President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who have been lightning rods for criticism at home and abroad over the war in Iraq, have taken a decidedly positive step on another Middle East front.
Their comments Friday about a renewed peace effort between Israel and the Palestinians, particularly those of the president, showed a sincere desire to seize the opportunity presented by Yassir Arafat’s death. With a major roadblock to the “road map to peace” out of the picture, and both sides surely weary from the latest four years of bloodshed, Bush and Blair have spotted an opening to renew the peace process.
And in articulating his vision of what such a process should yield, Bush delivered a clear and compelling argument for his larger Middle East view: that the more we sow the seeds of democracy, the better the chances for lasting peace and security. He and Blair hammered home the point that for any effort to succeed, the new Palestinian leadership must effectively fight terrorism and create a free, democratic political structure.
” … the reason why I’m so strong on democracy is democracies don’t go to war with each other,” the president said Friday during a joint appearance with Blair at the White House. ” … the Palestinians will realize that there is a bright future because freedom is taking hold – a future that enables their children to get educated; a future in which they can start their businesses; a future in which they’re certain that the money that’s going into the treasury of their government is being spent fairly, in a transparent way; a future in which corruption is not the norm; a future in which rule of law prevails. And that leads to a peaceful society.”
Strong, courageous Palestinian leadership will be required to get there, of course. Violent Palestinian factions, with the help of outside forces, will do everything they can to undermine any effort toward peace with Israel. Catering to terrorists is what kept Arafat in charge, while at the same time rendering him irrelevant on the international stage.
But it also will take strong, determined and consistent leadership from the West. Bush and Blair have sent a welcome signal that they’re up to the task.
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