The Opportunity Of A Lifetime

With the recent victory of Mahmoud Abbas in the Palestinian presidential elections official, the major question now is whether Abbas will work with Israel and the U.S. in working towards a peaceful, two state solution. This means that Abbas must stop the terror against Israel. Recent comments he has made have led me to doubt if he is willing to do this, for he has declared support for Arafat's old group, Fatah, among other things.

Positions like these are identical to those of his predecessor. Mr. Abbas cannot afford to be another Arafat, he must be strong and willing to defeat the terrorist elements within the Palestinian territories. Both President Bush and PM Sharon have expressed a willingness to work with Abbas, and he must take this opportunity to make inroads in creating a peaceful Palestine that doesn't threaten the security of Israel. With Arafat out of the way, Mr. Abbas and the Palestinians have the opportunity of a lifetime to finally realize their dream of statehood, and if they are to squander this opportunity, they will condemn themselves for generations to the same poverty and destitution the current intifada has brought them.