Podhoretz's criticism of Zinni's peacemaking efforts is nothing more than a thinly veiled apology for Ariel Sharon's ongoing campaign to nullify the Oslo accords. By dehumanizing the Palestinians and demonizing Yasser Arafat, Israel's prime minister hopes to delegitimize the very notion of Palestinian statehood. Though given the region's cycle of violence, retribution and eye-for-an-eye terrorism, Gen. Zinni's diplomacy may founder, building a rudimentary framework for peace may forestall a more catastrophic conflagration in years to come.

Rosario A. Iaconis
Italic Institute of America

Back to the home page