On February 8, leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority met in Sharm el-Shiekh, Egypt. This followed a visit to the region of the newly appointed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Secretary Rice is pressing the administration’s case for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the creation of a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza with Jerusalem as its capitol. As a result of the meeting in Egypt, PM Sharon and PA leader Abbas declared a cease-fire in their respective areas. The whole world is excited about this declaration as if it meant something. The promises of the Palestinian Authority have been given repeatedly but there has never been any progress in fulfilling these promises. Mr. Abbas undoubtedly learned from his predecessor, Yassir Arafat, that words are all that need be given by the Palestinians while real territorial concessions are called for and made by Israel.

The terms of the “Road Map” plan specify that the Palestinian Authority will disarm the numerous terrorist groups operating within their area of authority as a preliminary step to advancing the plan. This would include HAMAS, Islamic Jihad, and divisions of the PA’s own militia such as the “Al Aksa Brigade”. Mr. Abbas has held discussions with these organizations encouraging them to agree to a cease-fire. He has made no effort, whatsoever, to disarm them. Quite to the contrary, during the recent election campaigns, Mr. Abbas vowed to protect these very Palestinian terrorists from Israel. His only difference with Yassir Arafat was tactical not strategic. He maintained that the violent intafada was not profitable for the Palestinian cause. He agreed with Mr. Arafat concerning the cause – the destruction of the state of Israel and the formation of a Palestinian state in its place.

So once again there is exuberance in the capitals of the nations, on the campuses of great universities and in the board rooms of major media about the prospect for peace in the Middle-East. Twelve years ago, September 1993, there was similar exuberance after the famous handshake on the White House lawn between Mr. Rabin, Mr. Arafat and Mr. Clinton. That exuberance gradually died out with attack after attack by the Palestinians on the Israeli public. Thousands of Israeli lives have been needlessly lost to demonstrate, once again, that the Palestinian ambition is not to live in peace but to annihilate the state of Israel. It appears that the Mr. Sharon and those making up his government is prepared to forfeit countless more lives to demonstrate how world-minded and humane they are. What will be demonstrated is that the Palestinians are absolutely relentless in their quest to destroy Israel. No negotiation will ever change this fact.