The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become a crucial element in the worldwide campaign against terrorism led by the United States. The continuation of the conflict endangers the coalition constructed to prosecute the military attack on Afghanistan in pursuit of those believed responsible for the atrocities on September 11th. That is why Mr Yasser Arafat was in London and Dublin yesterday to meet Mr Blair and Mr Ahern. Their commitment to a viable Palestinian state, existing alongside a secure Israel, sends an important message that the issue is being tackled. Israeli leaders must respond constructively if they are to avoid being marginalised.
It has taken a crisis of this magnitude to propel the Israeli-Palestinian question up the international political agenda. Before September 11th, there were many voices deploring the lack of action to deal with it. A despairing sense of inertia accompanied the rising violence between Israeli troops and Palestinian protesters. Warnings that this would have grave consequences for regional stability seemed to go unheeded in Washington and other Western centres.
It is no part of this case that the belated realisation of these facts justifies, in any way, the acts of mass terrorism perpetrated in New York and Washington. Rather have they deepened understanding of how an unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict affects the entire Middle East region. Mr Arafat's firm crackdown on Palestinian supporters of Osama bin Laden last week bolstered the case he made in London and Dublin yesterday - and attracted favourable comment from President Bush following his endorsement of a Palestinian state. Mr Arafat's visit to Dublin is partly to reinforce the empathy he developed with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, whom he met minutes after the September 11th atrocities. Mr Cowen's advice that Mr Arafat should condemn the attacks unconditionally and passionately proved to be exceptionally well-judged.
Ireland is committed to do all it can to encourage an Israeli-Palestinian settlement as chairman of the Security Council this month and within the European Union. That must be within the framework of secure borders for Israel. UN resolutions provide for Israeli withdrawal from illegally occupied Palestinian territory in return for peace. A new round of negotiations must tackle the issues of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, the territorial viability of a Palestinian state and the final status of Palestinian refugees. Given the huge reluctance of Mr Ariel Sharon's government to take up such issues, it will need the most determined international pressure to persuade it to do so. Mr Arafat's diplomacy yesterday has helped to bolster that pressure. But he too, must back it up with action to convince a deeply distrusting Israel that he is a serious partner in the search for peace.