Despite its obvious shortcomings and vague substance, the latest Jordanian-Egyptian peace initiative does not seem to provoke Ariel Sharon’s alleged commitment to “peace and security.” The recently drafted peace proposal by Egypt and Jordan outlines a framework by which Palestinians and Israelis would end hostilities, build confidence, and, eventually, resume final status talks.

Sharon has stated that he is positively considering the proposal, but, by no means, ready to accept it. Even though the document fails to address the real causes of the conflict (Israeli occupation) and only goes as far as calling on “both” parties to end violence, and urges Israel to withdraw its troops to the “…locations that existed in September 2000,” it does not seem to provide enough Palestinian concessions for Sharon to endorse it.

On the contrary, and in the midst of Jordanian-Egyptian efforts in finding ‘some’ solution to the ongoing conflict, the Israeli Prime Minister continues to fulfill his militaristic ambitions by intensifying Israel’s military siege on Palestinian territories, by continuing the daily strikes on Palestinian targets, by starving the entire Palestinian population, and by exhibiting Israel’s ability to acquire territory by force.

By choosing to ignore the most ‘flexible’ peace initiatives, Sharon is clearly conveying a message to the Palestinians, and the Arab World: forget peace for the time being, I am still not ready.