Present tense

An assassination-by-bombing prompts fears of a return to the bad old days in Beirut | Mindy Belz

The most hopeful moment for peace in the Middle East to emerge in two years lasted unblemished—for almost five days.

On Feb. 9 Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas shook hands next to Sinai's clay beaches and agreed to a truce. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders promised, in Mr. Sharon's words, to "disengage from the path of blood." With Jordan's King Abdullah and Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak looking on, the moment was historic: 32 years earlier Mr. Sharon had commanded forces that took the Sinai resort area called Sharm el Sheik in the Yom Kippur War. Now Mr. Sharon promised to cease military activity against Palestinians, pull back troops from five West Bank cities in the next three weeks, and stop arrests and assassinations of militants. In exchange, Mr. Abbas promised that Palestinians will live under "one authority, one weapon, and political pluralism."

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