Two years ago, at this time and in this space, we pondered the phrase “peace on Earth.” While acknowledging that war is an inevitable and lamentable part of the human condition, we also found it worthwhile to take a moment on the holiday to ponder how wars begin, and most important, how they end.
At the time, the Palestinians were in the midst of a violent uprising against Israel, unleashing suicide bombers in a parade of such horror that many on both sides doubted that peace would ever be possible.
Two years later, the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has begun to change all that. It may be temporary. But it is refreshing to hear Mahmoud Abbas, the favorite to succeed Arafat as president of the Palestinian Authority in elections next month, speak a far different language than his predecessor. Abbas is speaking the language of peace, or at least of peaceful resistance.
In recent days he has reaffirmed his condemnation of the armed violence of the four-year-old uprising against Israel. “The use of weapons is harmful and it should stop,” he said, so that negotiations can take root.
That such a pronouncement, repeating what he said earlier, should be seen as highly controversial throughout so much of the Palestinian world is a sad reminder of just how accepted violence has become in this decades-old struggle for the sliver of land that is cradle to three religions.
There are many who will say that such talk of peace is easy. They’ll say Arafat routinely condemned suicide bombers while doing nothing to stop them. They will point out that Abbas has not condemned attacks on Israeli troops by Palestinians, nor has he indicated that he would use Palestinian security forces to crack down on factions that continue to carry out attacks.
All of that is true. But Abbas, who succeeded Arafat as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, seems to be swaying Palestinian public opinion. He and others may be slowly changing the poisoned atmosphere, a key requisite before any true peace talks can begin.
For many years, Palestinian TV has been filled with images of young men injured or killed fighting Israelis. Palestinian clerics have incited hatred of Israelis and have celebrated teenage suicide bombers. Indeed, much of the most violent and virulent rhetoric is aimed at indoctrinating children to hate from a young age. The New York Times, for instance, reported an incident in which a TV show for children featured a talking yellow bird that responded to questions from youngsters in the audience.
“A little girl asked what the bird would do if someone cut down the olive trees in front of her house. The bird replied: `I’ll call the whole world and make a riot. I’ll bring AK-47s and the whole world and commit a massacre in front of the house.'”
After years of indoctrination, those kinds of attitudes don’t change overnight. But in recent weeks, some have noticed a softening. Some clerics have toned down their harsh rhetoric. There is talk of reconciliation in some Palestinian circles, the Times reported. On Palestinian television, Israeli troops are called by more neutral terms than the “savage occupation forces.”
These are small changes, to be sure. But they are welcome.
At the same time, the Israelis are talking again about the “road map,” and about coordinating their Gaza Strip withdrawal with the Palestinians. There’s a new trade agreement with Egypt and the U.S. Even Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon seems to be optimistic. In a recent speech he declared that the opportunity for a “historic breakthrough” with the Palestinians could well be at hand.
“In 2005, we have the opportunity for an historic breakthrough in the relations between us and the Palestinians, a breakthrough for which we have waited many years. … We must take the initiative. This is the hour, this is the time. This is the national test.”
The gulf between Palestinians and Israelis remains wide and deep. A few days or weeks of detente won’t even begin to bridge the mistrust on both sides that has ossified over the years. Palestinians in dismaying numbers still support violence. And Israelis don’t trust any Palestinian leader to crack down on the terrorists, who have successfully “vetoed” with violence previous attempts at peace.
There have been many false hopes for peace raised in past decades. But every peace effort starts somewhere. Is the world witnessing such a beginning? Is this really the hour? We’ll soon see. At the very least, it is a hopeful thought to contemplate, on this day, in this season, and beyond.
