Sunday, January 27, 2002

Trusting Pessimissm
THIS is how peace was supposed to come to Israelis and Palestinians over the last eight years: Israel would yield territory parcel by parcel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority would strive to keep Israelis safe and the antagonists would come to understand and trust each other as they coordinated the handoffs.

It was to be a true process of peace, a self-reinforcing cycle powered by an incrementalism of ever-bigger, reciprocal concessions and tightening ties that would yield common economic interests, tranquillity and, ultimately, reconciliation.
Incrementalism turned out to be as powerful an engine as the framers of the Oslo accords envisioned. But it has so far proved most effective in reverse.

Things here have a way of going bad, staying that way long enough for everyone to adjust and then getting worse. Yesterday's horrifying attack becomes tomorrow's familiar tactic; yesterday's terrifying reprisal becomes tomorrow's starting point. Everyone says they have no other choice.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/27/weekinreview/27BENN.html

No comments:

Post a Comment

con·cept