We Can Accept Israel as Neighbor, Says Hamas

Peace comes by way of tiny little steps in the Middle East, moving forward and backward with diplomatic and military acts. The leader of Hamas said that his group would “respect Palestinian national will,” even if that meant some form of a Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement, during a meeting arranged by former US President Jimmy Carter. Currently, two rival parties, Fatah and Hamas, are deeply divided over Palestinian goals. Fatah is attempting to negotiate a peace arrangement with Israel. Unfortunately, the same talks did not produce a ceasefire in Hamas fighting with Israel, and major players like the US and Israel refused to endorse the talks. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has long been a focal point for bitterness throughout the Middle East and an easy excuse for acts of violence. All sides are entrenched in their positions and progress for peace after so many years may seem hopeless. Yet Carter insists that giving up on dialogue with any stakeholder means giving up on peace. – YaleGlobal