e And the way to do it 1s this: a strong, self-confident Israel, willing to hold serious negotiations with the Palestinians and the group of Arab nations within an international conference, backed by the US and the Quartet — in order to achieve a two- state solution and establish a regional agreement, while maintaining an unyielding and persistent fight against terrorism and ensuring the IDF's qualitative military edge over any combination of opponents. ¢ The moderates among Arab rulers are unable (and also unwilling) to float this common interest and turn it into policy — because they worry how their people would respond. This is how the Palestinian issue 1s related to possibility of an overall agreement in the Middle East. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029388