Reply #7: Of course. [View All]

Any political settlement requires that the violent be
effectively restrained, that people be given some better
options to pursue in life.

It has always seemed to me that Mr. Abbas was primarily
a symbolic presence, a seed around which peaceful intentions
might crystallize if the will were present. The will still seems
lacking, and I doubt any progress will be made now, at least for
the time being. Your prescription might alter that.

I did find it interesting that Mr. Powell deems it suitable to
address Arafat again, and I wonder what that means? Various
speculations come to mind.

I find the present situation interesting also in that noises are
being made about the PA going after Hamas. I have little feel for
it, its a local political matter, but I have to wonder who will
win that fight, if it happens?