It should be now or never. For the nth time, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is once again at the forefront of world affairs as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had worked so extraneously hard to bring important parties to meet at a yet another peace summit in America—to be held this time in Annapolis, Maryland.

Seven years ago—during the ending days of the Clinton administration—both sides of the conflict have tried to resolve the issue in Camp David, but had been so luckless in the end, leading to the collapse of the talk when the issue on East Jerusalem met a piteous dead-end.

But now, the main issue could hugely depart from the usual questions of territory, like the unwillingness of Israel to forego of East Jerusalem (which it had annexed in 1980, despite the harsh reprimand from the United Nation) or the refusal of the Palestinian side to forego of 8% of West Bank as a bumper zone for Israel. The main query now is whether or not Palestine would finally gain its sovereignty and soon becomes a state apart from the Israel ’s sphere of control and influence. And this time, the aim or aims of the peace process might just be reachable and realistic since even Israel had long voiced-out its concurrence to the establishment of a Palestinian state. And since the greater issue becomes too ideal to forego, smaller issues of territories should become easier to settle and compromise upon.

When Secretary Rice had asked U.S. President George W. Bush on this issue some weeks ago, Bush had answered this particular question in the affirmative, signaling support to the creation of a Palestinian state—seemingly spontaneous and without hesitation. But how much support Bush would have on this latest initiative remains now of great interest to anticipate, one that needs to be responded to this coming Tuesday in Annapolis, when all parties involved in the seemingly never-ending Israeli-Palestinian Conflict would meet once again to find possible solutions to a quarrel that had dragged for so long, almost a century now, running like an endless river without an ocean to arrive at.

In my mind, President Bush should see the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict as a huge part and parcel of the whole peace policy and stabilization campaign in the entire Middle-East region, and would hopefully give similar amount of concern over it, just like it has on Iraq or Iran.

Along this line, final resolution to the conflicts there should involved a major infusion of financial assistance to the Palestinian areas, and not merely in trickles as it had been happening over the years, where despite of years of infusion of small caches of aids, Palestine remains torn and disorderly. The lack of economic opportunity and activity over there had brought forth widespread social disarray that has become ripe for radicalism and extremism. Without the sizable economic assistance component, the plan for the establishment of Palestinian statehood would merely be futile and aimless.

Israel should note this very well, and should in fact be cooperative on this aspect, instead of having a countering stance. It should be well- remembered that Israel had achieved such level of state maturity and strength in such a short period of time because of very sizable money infusion from wealthy Jewish benefactors in America and Europe, and even from the governments of United States and EU. It had achieved such level of economic independence at the soonest time possible, and was able to strengthen and hold it’s population with a very strong bind, unrelenting and sturdy even at the face of repeated crisis that had loomed over it over the decades.

Palestine as a new state, should have the same support and program from its benefactors, and from bigger participants like the EU and America.

Secretary Rice should see this aspect very clearly. While it is very commendable how she seem to have moved heaven and earth in order to bring final resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, traveling frequently towards that region in recent months (this despite and perhaps mostly because the Bush Administration is about to end and the remaining months would be her last window of opportunity), she must bring the economic component of the peace process to the forefront as soon as possible.

This idea is not merely all about the money though; it is not that way. It would be more on the ability of a working economy to stabilize once ravaged situations. The Marshall Plan had done wonders in rebuilding Europe and maintaining up to this time a strong order in that region—from a state of conflict and warfare to an atmosphere of peace and cooperation.

A similar plan (like the Marshall Plan) could enliven and strengthen a new Palestinian state, and would thereupon spur economic stability and steady peace and order. If this would become the final result, Israel as a state would greatly benefit for not having to hold down a raucous enemy just next door, almost all the time, for an unknown period of time.

The gain of Palestine then would be the gain of Israel.

So tumultuous what’s happening now in Pakistan. I had been monitoring the events there on cable news for some days now albeit flippantly and unevenly for my mind is so occupied with some important things. There were the lawyers in glib black suits carrying placards in protest of General Pervez Musharraf’s re-election to office last October 3. And then there was the very dramatic return of a nation’s once adored daughter—and could still be by many in Pakistan— in Benazir Bhutto after 8 long years of self-exile in London, with nearly two hundred marchers accompanying her when a very destructive explosion laid the street march not reaching it’s end, killing 148 people and maiming many more.

On November 3, Gen. Musharraf dissolved the Supreme Court, declared emergency rule and went on to detained about 2,500 lawyers and oppositionists, just when the high court would have decided to nullify Musharraf’s re-election on the ground that he was still the army chief when he had sought the said election.

Now the general disturbance in Pakistan halts into a deceitful silence so pregnant with extreme tumult, like the silence is so heavy and strong, that one could actually smell it. Perhaps, General Musharraf smells this and fear and great anxiousness inures in him that now, he offers to conduct another presidential poll on January next year.

But Benazir Bhutto’s camp does not trust anything coming from General Pervez and even with the offer of passing administration to a caretaker government pending the January election, Bhutto is primed to boycott the said polls.

What does Bhutto really wants? There’s an offer for the holding of snap polls on January. There would be a caretaker government that should oversee fairness in the election process.

Apparently, Bhutto wants none other than Musharraf’s resignation from office, which at this time seems like a high demand, a very high demand in fact.

Maybe there’s a middle point to all this. But even U.S. Deputy Secretary John Negroponte is so hard-pressed to find one.

In a situation as tumultuous as this, a middle point is always the hardest thing to find.

Hello everyone. I’ve been so busy lately but it won’t be for long. To restart from a semi-blog-hibernation, I am doing this tag from Gypsy.

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? This is not a good way to start this tag but I believe, I did not laugh last night even for one single time, Maybe a smirk might have occured. But not a laugh.
   
2. What were you doing at 0800? I was drinking coffee and puffing a cigarrette.
   
3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Masaging the head of the wife. She had a mild headache I think.
   
4. What happened to you in 2006? That’s a year ago; I cried an ocean when my father died.
   
5. What was the last thing you said out loud? “Why the hell did you not answer your ringing cellphone when I was calling!?”
   
6. How many beverages did you have today? 3 big cups of coffee and a soda.
   
7. What color is your hairbrush? Black as the night.
   
8. What was the last thing you paid for? The hospital bill of my son Yves, who was admitted two days ago due to high fever. He was positive for dengue fever and it scared the hell out of me. But he is fine now said the doctor and we’re at home now.
9. Where were you last night? At the hospital.
   
10. What color is your front door? Brown wood.
    
11. Where do you keep your change? In the pocket of any trouser or short pants I wear. Lately, the wife bought me a small woven purse—but can’t get used to it just as yet.
    
12. What’s the weather like today? Rainy in the morning; so sunny in the afternoon.
    
13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Rocky Road (like verns and sngl had said)
    
14. What excites you? New music from my favorite bands, an up and coming intelligent and popular bestseller, a very good new movie, (mostly) meeting my kids upon coming home after a long day, this new job as a lecturer in the University—so many things.
    
15. Do you want to cut your hair? I am thinking about it right now, perhaps to neater when Monday comes. That, if I’ll find time by tomorrow.
    
16. Are you over the age of 25? Yes, of course.
    
17. Do you talk a lot? Perhaps, just reasonably.
    
18. Do you watch the O.C.? No. But I heard it’s good. I am always tuned in to sports and news that’s why. Can’t even watch my fave Friends reruns nowadays.
    
19. Do you know anyone named Steven? Not personally. But I knew too well that Bono of U2 had sang about him or had mentioned him in the song “Silver and Gold”.
    
20. Do you make up your own words? So rarely.
    
21. Are you a jealous person? I believe I am. But it depends. On love and affection, I am. On other things, not so much.
    
22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Arlene.
    
23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. King.
    
24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? The wife.
    

25. What does the last text message you received say? “Come to WMCC now.” WMCC being the hospital my son was admitted in just two days ago.
    

26. Do you chew on your straw? Why would I?It’ll be so strange.
    

27. Do you have curly hair? None that could be seen.
    
28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? The University this Monday. I’ll stay home all day tomorrow if possible.
    
29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? Some person.
    
30. What was the last thing you ate? Rice and fish.
    
31. Will you get married in the future? No idea.
    
32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? None that I could remember. Like I said, I am always watching sports or news on TV.
    
33. Is there anyone you like right now? Always had. Some kind or gentle person.
    
34. When was the last time you did the dishes? This evening after I had dinner (alone).
    
35. Are you currently depressed? Depressed, no. But laidback, yes.
    
36. Did you cry today? No.
    
37. Why did you answer and post this? It’s fun and it’s a tag, you know.
    
38. 5 people you tag next? I do not do this often, but I want to be excused this time from tagging other bloggers for this tag—even if it’s so fun and mind-opening.
    

It had been such a long week for me—in fact, a length of time more than a week to be exact. Remember how the Beatles sung about “A Hard Day’s Night”? Just imagine how it would be if the guys from Liverpool were referring to a whole week, or a length of time more than a week?

How does it feel to be emotionally drained—like many use to say? Now perhaps, I know what it exactly means.

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