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Arafat's Death Has Given Birth to New Hope

(New York Times)Martin Indyk - Freed of the burden of a dysfunctional governing style, Palestinian officials are carefully edging their way toward cooperation. Left to their own devices, Palestinians are consciously making an effort to favor the rule of law over the law of the jungle, actually using democratic procedures to resolve the battle over Arafat's succession. This acceptance of elections as the route to power has already begun to channel the energies of the competing forces. Abbas is offering the diffuse terrorist gangs a deal: put down your arms and take up jobs in the security services, and you will have both salaries and amnesty from Israeli attack. Adding to the new hopeful mood, the Israeli military has limited its activities against Palestinian terrorists. To help pay salaries to newly co-opted militants, Sharon's government is quietly transferring tax revenues Israel collects for the PA. Peacemaking, nation-building, and democratization need to go hand in hand. What's needed now is a strategic commitment from President Bush in favor of a sustained second-term effort to redeem his two-state vision of a democratic Palestine living peacefully alongside a secure Jewish state of Israel.
2004-12-06 00:00:00
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