Refreshing Relief From Past Bluster : Palestinians eschew Arafat-style posturing

“My God,” said an exasperated Secretary of State James A. Baker III in an unguarded moment, “it’s incredible what they can argue about!”

Welcome to the world of Middle East diplomacy.

In Madrid over the weekend Baker and his aides were again exposed to the full force of that wearisome procedural wrangling that earlier mediators in the Arab-Israeli conflict grew to know so well. When it comes to vying for advantage, no point is too inconsequential simply to be conceded, no detail is too trivial not to be debated at length.

And yet, for all the maddening difficulties surrounding the historic encounter in Madrid, real progress was achieved. Syria, all but visibly kicking and screaming, was forced finally to show up for direct if unconstructive talks with Israel, shattering a barrier against such contacts of more than 40 years’ standing.

More encouraging, a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation met with Israelis in what from all accounts was a businesslike and civilized--even cordial--session.

Egypt’s late President Anwar Sadat used to say that 90% of the problem between Arabs and Israelis was psychological. At a minimum the psychological climate between Israel and its Arab enemies has been altered, certainly for the better.

The Palestinian delegation, drawn from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, did not seek to hide--and in some cases boldly proclaimed--its loyalties to the Palestine Liberation Organization. But the delegation’s approach to the talks departed dramatically from the posturing and bluster so typical of Yasser Arafat and other PLO leaders whenever they are in the limelight.

It’s unambiguously clear now that a local Palestinian leadership has emerged in the occupied territories, and its agenda ultimately may prove to be quite different from the PLO’s.

It’s also clear that the moderation of this new group of leaders invites risk. Baker made a point of paying special tribute to the “personal courage” of Faisal Husseini, the longtime West Bank activist, and Hanan Ashrawi, the spokeswoman for the Palestinian delegation. Their lives, along with others, have been threatened by radicals in Iran and within the PLO.

Agreement is yet to be reached on where the next round of bilateral talks should be held. It’s interesting that no one sees this immediate lack of accord as insurmountable. A process has begun, and as it goes on, the political will to see it through might just grow apace.