Middle East peace conference

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THE United States is sponsoring the Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis. The step is welcome but serious doubts still exist over how far it will help bring an end to the long-lingering problem. The creation of a viable Palestinian state holds out the key to resolution of this problem and Israel must appreciate this need in right earnest. So far the Israeli authorities have not made it clear that they are really willing to accommodate a free and sovereign Palestinian state. The US administration and all others concerned do need to exert all pressure on Israel to accept this need.
President Bush has, in his remarks prepared for the Annapolis conference, stated that time is right to relaunch the ME peace talks to create a Palestinian state because, of what he said, "a battle is under way for the future" of the troubled region. There is no denying that peacemaking at this juncture of history is an opportunity that "cannot be missed". Under the changed circumstances, there has to be genuine effort by all concerned to move the ME peace talks into a fruitful stage so that decades of conflict and bloodshed can end in the troubled region. For this matter, a great deal of responsibility falls particularly on the Israeli leadership, in view of their past intransigence, to prove that they are prepared to work with an independent and sovereign Palestinian state so that both sides can better understand each other to realise their common need. Once Israel proves this in reality through actions, the Palestinian leadership, despite their many internal problems, are expected to do the needful for both Israelis and Palestinians to lead lives of freedom, purpose, dignity and security.
Mohiuddin Babur
Kalabagan, Dhaka