Left-wing Israelis feared that he might not do enough to win an accord. Meanwhile, Palestinian hardliners made it clear to Yasser Arafat that he needn't come home unless he won sovereignty over East Jerusalem. There also are those Palestinians who have opposed any deal with the Israelis, their sworn enemy. What's scary is the prediction that Jewish or Arab extremists might take advantage of the summit's failure to launch violent attacks. The Israeli military already has begun riot-control training and has even set up a mock Palestinian town for practice drills.
All Israeli settlements are on a state of alert in expectation of problems.
Meanwhile, Palestinian youth at various summer camps are undergoing military-type training. The scenario of battles in the street only reinforces those who believe that Jew and Arab will never live in peace. Violence makes that view a self-fulfilling prophecy. Hopefully, the majority of Israelis and Palestinians will view this summit as just a start of a difficult process. Agreements in the Middle East take years, not weeks or months.