The stalemate —Uri Avnery

[Violet_Crumble]

Both sides are exhausted. Both sides need the ceasefire. But a ceasefire is only an interlude, not peace itself. If wisdom prevails in Israel negotiations for a final settlement will start at once. If wisdom does not prevail (and in politics, the victory of wisdom would be something new), this ceasefire will end up like many before: just an interval in fighting

Perhaps the second intifada has come to an end. Perhaps the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will develop into a general, mutual ceasefire. For me, the words “cease fire” have an extra resonance...

For me, the words “cease fire” have an extra resonance. When I was a soldier in the 1948 war, I twice experienced what it means to wait for a ceasefire. Each time we were totally exhausted after heavy fighting in which many of our comrades had been killed or wounded. We hoped with all our hearts that a ceasefire would really come into effect, but did not allow ourselves to believe in it. In both cases, a few minutes before the appointed hour, along the whole frontline a crazy cacophony of firing erupted, everybody shooting and shelling with everything he had. To gain some last-minute advantages, as it appeared afterwards.

And then, suddenly, the shooting stopped. An eerie quiet settled in. We looked at each other and left unspoken what we all felt: We are saved! We have been left alive!

I understand, therefore, the feelings of the fighters on both sides, who are now hoping that the mutual ceasefire will come into effect and hold. After four and a quarter years of fighting, everybody is exhausted.

The first question at the end of the fighting is: Who won?

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_4-2-2005_pg3_2

[Carlos Martillo]

1. There is no stalemate.

The Palestinians are slowly but surely winning the war; they can wait a thousand years.

Can their opponents?