Thank you Edith,

Last week the breaking news throughout the world, was a suggestion by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, for an Israeli pullout from all the territories it occupied in the Six-day war, in return for a comprehensive peace. At first, I believed this to be a Purim story and laughed, but when I remembered the many victims, who died and suffered since June 5th 1967, I started to cry. If this great plan for peace, should bring us back, exactly to June 4, the day, before the Arabs made war on Israel, what was the achievement and why the sacrifices for so many innocent people?

Of course Israel reacted - though cautiously - in a positive way. Israel will approach every possibility to peace, which can assure its safety. But interestingly, also the Palestinians accepted this plan, which they have just rejected, when Barak made them a very similar offer. Yet, this sudden acceptance makes us curious about two things; why the sudden acceptance by the Palestinians and why this sudden offer by Saudia?

The reason of acceptance by the Palestinians is easy to guess. The Palestinians are in a mess. In a mess they created by themselves. As usual they had let themselves be carried away by hate and bloody illusions. And now they can go neither for - nor backward.

For the Saudis, their sudden change to an angel of peace has a double meaning. First, the Saudis became concerned that their status of being a "moderate," could be changed as being part of the "axis of terror," as the president called it. The Saudis have no greater concern than beyond the interest of the royal family, but to keep them in power they pay huge amounts and support extreme Moslems all over the world. Further proof not to belong to the "moderates," was also that most of the terrorists from September 11th were Saudi citizens. When the US military base in Saudia was bombed, the Saudis did not cooperate with American investigators. When America needed bases against the Talibans, bases were given, yet with the limitation of not being used for attacks. The Americans were permitted to bark only but not to bite - though - for protection against Iraq, America was welcome to help.

The intention for the suddenly announced peace plan should keep them amongst the 'moderates.

As far, as the suggestion for the Palestinians for peace goes, this would also benefit the Palestinian goals. By accepting the Saudi plan, the Palestinian population would be less inclined to ask their "fuehrer," why the intifada was necessary and what did it achieve - except of death and misery.

Arafat could again travel into the world, inspect the honor guards in European capitals and kiss their politicians. This would be real yummi.

As far as the renewed outbreak of violence will go, Arafat has also a proven and prepared answer: "I didn't do it!"

And so we can say that the wonderful peace plan by the Saudi prince was a spark of genius. It will painlessly serve the two parties. As to the third involved party, namely Israel, the plan is a trap. Some say, that it may work. Yes, it could. Miracles also happened in the past, we have to pray for one more, we need it badly.

I am Shlomo Fleischmann

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