A Wake-Up Call
By Yossi Amrani,
Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest Region

Three weeks of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories have left more than a hundred people dead and thousands injured. As if necessary, these events remind us that peace can only be achieved around the negotiating table and not in street battles. The time has come for the Palestinian leadership to follow Israel's footsteps and take historic decisions for peace.

At Camp David and during subsequent rounds of negotiations, Prime Minister Barak sent Chairman Arafat, as well as other Arab leaders, a wake-up call: Israel is ready to make peace and, in order to do so, to sacrifice some of its national dreams and aspirations. We have understood that no one could expect to achieve 100% of his goals or desires. We now hope the Palestinian Authority will come to the same realization.

Israel recognizes the rights of the Palestinians. At the same time, we expect the Palestinians to recognize Israel's right to exist as well as the Jewish People's attachment to the Land of Israel.

The riots, incitements and scenes of hatred against Israel have raised doubts concerning the Palestinians' willingness to put an end to the conflict that has torn Jews and Arabs apart for close to 120 years. Questioning Chairman Arafat's readiness to make significant compromises, Israeli society has grown uncertain about the possibility of reaching peace with the Palestinians in our lifetime.

The picture of a smiling young Palestinian waving his hands covered with the blood of an Israeli soldier that had just been lynched by a Palestinian mob will be hard to erase from the Israeli collective national consciousness.

Despite Chairman Arafat's commitment to put an end to violence following the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, clashes have erupted in Judea and Samaria, the Gaza Strip and neighborhoods in Jerusalem, threatening to further derail the peace process and spill the conflict over to other countries in the Middle East. All parties must do everything in their power in order to avoid an escalation of hostilities.

Israel expects Chairman Arafat to behave as a partner in peace and to understand that firing live ammunition and throwing Molotov cocktails and stones will not advance his negotiating positions. There is a need for Chairman Arafat to keep his word and issue, with his own voice, a call to his people to restore calm and tranquility.

Despite their skepticism regarding the possibility of achieving peace, Israelis know that there is no military solution to the conflict. The Israeli society and its leadership are bent on putting an end to it. Israel and the Palestinians have more to gain from peace than they have from a continuation of violence.

Throughout its history Israel has never resorted to arms by choice. It has always been our last option. It must be stressed that during the recent weeks of conflict, the country's defense forces tried their best to show restraint, disengage and avoid escalation with the Palestinian Authority.

There were those who misread Israel's call to cease hostility and resume negotiations as a sign of weakness - This is not the case.

An increase in violent incidents is a development we must avoid above all. As Israelis and Palestinians find themselves facing the future, it is time to make historic decisions. The path leading to peace should be all the more easy to find, as in the past several months the two parties have bridged most of their differences on critical issues.

Prime Minister Barak's wake-up call comes at a crucial time. In a few days, the Arab League will meet in Egypt for its first summit in many years. It is incumbent upon moderate Arab leaders to avoid unleashing violent diatribes against Israel or further inciting the Palestinians to violence. The events of recent weeks have taught us that fires are easy to ignite but sometimes impossible to extinguish.

It is a wake-up call for the Palestinian Authority and for the region itself. It is a renewed chance for peace.