"Without peace there can be no authentic development for the region, no better life for its peoples, no brighter future for its children". Pope John Paul launched his historic visit to Jordan, Israel and Palestine yesterday by underlining that grave and urgent issues of justice and the rights of nations and peoples form the basis on which peace can actually be achieved. His words come at a time when there is a genuine opportunity in forthcoming negotiations to bring that moment of peace much closer to reality.
Israeli and Palestinian representatives meet today in Washington to tackle the outstanding issues on the final agenda of their long journey towards an agreement. Israel has just handed over another 6.1 per cent of West Bank land to the Palestinian Authority, bringing an overall 39.8 per cent of previously Israeli-occupied land and 60 per cent of its 1.8 million people under the authority's control. An ambitious target date of May has been set for agreeing a draft treaty, which it is still hoped to ratify by September this year. The status of Jerusalem, return of refugees, security guarantees and a final land control settlement are yet to be agreed, in a daunting and difficult final effort to complete a deal.
President Clinton is very anxious to wrap up the agreement before he leaves office - an opportunity that also suits other parties to the talks. His announcement yesterday that he is to meet President Assad of Syria in Geneva next week applies necessary pressure on that track of the Middle East peace process. Mr Assad suspended talks with Israel because of its government to make a commitment to withdraw completely from the Golan Heights strategic plateau. The Israeli prime minister, Mr Barak, cannot carry his cabinet colleagues along with him on that score and must hold a referendum on the question when negotiations are finished. But he has got them to agree to a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, which remains a virtual Syrian protectorate. However suspicious Mr Assad is of this move, it suits him to work with Mr Clinton in an attempt to get the negotiations moving again before Mr Clinton leaves office and Syria is left sidelined by progress on the Israeli-Palestinian front.
Thus a shared interest for talks exists between Syria, Lebanon and Israel as well as between Israel and the Palestinians - and there is also the political will to make rapid progress. On all sides there are political difficulties, but not insurmountable obstacles. Change elsewhere in the region adds to the momentum. The United States has acknowledged policy errors in its dealing with Iran and recognised the significance of recent political events there following the strong endorsement of reformist candidates in recent elections. This is a welcome development indeed because of Iran's influence on the peace process; it can also help to reconcile US and European approaches, given their differing attitudes to dealing with that country.
The Pope faces an exceedingly sensitive task as he visits the Middle East this week. He is to be commended for his emphasis on justice, national and human rights in his initial statement - underlining how fundamental these are for achieving authentic peace and development.