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The article presents information on Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who is said to be focused on Palestinian Arab nation building and state formation. This is said to offer a possible means of resolving the conflicts between the Israelis and the Palestinian Arabs. Fayyad's pragmatic approach of creating a functioning Palestinian state is contrasted with the hitherto favored approaches of armed conflict and political negotiation. The distinction between opposition and enmity is noted, and it is argued that Fayyad could be acting in opposition to Israeli interests without necessarily being an enemy of Israel.

Presents the history of the rise of Zionism and the Middle East conflict. Basis of the creation of Israel; Definition of Zionism and Jewish nationalism; Contradiction between a Jewish state and a liberal or socialist vision of equality; Historical root of the cause of the conflict.

Focuses on the political leadership of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Reference to a suicide bombing by a Palestinian in Israel on November 1, 2004; Report that Arafat was flown to Paris, France, due to illness; Hope of Israelis that the death of Arafat would lead to renewed peace negotiations with Palestine; Possibility that Arafat's successor will be a nationalist or an Islamist militiaman; Killings of Palestinians by Israelis in the occupied territories; Failure of Arafat to provide Palestinians with protection; Discussion of the impending removal of Israelis from Jewish settlements in Gaza and the West Bank.