So (today) both sides would require some serious arm-twisting, in order to negotiate a compromise peace.
Which sides are those? On Israel's side, it's clear - there is one government (or will be when Sharon forms it). Whether Sharon is sincere or not, he's the guy you must deal with.
But who is the Palestinian side? Hamas rules Gaza in all but name, and is openly talking about taking over. Your guess is as good as mine who rules the West Bank, aside from the occupying IDF. Al Aqsa is threatening the PA Interior Minister, branches of Fatah take their orders from Damascus, as does Hamas; PIJ takes orders from Tehran, Saddam is buying as many Palestinians as he can, and the PLC would like to institute reform but cannot while Arafat still controls the money and some of the gunmen. And if there is one single thing Arafat knows how to do, it's how to keep control over the money and the gunmen.
In short, it's damn close to anarchy. Nobody could deliver a peace, and nobody in power wants one, except some of the more rational lieutenants of the PLO, but while they don't have the money, their voices don't count. And culturally, the Palestinians can never get rid of Arafat, who has made himself into a kind of walking human flag with lifetime tenure, no matter how many disasters he leads them into. |
