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Asia Watch by Lynn Ockersz

Is the increasingly savage violence in the Middle East rendering irrelevant, the forces of political moderation? This is one of the most disturbing issues to be raised by the spiral of violence in the region which has steadily undermined peace hopes.

It is the seemingly helpless position of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat which compels the raising of this question. While the violence in the disputed territories has mounted and taken on disturbing dimensions, the Palestinian Authority has given the impression of being incapable of curbing it. Nor are the Palestinian leader's admonitions being heeded by the forces of political extremism. As he always been the case after the now familiar suicide bomb blasts on Israeli territory, Arafat was quoted as denouncing the most recent terror attacks too in Israel which claimed scores of casualties. "In line with my responsibilities, I announce my concern in the interest of our people and our future, my total condemnation of all operations targeting Israeli civilians, which have nothing to do with our legitimate right to resist (Israeli) occupation", the Palestinian leader stated soon after the two devastating suicide attacks on civilians inside Israel. On Tuesday, a Palestinian blew himself up in a bus carrying several schoolchildren, among other commuters, in Southern Jerusalem, killing 19 Israelis and wounding 50 others. In the second suicide blast the next day, six civilians were killed at an Israel bus stop and 37 others wounded.

Israeli and her Western backers have been quick to point an accusing finger at Arafat and the Palestinian Authority for failure to rein in the forces of extremism in the Palestinian camp, but the simple truth is that the moderates have been upstaged by the hardliners in the Palestinian resistance. The bomb wielding angry young men seem to be taking over from the seasoned advocates of political compromise.

The voices of extremism are bound to drown out those of political moderation in the Palestinian camp as long as Israel and its Western backers prove unyielding on the principal demands of the Palestinians. Hawkishness on one side will generate corresponding tendencies in the other.

The situation in the Middle East has deteriorated to the degree to which Israel has succumbed to a tough law and order approach to the Palestinian insurrection. What the Israeli authorities and their supporters need to remember is that the ordinary Palestinian masses do not back the wanton violence unleashed on Israeli civilians by Palestinian extremist forces. However, tough security measures currently being adopted by the Israelis, such as the deployment of Israeli troops in Palestinian West Bank cities and the curbing of civil rights in these areas, could push more and more Palestinians into the arms of extremists.

Admittedly, this is a most complex situation which makes the military option look attractive to the Israeli authorities but efforts need to be made to support and uphold the Palestinian moderate camp headed by Yasser Arafat. A conflict-resolution strategy centred on meeting the needs of the Palestinian masses, through the Palestinian Authority, could pay dividends.

However, a rejection of the idea of Palestinian statehood at this juncture could turn even the Palestinian moderates against a political settlement. Unfortunately, this is exactly what Israeli Premier, Ariel Sharon's Likud bloc Party has reportedly done. In a recent resolution, the party had rejected both the Palestinian statehood concept as well their right to self-determination, thus considerably clouding prospects of working towards a negotiated solution based on a recognition of Palestinian rights.

The urgent need right now, is for the international community to explore the possibility of de-escalating tensions and antagonisms in South West Asia in particular, where a US-spearheaded "War against global terror" is on. There is no doubt that the conflict in Afghanistan is spilling over into the Middle-East, for, the extremist-fuelled "Holy War" is said to be global in scope.

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