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From The Times
March 17, 2008

Diplomatic 'surge' to boost Middle East peace

James Hider in Jerusalem

With the Middle East peace process at its lowest ebb since being revived last year, a diplomatic “surge” is to take place in the coming months, culminating in President Bush's return for a second visit to join the May celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.

Some Western diplomats fear that failure to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority — which has already lost the Gaza Strip to Hamas — could irrevocably strengthen the hand of extremists. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, arrived yesterday. She will be followed this week by Dick Cheney, the US Vice-President, and John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate. Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, is expected to make two trips in the coming months, while President Sarkozy of France is scheduled to visit later in the spring. David Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, is also expected. International conferences are to be held in London, Berlin, Bethlehem and perhaps Moscow to draw more investment into the Palestinian economy and shore up security.

The next two months are regarded as being a key period in building Palestinian confidence that Israel really is serious about a two-state solution. But the bloodshed of recent weeks, and Jewish settlements in the West Bank, strain the fragile process.

You claim "the next two months are regarded as being a key period in building Palestinian confidence that Israel really is serious about a two-state solution."

Yet the vast majority of Palestinians support the attack on Jerusalem's Mercaz Harav Yeshiva that killed eight Israeli students earlier this month, according to a new poll conducted by Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki. 84 percent of those surveyed stood behind the shooting attack. In addition, 64% supported the firing of Kassam rockets at Israeli towns.

The survey also indicated the majority of Palestinians would choose Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (47%) over Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (46%) if elections were called now, and that three-quarters of Palestinians favored terminating negotiations between Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

What does this mean to Israeli confidence that there is anyone even interested in peace over in the Palestinian territories?

Steve S, Los Angeles, USA

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