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Why Gaza May Spell a New Start

(International Herald Tribune) Aaron David Miller - There is a real chance that the Gaza withdrawal could provide a new beginning for Israelis and Palestinians. Sharon does not believe in a conflict-ending deal on Jerusalem or refugees. But Sharon knows that only the Gaza withdrawal will have a chance to improve Israel's political and international position. Gone are the illusions of the Israeli public of a warm peace with the Arabs and Palestinians. Arafat's perfidy, the highs of the Camp David summit meeting, and the lows of a bloody intifada have converted the peace process from a religion for believers into a business proposition for pragmatists. The new consensus is driven not by sentimentality or ideology; it is driven by the reality that keeping the vast majority of the territories occupied in 1967 means losing a Jewish state and hope for the good life for themselves and their children. Israelis today have a credible Palestinian partner. The Gaza withdrawal offers Palestinians an end to Israel's occupation there and the opportunity to consolidate real economic and political authority. Economic support from the international community, the deployment of Egyptian forces to its border with Gaza, Israeli efforts to facilitate Palestinian economic life, Palestinian action against terror and violence, and a re-energized U.S. diplomacy will be critical to making it work. The writer served as an adviser on Arab-Israeli affairs to six U.S. secretaries of state.
2005-05-06 00:00:00
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