A Chance for Peace
(Israel-Palestine Conflict)

Death diminishes us. Since we cannot give back life, we have no right to take life away. The protection of life and property is the sacred task of the security professionals. Any sign or possibility of abiding peace conditions, as opposed to climate of strife and strain, war or terrorism, is thus most welcome to the security profession - be it at any level and in the public or the private sector. The latest developments in Israel-Palestine relationship, practically led and guided by the US President George W. Bush, do therefore give us glimpses that history, history of peace, is going to be created soon. We reproduce excerpts from what The Economist of June 7, 2003, has put forth in this connection:

"It had to be done, and it has been. America's wholehearted bid for an Israeli-Palestinian peace has long been the prerequisite for wholehearted Arab support. Three years ago, Bill Clinton gave it his all, and cannot be blamed that his striving ended in failure. Now, after Iraq, as the Middle East quivers with the hope of awakening democracy, and with the fear of it all going disastrously wrong, American surefooted determination is more crucial than ever. At Sharm el-Sheikh and at Aqaba this week, George Bush made a good beginning, reiterating America's commitment to a just peace, in which Israel is safe from Palestinian terrorism, and the Palestinians enjoy a state that is a single geographic unit, not a sham of Bantustans.

Moreover, America's president sounded as if his dedication was not just for the photo opportunity. As well as appointing a special envoy, John Wolf, who would be reporting back on whether or not the Israelis and Palestinians were fulfilling their commitments, Mr. Bush said that Condoleezza Rice, his national security adviser, and Colin Powell, the secretary of state, would make implementing the road map to peace their 'highest priority". Standing either side of Mr. Bush, Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas each made strong statements. Israel's prime minister said he would seek to restore normal life to the cooped-up, harassed Palestinians in the occupied territories, and spoke of working towards a viable Palestinian state; the Palestinian prime minister swore to make every effort and use every means to end the armed 'intifada'; terrorism, he said, was contrary to the Islamic faith."

We hope and pray we shall see in real time the realisation of what once appeared to be only a dream.

D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB, MHA (Govt. of India),
Executive President & CEO, IISSM.