(Newsweek)Dennis Ross - The Palestinians are creating, for the first time, a positive political framework. [Ending] corruption is the issue: all Palestinians know it's the one thing that unites them — it's the way that people can challenge Arafat without looking like they're betraying the icon. The Palestinians are beginning to spell out what is the legitimate way to pursue their aspirations: reforming institutions, reforming the security forces, building a civil society, creating a rule of law. It's a remarkable development. Once the Israelis are out of Gaza, the Palestinians know they've got to govern themselves. Now, they aren't all united, but there is a recognition that everything must be based on reform.... something is bubbling up. It's a new reality that, if managed right, can also contribute to ending the war. Settlement building creates a sense of powerlessness on the Palestinian side — that the Israelis can do what they want. On the other hand, it probably makes sense to look at where the settlement building is taking place. Most of it is pretty close to the Green Line, probably in areas that would be part of Israel in any eventual agreement. If the [security] wall enables Israel to end the siege and get out of Palestinian lives — and if it minimizes the hardships to Palestinians, even if takes 10 to 11 percent of Palestinian land —you can't tell me that situation isn't better for the Palestinians. It's certainly better than what you have now. [Because of the wall,] Israelis are feeling more secure now. It's a development that has at least changed the psychology in Israel, if not on the Palestinian side.
2004-08-23 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive