It appears Israel and the Palestinian Authority may be on the road again. I'm talking about another attempt at the implementation of the so-called "road map" to peace. The plan calls for a Palestinian State by 2005.

According to this report, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be hosting a summit in Egypt Tuesday where Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will be attending Read about it here. That is, of course, if some new act of terrorism doesn't send the summit idea back to the Recycle Bin.

If you recall, this isn't the first summit held at Sharm a-Sheikh. Shortly after the Palestinian up-rising started back in September of 2000, the EU's Javier Solana called for, and attended, a summit at the same Red Sea resort. There it was decided to set up a fact-finding Commission to find the reasons for the violence and a solution to the crises. President Bill Clinton was pleased with the idea and appointed Solana to be a member of the Commission.

That first summit is basically what got Solana and company's foot in the door to the Middle East peace process. Later, Solana also wiggled his way into becoming part of the Quartet.

An interesting side note: Did you know the so-called "road map"to peace plan was an EU idea that President Bush adopted? If I recall, it was suggested by the German Foreign Minister Fischer. 

And now, thanks to new Palestinian leadership and Solana's European Neighborhood Policy, there appears to finally be movement again in the Middle East toward peace. And, another summit at Sharm a-Sheikh where I suspect Solana will again be attending. 

We're on the road again.

Stay tuned!