My opinions, updates on my life, all sorts of "randomness"...

'AN END TO VIOLENCE'

"We must all announce here today that violence will not win, that violence will not be allowed to murder hope," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced, in an emotional speech closing Tuesday's summit at Sharm e-Sheikh. "We hope that today we are starting a new period of tranquility and hope...Only actions and not words – this is the only way to attain the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and tranquility."...

"In his emotionally charged speech, Sharon devoted a personal address to both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. "To our Palestinian neighbors," he said, "I assure you that we have a genuine intention to respect your right to live independently and in dignity. I have already said that Israel has no desire to continue to govern over you and control your fate. We in Israel have had to painfully wake up from our dreams, and we are determined to overcome all the obstacles which might stand in our path in order to realize the new chance which has been created."

" To the citizens of Israel, I say: we have passed difficult years, faced the most painful experiences and overcame them. The future lies before us. We are required to take difficult and controversial steps, but we must not miss the opportunity to try to achieve what we have wished for, for so many years: security, tranquility and peace."

Can it be that easy? Say "no more violence" and all the hostility and anger goes away? And when did I become so cynical that I hear such amazing news and my thoughts are automatically that it can't last? I guess we just have to wait and see, while I sit here praying that no one god forbid does anything to prove that this won't work... And yet it's too powerful to me ignore that only hours ago I booked my plane ticket and now I hear this... Like P.A. was saying to me yesterday, "Isreal's pull is so strong." I'm off to Mrs. J's shiur--it's going to take some time for this to sink in.