush became president, one of his highest priorities was to distance himself from his predecessor. One way to do that was to completely disengage from the Middle East peace process — to which President Clinton had devoted so much. Bush made it clear from the outset that his administration would take no such role.
Therefore it was welcome news that Secretary of State Colin Powell this week appointed an envoy, William Burns, to mediate between the Israelis and the Palestinians. We can only say, “It’s about time.”
The Mitchell report has been judged — for the most part — as even-handed and fair to both sides. Both the Palestinians and Israelis have accepted its premises for a resumption of negotiations, yet Israel is showing reservations in its refusal to stop expansion of settlements.
One seemingly insurmountable obstacle is each side’s refusal to understand the perspective of the other. Too many Palestinians cannot understand how vulnerable Israelis feel to terrorist attacks, how they see themselves as victims and why they are so obsessed with their security.
Too many Israelis don’t understand that the Palestinians expected a halt to settlement expansion once the Oslo accords were signed.
To show at least a modicum of willingness to get back to the negotiating table, the Palestinians must stop the violence, and the Israelis must halt all settlement expansion, at least temporarily. Without those basic concessions, there remains nothing to talk about.