Israeli youths tear at a piece of a Palestinian flag as they participate in a 'Jerusalem Day' march, Thursday, May 29, 2003. (AP)
Sharon Cautiously Optimistic On Palestinian Talks Story aired: Friday, May 30, 2003
Hopes are high for President George Bush's planned summit next week in Jordan with Israeli Prime minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.
Now hope, of course, when applied to any effort to reconcile Israelis and Palestinians, can be a risky emotion to indulge in.
But the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers did meet for two hours and 45 minutes last night , after which Sharon announced an easing of travel restrictions on Palestinians and possible troop withdrawals from Gaza and the West Bank in return for a Palestinian crackdown on terrorism.
There could be a change soon in the likelihood of terror. The Palestinian prime minister predicted that next week the Islamic radical group Hamas would declare a ceasefire.
Should cynics about the peace process lighten up?
Joining Here and Now to examine the Middle East Peace process is Molly Moore, Jerusalem bureau chief for the Washington Post.
