The Hindu : Zinni's role put to test

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 18, 2002

International

International

Zinni's role put to test

By Kesava Menon

Manama (Bahrain) March 17. The Israelis say that they will not pull out of areas formerly handed over to the control of the Palestinian Authority unless they receive security guarantees. For their part the Palestinians say they will not directly give the Israelis any guarantees over security until the Israeli military withdraws from their towns. The situation seems ripe for a mediator like the U.S. envoy, Anthony Zinni to step in. Gen. Zinni has been shuttling between the Israelis and the Palestinians for the last couple of days. His objective is to achieve a ceasefire and he has promised to stick to the task even if continued outbursts of violence makes it that much more difficult. His promise is being put to the test as Israel has yet to withdraw its armour and troops from all West Bank and Gaza Strip towns.

On the other hand, a Palestinian gunman opened fire in the Israeli town of Kfar Sava today, wounding ten civilians. What makes Gen. Zinni's task more fraught with risk is that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians seem to have lost their appetite for a fight. While both sides are still willing to continue with the offensive, there also seems to be a growing realization that they cannot solve their problems through violence. Both sides need to back off.

Israel realises that the pendulum of international opinion has swung decisively against it with even the U.S. condemning its military operations in the Palestinian territories. The Palestinians too need to back off because the Saudi Arabian peace initiative offers some light at the end of the tunnel. If the Saudi initiative, in whatever form it finally emerges from the Beirut summit, is not used in a renewed search for peace in the region there is not likely to be any other initiative for a long time to come.

Neither side can, of course, back off without losing face. There has been too much of loss of life on both sides for either to be able to contemplate surrender or retreat. Therefore, the demand for security guarantees by the Israelis and the demand for a complete withdrawal by the Palestinians.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

Zinni's role put to test

China alleges nuclear blackmail by U.S.

`Cheney mission finds little support'

Security forces kill 68 Maoists in Nepal

U.K. finds few takers for attack on Iraq

Pak. fails to convince Japan on resuming aid