The New York Times reports that Israel will turn over control of two West Bank towns Jericho and Tulkarem to the Palestinians.

I am hopeful for the first time in years that this could truly lead to reconciliation between Israel and Palestine. Before all this fighting started, there was a long period of peaceful coexistence. There was rarely a terrorist attack, and there were no missile attacks or helicopter flyovers in Gaza.

I haven’t been in Palestine or Israel in several years, and I suppose I’m not an expert anymore, but I think I still understand the situation. This is still not a conflict about the little people. This is not a conflict between the mothers of Israel and the mothers of Palestine. This is a conflict of wealth and poverty. This is a conflict of East versus West.

I am heartened that George Bush has taken it upon himself to make peace in the middle east. After invading Iraq, somehow George Bush feels like he has to save the world — somewhat assisted by the ideas and morals of Natan Sharansky, his new crony.

When it comes down to it, George Bush is really doing what he means to be doing in Israel and Palestine. I have been enraged in the last several years by the United States’ response to the brutality of the Israeli government. But now, Bush wants to leave a legacy, and I think he will.

The thing is, I give Bush a very little credit for this advancement, seeing as the international community has understood the situation for a very long time, and has been pushing for the presence political negotiations that are taking place in Palestine for many years. It is no accident that the Israelis and Palestinians have not been at the table since Bill Clinton’s presidency. George Bush has had no interest in peace in the Middle East.

But things have changed, peace has become a distinct possibility for the Palestinians and Israelis, both exhausted by this neverending dispute. I, for one, and hopeful. Many things aren’t perfect in this resolution: there is an enormous wall that splits Israel and Palestine, for one… but this is a resolution nevertheless. At least mothers don’t have to be afraid of losing their sons and husbands as martyrs or as soldiers.

I had so much hope when I went to Palestine in the year 2000. I thought that I could help the new change in the region. I thought that I could be part of the revolution of peace. I was just a kid in many ways, and I guess I thought I was going to be able to change the world. It didn’t quite happen that way. When my friend, Asel, died, I lost hope, and I came home, sad and aware of the new reality: of war and suffering is.

I send out a prayer today to the Palestinians still suffering under restrictions on water, walled in by a wall higher than I can imagine, still refugees waiting for a home, still waiting for the next time the helicopters fly overhead, and the missiles drop…

And I send out a prayer today to the Israelis still afraid, suffering in the aftermath of so many violent attacks on their children and in civilian places…

Let us all pray for peace in Israel and Palestine. This is a time of hope and possibility.

Take care.