The most optimistic aspect of the negotiation is that the peace process is revived from the past seven years of dormancy.
The key issues:
*the dismantling of Israeli settlements in the West Bank
*the borders of a Palestinian state
+the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees who left, or were forced to leave, their homes in Israel.
It remains to be seen if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, can settle their differences while the regional struggle against extremism seems to be raging in the Middle East.
Interesting, the conclave brought about the highest-level official contacts yet between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which do not have diplomatic relations. Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, vowed that he would not shake Mr. Olmert’s hand.
According to news reports, Olmert looked directly at Prince Saud and said that Israel aspired to “normalization” with the Arab world.
Olmert stated:
you know that religious fanaticism and national extremism are a perfect recipe for domestic instability and violence, for bitterness and ultimately for the disintegration of the very foundations of coexistence based on tolerance and mutual acceptance.
Prince Saud was less diplomatic in response as he stated: "the time has come for Israel to put its trust in peace after it has gambled on war for decades without success.” He asked that Israel withdraw from the West Bank.
Bush waved his magic wand and stated that this was an opportunity to advance democracy in a region torn by conflict, not to mention filled now with United States troops. Bush said: “And when liberty takes root in the rocky soil of the West Bank and Gaza, it will inspire millions across the Middle East who want their societies built on freedom and peace and hope.”
If only that were true. It is more likely that any voting in most of the Middle East would be a vote against liberty.
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