A Special Moment in Mideast

It’s always dangerous to hope for too much in the Middle East. The sharp decline in violence since Mahmoud Abbas was elected to succeed Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian Authority is a moment that could easily collapse. But for the first time in years, there’s a sense that it could, this time, be a harbinger of a more lasting peace.

The Israeli Cabinet this week approved the release of 900 Palestinian prisoners and withdrawal of the army from several West Bank cities. Those are just the latest steps in the improvements that have drawn the United States energetically back into the peace process.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her first overseas trip as Washington’s top diplomat and will soon meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas. President Bush, in his State of the Union speech, said the U.S. will provide $350 million to the Palestinian Authority for political, economic and security reforms. Rice’s visit, the financial aid and, as icing on the cake, Bush’s invitation to Abbas to visit the White House will let Abbas show the Palestinians that he, not Islamic radicals and terrorists, can deliver a better future.

Abbas traveled to Gaza soon after his election last month to urge Hamas and Islamic Jihad to end their attacks on Israelis. He supported the plea by deploying Palestinian police in the occupied territory to help prevent cross-border assaults when Sharon removes Israeli settlers from Gaza this year, a controversial and courageous move by Sharon. Israeli and Palestinian security officials are talking and coordinating.

Sharon, who refused to deal with Arafat, will meet with Abbas next week at a summit hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt is playing a major role in bringing Israelis and Palestinians together and will be important in guarding its border with Gaza after the settlements are dismantled. King Abdullah of Jordan also will attend.

After more than four years of renewed violence and Israeli reestablishment of control in cities previously governed by Palestinians, the relative respite from violence should be welcome in Israel and the occupied territories. Israelis should be able to ride buses and eat in hotels free from fear of suicide bombers; Palestinians should be able to walk the streets and sleep at home free from fear of an Israeli bullet fired at a terrorist but hitting an innocent target.