Editorial: Peace is more than just words

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 | 9:28 a.m.

Following their summit in Egypt, both Israel and the Palestinians not only agreed Tuesday to take steps to end the street violence in their region, but they also vowed to work toward a permanent solution to their dispute. But the continued violence by Palestinians, which even occurred shortly after the agreement was reached, casts an ominous cloud. For that matter, the militant Islamic group Hamas wants no part of a cease-fire. "We will continue fighting," Hamas leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin said. So much for peace.

Palestinians blame Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount for the latest tension, but the fact is that it is the Palestinians, not the Israelis, who started this latest round of violence more than two weeks ago. Let's also not forget that it was a Palestinian mob that last week lynched two Israeli soldiers who mistakenly ended up in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat also showed his contempt for peace last week when he released Islamic militants from jail. (As part of the deal reached Tuesday, Arafat agreed to rearrest the militants, though it remains to be seen how successful this endeavor will be.)

The Palestinian leader hasn't come close to matching the overtures made by Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who has made extraordinary concessions in trying to reach a lasting peace. In order for peace to occur, though, Arafat must show he is capable of being a statesman -- something that he has miserably failed to demonstrate.