Economist.com | The Middle East peace summit:
Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas have declared an end to all hostilities after their first summit, in Sharm el-Sheikh. So, after four years of bloodshed, can the uprising be over? There is cause for optimism, though we have been here before.
“THE calm which will prevail in our lands starting from today is the beginning of a new era,†declared Mahmoud Abbas after his first summit as Palestinian leader with the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon. “For the first time in a long time there exists in our region hope for a better future for us and our grandchildren,†concurred Mr Sharon. Beautiful words but, as Mr Sharon pointed out, given the failure of previous Middle East summits’ grand declarations to put an end to the bloodshed, only “deeds, not words†will achieve two states living side-by-side in peace.