Denial and Hope in the Mideast

This meeting then should be seen not as a climax but as just the beginning of a process. Nevertheless, the emergence of Fayed on the Palestinian side and the modest strengthening of Olmert on the Israeli side do provide an opportunity to have a constructive dialogue and to support moderate forces in the Palestinian world in their conflict with violent Islamism. As the Israeli prime minister said, "It is always possible to say no," but given indications of a new constructive partner with whom the Israelis can talk, he added, "we must look for opportunities to say yes."