Cease-fire first step toward hopeful future

New Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon have reached a truce, and we applaud their
efforts to hopefully lead their two nations to a just, true and
lasting peace. Since their announcement last week at the Sharm
el-Sheikh summit, both Israelis and Palestinians, it seems, are at
the crossroads of a new period of prosperity and security.

Still, our joy is tempered with cautious optimism. It is
important to recognize that last week’s agreement to a
cease-fire was just a fragile first step toward a final settlement
between the two peoples. While ongoing developments have given new
life to Israeli-Palestinian relations, many issues are yet to be
addressed.

Future negotiations will of course be difficult. If
there’s any hallmark to the history of these relations,
it’s the sheer complexity behind the issues. For instance,
the militant group Hamas has said that the cease-fire is the
position of the Palestinian Authority only and that it does not
apply to them. Sharon speaks of having to make “painful
concessions” in the near future but says settlements in the
West Bank “will be part of the Jewish state in the
future.”

We express our hope that both sides approach these issues with a
thoughtful recognition of each other’s deepest concerns and
sensitivities, understanding that just and lasting peace is in
their mutual interest.

The emotional power behind many of these issues is awesome.
Settlement withdrawal from Gaza is easy compared to a withdrawal
from the heavily settled, abundant and arable West Bank. Similarly,
dismantling militant groups is still extremely controversial and
carries with it the risk of destabilization.

Still, it would be foolish to let a future of difficulties deter
us from the choices that need to be made right now. Regardless of
the many positions on these issues, there would be no cease-fire to
discuss if the leaders from both sides did not understand this
basic principle.

If the cease-fire offers anything, it at least affords some of
the breathing room required to think about this future with cool
heads. This is an opportunity for all parties to judge for
themselves what kind of life they want to live.

It’s reasonable to believe that if enough people can get
to the point where peace and prosperity are actually tangible
concepts ““ if enough people can go through their days without
fear for their lives and their livelihoods ““ what we now call
hope may become reality.

The cease-fire, prisoner releases and withdrawal of settlements
from Gaza are the first concrete steps toward exactly that
reality.

Fortunately, living in the United States puts us in a unique
position from which we can influence our own leaders to promote
policies that make the most of this new era.

For instance, thanks in part to the work of pro-Israel lobbying
group Americans for Peace Now, Congress recently passed President
Bush’s proposal for $350 million in political and economic
aid to the Palestinian Authority, part of which is to be used to
train police to prevent attacks by militants against Israel.

The National Association of Arab-Americans/Anti-Discrimination
Committee is an example of an American policy outlet coming from
within the Arab-American communities. Also, the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee, whose Web site quotes The New York Times
in declaring them “the most important organization affecting
America’s relationship with Israel,” is an example out
of the Jewish communities.

Although the council held reservations over the
president’s proposal, we can work to support those on both
sides of the conflict who understand that the security and
sovereignty of both Israelis and Palestinians is in their mutual
interest and perhaps even their mutual survival. While a final
two-state solution is ultimately up to them, we have the
opportunity and obligation to do what we can to support conditions
that may facilitate such an agreement.

We can look forward to a difficult yet hopeful future, and we
can start by commending Abbas and Sharon for their courage.

Soleimany is the co-president of the Progressive Jewish
Students’ Association. Green is the president of the Jewish
Student Union.