Even during these past months of tension many thousands of Palestinian laborers have traveled almost daily to construction sites and other jobs in Israel. There must be a way to provide PA officials from Gaza and the West Bank with similar mobility. The challenges facing the PA are enormous, calling for laws, policies and institutions governing virtually every sphere of social, economic and political life. If the prime minister is serious about advancing the peace process he must find better ways to enable Palestinian policymakers to go about their business. Preventing officials from traveling between Gaza and the West Bank can only fuel the growing Palestinian fear that the gains so painstakingly negotiated under Oslo are at risk.
Official vigilance based on sound intelligence is essential.
But if the peace process is to survive Palestinian efforts to build viable means of self-governance must be encouraged, not thwarted.