Mid-East Peace: Is it happening?

MickityMike · 12-18-2004, 09:28 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6724827/

Quote:

CAIRO, Egypt - Upbeat is perhaps the last adjective that comes to mind when describing Egyptian-Israeli relations, which is why a sudden warming in relations between the neighbors is causing a degree of confusion in Egypt.

In early December, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak described Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the Palestinian's best chance for peace.

"I think if they [the Palestinians] can't achieve progress in the time of the current prime minister, it will be very difficult to make any progress in peace. [Sharon] is capable of pursuing peace."

Until recently, Mubarak charged Sharon with impeding the peace process rather than advancing it, once calling the Israeli leader a man who "only understands force and war."

With a few more bold political strokes, Mubarak has sparked a thaw in the once icy relations between nations that once waged war.

Egypt is apparently reaching out to Israel, Syria is redeploying its forces in Lebanon,

Quote:

The Syrian army is continuing the redeployment of its forces from Lebanon and has removed up to 4,000 men from some 16 bases in the north of the country. The redeployment has been ongoing since last Wednesday and is scheduled to be completed tomorrow.

This is the third time in the past two years that Syria is withdrawing forces from Lebanon, where they have had a permanent presence since 1976. Their numbers have dropped from 35,000 to less than 20,000.

and since the death of Arafat comes word of an easing of anti-Israeli propaganda from the state-run media in Palestine. According to NBC Nightly News this past Thursday, Palestinian media no longer refers to the Israelis as "apes and pigs" . . .

Is all of this setting the stage for some sort of Spring Thaw?

thechronic · 12-24-2004, 07:45 PM

I certainly hope so but, considering the past pattern of short periods of peace and attempts to forge permanent peace followed by longer periods of violence and crisis. Every time things look positive and I think they are ready to turn the corner and begin figuring our how to successfully coexist, some group or political agenda sends a small spark that reignites the whole huge fire. I keep wondering what the catalyst for peace will be? In the spirit of Christmas(Kwanza,Ramadan.Chaunakkah,whatever) and eternal optimism, I really hope this is the start of something lasting. Here is another similar article about Israel/Palestine...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...em_christmas_3

MickityMike · 12-24-2004, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thechronic

I certainly hope so but, considering the past pattern of short periods of peace and attempts to forge permanent peace followed by longer periods of violence and crisis. Every time things look positive and I think they are ready to turn the corner and begin figuring our how to successfully coexist, some group or political agenda sends a small spark that reignites the whole huge fire. I keep wondering what the catalyst for peace will be? In the spirit of Christmas(Kwanza,Ramadan.Chaunakkah,whatever) and eternal optimism, I really hope this is the start of something lasting. Here is another similar article about Israel/Palestine...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...em_christmas_3

I think it really depends on the Palestinian militants - will they choose continued violence, or settle for what they've got?

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