Western nations must support peace in Middle East

The dramatic breakthrough in the talks between Israel and the PLO announced this last week stunned much of the world. It seemed more likely that the older pattern of the key players in the game of Middle East politics ignoring each other was to be repeated as peace talks reopened in Washington, D.C. In fact, however, the Labor-led coalition government of Israel was being true to its election promise that it would pursue the peace process with all earnestness and vigor and would produce tangible results in its first year in office. While it didn't quite meet its own deadline, we now know they were in fact faithful to their election promise.

Rabin's government is still having its problems with a fragile coalition, strong Kukud opposition and a poor economy. Unfortunately, the recent violent demonstrations against the government by Likud leaders, right wing settlers and other religious zealots does not bode well for the government's future nor does the court-ordered resignation of two cabinet ministers. Also, the Rabin government has yet to face the challenge of accepting more than 400,000 new immigrants from the former USSR, of whom approximately one-third are unemployed; both government and immigrants are struggling with an absorption process that has been as difficult as any social challenge in Israel's history. If there were to be a peace dividend, it couldn't come soon enough for the Israelis. As Islamic extremist and fundamentalist groups threatened Israel's northern borders and infiltrated various occupied areas, causing an increase in violent acts of terror, at least some enlightened leaders in the government decided it was time to give peace a chance and talk to and recognize their historic enemy, the PLO.

In turning to the PLO and finally recognizing them, first in secret and later in public, both Israeli and PLO negotiators were struck by how much they had in common. They even discovered ways to compromise. To be sure, everyone says that the PLO chose negotiation instead of more terrorism because after backing Iraq in the Gulf War they were bankrupt, that they were being eclipsed by the appointed Palestinian delegation to the peace talks and that this was their last chance. Indeed, Arafat is 64 and wants to see tangible results after all these years of effort. Moreover, the PLO is just as fearful of Hamas, Hezebollah and Islamic Jihad as are the Israelis, or even the Jordanians and the Egyptians, which is why Rabin's recent foray into southern Lebanon met with so little hostility. None of these countries could survive without dealing forcefully with such extremist elements. For the Palestinians, thus, as well as for the PLO and all its numbers elsewhere, it was time to give peace a chance and to deal with their long-standing enemies, the Israelis.

Whatever forces of fate and history may have conspired to bring Israel and the PLO together we in the West, and especially the U.S. government, cannot afford to let any of the voices of extremism have their way. The Likud party and right wing settlers cannot be allowed to derail the peace process, already very fragile and in need of nurture from everyone in the region. The radical elements within the PLO should not be allowed to derail the daring initiative of Arafat and his most trusted advisors. Western governments and Arab leaders and nations friendly to them must do their part to encourage the peace process, offering future aid if possible.

Rabin and Peres need the full support of the U.S. government more than ever now that they have crossed the rubicon. This does not mean that the U.S. alone will have to foot the new bill for West Bank development, estimated to be $12 billion. The Scandinavian nations have already pledged $150 million and other countries, especially the Gulf States, will have to come in also to help rebuild the necessary infrastructure and shattered economies and dreams of a people in a region that has been struggling with itself for most of this century. The rest of the world will also have to continue providing aid and investing in Israel and, in addition, the new Palestinian entity if peace is to have a chance. The United States, Europe and Japan cannot do this alone.

Perhaps it was the specter of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and the sheer horror of war there that shocked historic enemies into deciding that there could be nothing worse than to continue the never-ending spiral of hate and killing. Perhaps it was the fear of Iran in its quest to convert peoples of the region into its fundamentalist model that brought two fragile governments together, one from exile. Perhaps it was recognizing that the world was simply getting tired of the Arab-Israeli conflict and that there were other priorities that needed tending to that led Abraham and Ishmael to Oslo, Norway, in search of each other.

Whatever caused these estranged bedfellows to pursue a course that could ultimately lead to a regional alliance of nations that might resemble the Common Market, albeit in Middle Eastern guise, the West must not forget now much of itself it has left behind in the Middle East. For Americans and Europeans especially, now is the time to support the peace that never was. In giving peace in the Middle East the chance it deserves, all of us have the opportunity of reclaiming the Jewish, Christian and Islamic past and culture we all share. Give peace a chance!

Eric Meyers is a professor in the Department of Religion.