The first, he said, is that both sides have become fully aware of the other s bottom line. This clear understanding should allow more realistic thinking about ways of salvaging the peace process, which came to a halt after Israel began building a Jewish quarter in Arab East Jerusalem in mid-March. This mutual understanding of each other s position opened the way for the second achievement. Both parties have now moved from talking about generalities and procedural matters to the substantial issues that could really make a difference, Bassiouni said. The Egyptian and Arab stance is very clear about the fact that there can be no negotiations while Israeli bulldozers are eroding and eating up the Palestinian land, which is itself the subject of the negotiations, Bassiouni added.
Egyptian diplomats concede that the impact of Cairo s initiative has reasons to go on trying.
The first is that both the Palestinians and Israelis have declared that they want the Egyptian initiative to continue. The third reason for Cairo to forge ahead with its efforts is that they represent an attempt to keep the peace process afloat, even in the face of overwhelming odds. This does not mean that Cairo has given up hope of the Palestinians and Israelis reaching agreement while Netanyahu is still in power. It is true that Netanyahu was elected primarily to achieve security, but he was also elected on a peace ticket, the source commented. Bassiouni agreed, pointing out that Netanyahu s problems with his cabinet and a large section of his people is partially due to his failure to realize the peace that he had promised his people, along with security.