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The Ongoing Peace Process

© Bryan Dietzler

It appears as if all sides in the Arab-Israeli Conflict are beginning to give peace a chance. Just this weekend, it was announced that a three-month cease-fire would occur between Israel and the militant groups Islamic Jihad, HAMAS and the Al Aqusa Martyrs Brigade. In reaction to the cease-fire agreement, the Israeli military returned a 25-mile strip of highway, in the Gaza Strip, to Palestinian control and are beginning to vacate a large majority of the Strip. This was a welcome concession for Palestine and a sign that Israel is serious about making peace with the people of Palestine.

Now, a separate militant arm of the Al Aqusa Martyrs Brigade has endangered the whole peace process by shooting a Romanian worker, saying that they do not agree with nor would partake in the cease-fire agreement. With a "rouge" group like that complicating matters, it will only be a matter or time before the peace process breaks down once again and make the Roadmap to Peace ineffective. The Palestinian Authority must keep on pressuring these groups to cease all hostile activities in order to help keep the peace process going. This is a job that they might be reluctant to do but they do know it is something they have to do.

It is impressive that the violent Palestinian militants have agreed to a cease-fire. After all, they have been on the offensive for so long and still not having achieved their goals, you would think that they want to keep up the fight. Maybe, they are seeing that their goal of ridding their land of the Zionist enemy will not come to fruition and that Israel is not ever going to leave. However, if all sides move in the direction of peace, Israel will return the occupied territories to their previous owners and hopefully all can live side-by-side in peace. We will see if this actually happens.

On the Israeli side, it will take a lot of self-control and restraint in order for them to keep up with this cease-fire. We all know full well what Israel's policy is on retaliation for terrorist attacks upon their citizens and if someone slips up and attacks an Israel, will they retaliate? Due to their aggressive nature, I don't think that Israel will hold back retaliation for an attack on its people or it's infrastructure. However, I think that if they are attacked they should show some restraint, depending on the severity of the attack. Maybe that will show that they are willing to concede to peace by not reacting so violently to certain attacks. Then again, Israel does have a right to defend itself.