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America is Key to a Gaza Pull-Out

(Financial Times-UK) Dennis Ross - While Sharon will proceed with the Gaza withdrawal, the Hamas-Arafat desire to foster the impression of a great victory will continue to generate attacks against Israelis, peaking as the withdrawal takes place. Sharon will not allow Israel to be humiliated. Israeli withdrawal and dismantling of settlements creates a precedent. Never before has Israel withdrawn from settlements in Palestinian areas. Should Palestinians assume responsibility in those areas - including real security responsibilities - it would be possible to end the day-to-day war and get back to peace-making. The prospect of Israel leaving Gaza confronts reformers with a challenge. Palestinians must govern themselves when the Israelis are out; they must fulfill their obligations, and prove there will not be independent militias with the impunity to attack Israel. If they prove this, they can demonstrate to the world and to Israelis that they are ready for statehood and that the Gaza model can be applied to the West Bank. But if they fail, the Palestinian cause will suffer a huge setback. In all probability that is what will happen if violence accompanies the Israeli withdrawal. The U.S. must coordinate a declared public stand among EU and Arab leaders that they will help meet Palestinian needs, but only in the absence of attacks on the Israelis as they pull out. This step is critical to delegitimizing such attacks and raising the costs to Arafat and Hamas of orchestrating them. Whoever is elected U.S. president will have to prepare the ground well in advance of the Israeli withdrawal if the Gaza pull-out is to offer an opening to stability and not simply a new line from which the daily war continues.
2004-10-28 00:00:00
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