Either or both of these could leave us all in a dreary twilight of ongoing conflict, or worse, lead to open and armed violence. This would be an uneasy peace in which neither side trusts the other, and with good reason. A peace of this sort might or might not be better or even different from no peace at all. It is hard to imagine that the issues of Jerusalem and the refugees, stalled for 50 years and increasingly buttressed by dangerous claims of prestige and honor on both sides, will be solved by the magic of a summit meeting or two. It is just possible though, as shown by the reconciliation between North and South Korea that took place this week.
Good things do happen sometimes.
Just a month ago Israel was carrying on a war in Lebanon, and almost every right-wing Israeli commentator predicted disaster for the towns of northern Israel when Israel withdrew from Lebanon. Commentators on the extreme left were convinced that the Israeli withdrawal was the prelude to a large war to be started by Israel. So far, both sides have been wrong. With luck, a commodity usually lacking in the Middle Eastern politics, the border will remain quiet and people will soon feel that it is natural that it should be so. Click here for Airline Reservations, Bed and Breakfast, Car Rentals and much more at discount prices.