WAR: Sharon and Abbas Say They're Ready to Meet

In separate interviews, both Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas have both indicated a willingness to have a face to face summit meeting. This may the first in a series of signs that the stalled Middle East peace process may be starting to move forward again.



Both leaders are facing pressure from with their own groups. In addition, world nations are starting to bring pressure on both sides to restart the peace process. Sharon who had refused to even consider Arafat now has no excuse but to resume steps towards peace. The Palestinian Authority, now has the potential to elect the interim leader, Abbas, who will have greater support world wide and a less aggressive stance than Arafat. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds. I am leery however. Sharon�s government is tenuous, and it seems in Israeli politics, whenever we get close to peace, the government dissolves and we go back to square one.

[edit on 28-11-2004 by Banshee]

Well, listening to the news today, journalists in Israel and Palestine say that there is an air of hope and anticipation that hasn't been felt there in years. So we'll see.

One possible fly in the ointment: Israel is asking that Arafat's birthplace be changed on official records to reflect that he had been born somewhere else than Jerusalem.

Wouldn't it be great, though, to see the violence end in that region. Let's hope.

Perhaps we should leave this two countries to settle their differences on their own without outside intervention.

And for the death certificate of Arafat I agree it should have his rightful birth place he was born in Cairo.

Now we can not ignore that not matter how dreadful and bad he was he is still seen by his followers as their true leader, and offending his death will not play right on the people that think of him as an idol.