By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
Sep 01, 2005
Israeli Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz has called on the Palestinian Authority to give Israelis hope for the future of the peace process by finally fulfilling its obligation to combat terrorism.
Mofaz made his appeal during an interview with Palestinian TV, Israel Radio reported Thursday.
He said Israel had made a painful sacrifice by uprooting the Jews of Gaza and northern Samaria, thus proving its seriousness about concluding an agreement and living in peaceful coexistence with the Palestinian Arabs.
Israel is now waiting to see if that sentiment is mutual, Mofaz said.
Only when both sides become serious about peace can the economic situation and daily quality of life for all the region's inhabitants be improved, he continued.
The ?Palestinians,? echoed by the international community, regularly call on Israel to ?give the Arabs hope? by making concessions.
Over the past decade of peace efforts, Israel has fulfilled a large portion of its obligations by relinquishing control over much of its biblical heartland. The Palestinian Authority has yet to honor its fundamental commitment to ?disarm and dismantle? terror groups such as Hamas.