It's Time

It's a start. Perhaps it's a start that will lead to a breakthrough. We can hope so. The world looks on, hardly knowing what to think. Is this finally a legitimate road to somewhere? Will it finally lead to an end to that impossible impasse? Is it possible that the indomitable will not to bend will relax and allow itself flexibility in the name of humanity? Still, it remains an uneven situation with so many disturbing sidebars and deadly incidents it's hard to believe that the protagonists will become partners in discussions leading to a hopeful future.

Wasn't it only yesterday that I read words issued from Mahmoud Abbas, a declaration that the Palestinian Authority is prepared to release the captured Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit? With no strings attached, as a goodwill gesture, a peace move, an indication that the PA is serious about working toward peace. And didn't I think to myself, what? again!? No quid pro quo? Likely! Even so, today's news reveals that Hamas, the other half of the PA has handed over a list of Palestinians held in Israeli jails; a wish list for the release of Palestinians incarcerated for their active acts of sabotage and murder against the legitimacy of Israel.

"These names have been presented to the Egyptian [mediators], who in turn have presented it to the Israeli side", Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. "There is clear progress in the fact a list of names has been presented." The opaque language of the Middle East. This is progress? The presentation of a list of prisoners to be released? Is there an underlying message that with the release of the Palestinians, this gesture will be one of trust enabling, not only the release f Corporal Shalit, but the recognition by Hamas that they are a nascent state dealing with a well-established state whose presence and legality is now accepted unconditionally by Hamas?

Or do we, as usual, read too much into such situations, wishing to believe it to be so? It might, and it conceivably could be so. Although Mr. Barhoum did not divulge the numbers the list represented, Israeli media reported the roster listed roughly one thousand, three hundred Palestinians. That is one awful lot of people to be released into a still unsteady atmosphere of 'resistence by all means against occupation'. In previous such releases of Palestinian prisoners when the State of Israel agreed to hand over Palestinians in their hundreds in exchange of a handful of Israelis, most of the released Palestinians simply reverted to the same terror tactics against the state which had originally caused their imprisonment.

Is this the scenario Israel is facing yet again? Or are the possibilities deeper and more meaningful to all concerned? Can this mean some progress in talks between Israel and the PA can be assured? Some of the names on this long list represent Palestinians whose flirtation with terrorism has tagged them with the blood of Israeli citizens. Israeli is not too fond of the remoteness of releasing murderers of her people to freedom, and the potential to recreate the same situations that prevailed when they were caught, judged and imprisoned. Where is Solomon when you need his great wisdom?

On the other hand, there is one particular prisoner, a long-time resident of the Israeli prison system. He in particular has the ear and the loyalty of many Fatah members, and was indeed elected into the PA parliament in the last election that also brought Hamas to power. Qassam Barghouti, himself recently released from the Israeli prison cell which he shared with his father claims his father Hamid has changed. "He believes that what happened in 1948 is a part of history and we, as Palestinians, must now accept that there will always be an Israel" the young man claimed. "The only solution for this conflict must be two states side by side, an Israeli state and a Palestinian state."

Amen. Perhaps there is indeed hope for the future.