Middle East talks

We can only consider the latest developments to be positive. Any initiative that helps the Palestinians towards self-determination and nationhood and relieves them of the burden of foreign military occupation must be considered a good thing. Similarly, we would welcome a situation where Israelis could live in peace and security and maintain friendly relations with its neighbour to the east.

The violence on both sides which has been the tragic hallmark of the long-standing dispute has accomplished nothing. Since 2000, some 3,350 Palestinians and 970 Israelis have been killed in the fighting -- in itself a tragedy -- but all the more so when one considers how little the killing has advanced the interests of either side.

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Obviously, negotiation is the way forward. Israel -- and the US -- have long held that the principal stumbling block to peace was the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and argued that there could be no negotiation as long as he remained in power. Well, now they have their wish. Let us hope that the Israelis will now agree to negotiate in good faith with Mahmoud Abbas rather than to dismiss him out of hand and use unrealistic expectations as to the extent of his control over militants as an excuse to drag their feet.

The development at Sharm el-Sheikh appear to be good news for all concerned. The two sides are talking to one another at this level for the first time since 2000. From the Israelis perspective, what they have claimed as the major hindrance to peace has been removed. Both sides have pledged to rein in violence.

Things look more promising than they have for many years. We only hope that this is not another false dawn as we have seen many times in the past, and that this time the expectations and promise are turned into concrete action for the benefit of the long suffering peoples of the region.