Wednesday February 9, 2005

I've Been Thinking:

Now that the Sharm Summit is over, it is time to monitor 2 items:
Substance & Symbols

Words were spoken. Hands were shaken. Pictures were taken. Smiles, smiles, smiles.
Nothing was signed.

Israel has officially called the agreement a "cessation of violence" - not a "ceasefire."
Yesterday, the day of the summit, the official PA website continued to run the cartoon of Ariel Sharon eating little Arab children.

We must carefully watch what both sides say and what they do.
We must monitor how each side follows up on violations.
We must demand that the parties be held accountable for any violations.

It is too easy to simply smile and say the summit was a success.
Reality must change on the ground, that is real success.