Arafat's history as a murderous terrorist is well-known. It nevertheless remains true that one can only make peace by negotiating with one's enemies. Unless Israel is going to permanently turn itself into a completely undemocratic state which either ethnically cleanses itself of its Palestinian population, or imposes an apartheid-like system of oppression upon that population, it must sooner or later come to terms with the Palestinians regarding the creation of an independent, economically-viable state with internationally recognized borders. In order to do that Israel must negotiate with someone and no one other than Arafat seems able to even pretend to be the appropriate person.

The recent Hamas action does, indeed, demonstrate that Hamas either does not listen to Ararfat or is getting a clandestine green light from him. Similarly, the captured arms shipment seems strong evidence that Arafat's word cannot be trusted.

I have grave reservations about Israel's response to recent events, which seems to have included, among other things, the bulldozing of fifty Palestinian homes and the destruction of the only operating Palestinian airport, but I am frankly unable to state what I believe they should do (although I cannot understand how destroying civilian homes helps their cause).

Sharon's strategy, giving him the benefit of the doubt as to whether he has any desire for peace himself, continues to strike me as being intended to put the squeeze on the Palestinians so that they will have no choice but to somehow bring the Hamas people under control and on-board in negotiations. Arafat may or may not be able to do this. It is more than coincidence that relative calm had reigned for several weeks after he called for it and took some other actions to prevent continued attacks upon Israel. It is also no coincidence, however, that the latest Hamas attacks occured just when the American mediator thought he might be able to make some progress.

If Arafat cannot do it, then perhaps the continuing pressure upon all of the Paliestinians will bring some other leader to the fore who can. In any event, I believe that is the Israeli hope.

However, the strength and nature of Israel's pressures upon the Palestinians, and the continuation of its settlement policies in occupied territory, may simply backfire, hardening Palestinian resistance and transforming Israel into a State that only a zealot could love. I pray that doesn't happen.

There can only be Peace if both sides are willing to make an agreement that will permit Peace. We have been tantalizingly close several times over the last few years, but since the Clinton-led negotiations broke down in the summer of 1990, it often looks like the Palestinians have agreed to commit national suicide in martyr's garb and that the inevitable reaction of Israel may cause it to join that suicide pact.

The question is not really whether Arafat is irrelevant. The real question is: What should Israel do? Unfortunately, I have not heard any good answers to that question in a long time.