Hillel Newman:
...History tells us the chances of the Palestinians seizing the moment are remote.
The second question is one of both power and will: Will the Palestinian leadership take concrete steps to reign in terrorist groups and stop teaching hate? If they lack the power to do this, they will undoubtedly lack the power to implement any agreements. If they lack the will to do this, they cannot be genuine partners in peace. It is impossible to achieve peace in an atmosphere of terror and incitement.
Under Arafat, Palestinian children were taught to glorify hate and death, and the media continuously broadcast sermons advocating the killing of Jews. Just last week, the interim Palestinian leadership ordered government-controlled media to stop broadcasting anti-Israel incitement.
This is a positive sign, but Israel is waiting to see whether this order and further changes will actually be implemented and whether they will reach the Palestinian educational system. The next Palestinian government must build legitimacy by educating their children to become the next generation's teachers and doctors rather than the world's next suicide bombers.
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Finally, the new Palestinian leadership must seize this moment of opportunity to build a free society with democratic institutions and rule of law. The new leadership must provide a vision for the future that establishes civil society and nurtures new ideas instead of old hatreds.
These are life and death questions. They are not Israeli demands, but the basic conditions for life to continue in the region. The answers that the new Palestinian leadership gives will determine whether Arafat's death will mark a real turning point in the Middle East conflict or just one more missed opportunity.
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