IT'S A VISION THING:

Handshake that bridged the Middle East divide (Ian MacKinnon, 2/09/05, Times of London)

NINE days after the Iraq elections, the Middle East witnessed another event yesterday that had until recently seemed inconceivable when the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians agreed to end all bloodshed.

Inconceivable? Perhaps all that makes some men great is that they can so clearly perceive as imminent and achievable what others can't even conceive:

My vision is two states, living side by side in peace and security. There is simply no way to achieve that peace until all parties fight terror. Yet, at this critical moment, if all parties will break with the past and set out on a new path, we can overcome the darkness with the light of hope. Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leadership, so that a Palestinian state can be born.

I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror. I call upon them to build a practicing democracy, based on tolerance and liberty. If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals, America and the world will actively support their efforts. If the Palestinian people meet these goals, they will be able to reach agreement with Israel and Egypt and Jordan on security and other arrangements for independence. [...]

As new Palestinian institutions and new leaders emerge, demonstrating real performance on security and reform, I expect Israel to respond and work toward a final status agreement. With intensive effort by all, this agreement could be reached within three years from now. And I and my country will actively lead toward that goal.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 9, 2005 12:00 AM