Tuesday February 8, 2005

I've Been Thinking:

The Sharm Summit ended with an oral agreement. Not an end to the violence, not even a ceasefire, an oral agreement.

Is that success or is it failure?
It is what we call a first step. A very impressive first step.

Two things must now happen simultaneously.
Palestinian President Abbas must act to prevent the terror. He must educate his people, teaching them that non violence is the new, preferred way to go

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon must choose not to act. He must not retaliate and he must not launch operations against terrorists.

These are important steps forward.
They are hard tasks to accomplish.
If the leaders don't make these attempts, all newly gained hope is lost.
If they don't do it quickly, it will be one step forward, many steps backwards.