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Appearances Can Be Deceiving

(UPI) Eli J. Lake - By some appearances, the chances for peace between Israelis and Palestinians seemed brighter this week than in a very long time. But appearances can be deceiving. The most looming obstacle to peace is the uncomfortable truth that suicide bombs are so inexpensive and easy to produce that almost anyone can make them, and the most effective way to prevent their devastating effect is through measures that punish almost all Palestinians unlucky enough to live in the communities from which the bombers flow. The fact that these Israeli measures have actually prevented terror attacks punctures the cycle of violence argument, favored by European and American peace processors, which posits that Israel's response to terror in fact increases it. Arafat is the most potent symbol of the Palestinian national movement. As the Americans attempt to shunt him aside, it's unlikely the Palestinian people will necessarily go along with it, unless they believe it is their choice to do the shunting. Unfortunately, there is no reason to believe Palestinians should feel particularly invested in the political deals that are affecting them. Who knows if Abbas can sell a deal to the Palestinians?
2003-06-04 00:00:00
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