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Al-Ahram Weekly 20 - 26 May 1999 Issue No. 430 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 20 - 26 May 1999 Issue No. 430
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Supplement Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Time for change
The impact of Israeli policies on the peace process in recent years has been purely destructive. During his time in office, Netanyahu was an example of what any statesman worthy of the name should not do. Most notably, he reneged on every one of the agreements he and his predecessors have signed, setting a dangerous precedent for diplomacy and international law.
Due to his refusal to implement even the most basic provisions of these agreements, Israelis and Palestinians alike have lost all faith in the possibility of peace, and have ceased to consider agreements as binding on the parties who sign them.
These are grave developments, showing as they do how rapidly attitudes that took years to forge can be undermined. It would be possible for the Israeli forces to withdraw from the Occupied Territories overnight, but confidence-building takes a far longer time. Without trust, there can be no peace; nor can the idea of peace itself retain any measure of credibility in these circumstances.
There is hope that the electoral victory of the Labour Party led by Barak will change this situation. More important, however, is that the Israeli public must realise it is time for a serious change. It is possible for the Israelis to work for peace, by influencing their government's policies.
Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
