While the US remains stubbornly (and shortsightedly) insistent on an "end to Palestinian violence" as a prerequisite to peace in the region, Europe may be taking a more substantial stance towards the conflict, taking into serious consideration the political dimensions of the current Intifada, as opposed to the fruitless US-Israeli "security-oriented" approach.

The consecutive visits of British and German Foreign Ministers, Jack Straw and Joschka Fischer, seem to underline a qualitative approach towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, particularly in light of the current deadlock and escalation of Israel's military assaults against the Palestinians.

The immediate catalyst for such significant/direct European movement towards peace initiatives in the region was underlined by the recent two-day European-Islamic summit in Istanbul, in which the Palestinian-Israeli conflict took center stage. While the summit failed (in defiance of the Islamic position at the summit) to condemn Israel's military assaults against the Palestinians, it did specify in its final statement that "…for peace, stability and harmony to prevail, the Middle East conflict must be settled in a just and comprehensive manner."

Europe seems eager to have primary involvement in the initiatives for peace in the region. With a distinct approach towards the reality and dynamic of the conflict, Europe may well be able to achieve something! First and foremost, Europe must address the political issues of the conflict: Israel's illegal military occupation of Palestinian territories captured by Israel in June 1967. The construction an expansion of Jewish settlements, the continuation of Israel's occupation of 78% of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the return of the Palestinian refugees, and other vital issues must be fully addressed in order to fully resolve the 53-year old conflict that has haunted the region as a whole.

Meanwhile, the US administration is maintaining its primary responsibilities as Israel's special ally: to adopt Ariel Sharon's distorted version of the Palestinian-Israeli reality, to adopt Israel's exploitation of the "war against terrorism" analogy to sustain its military occupation of the Palestinians, and most crucially, to remain silent towards Israel's atrocities against a captive Palestinian population.

Europe, it seems, may offer some hope to the gloomy prospects of calm in the region. Yet, without a serious consideration of the political issues and root causes of the conflict, any initiative is bound to backfire and drag the region further into bloody conflict and escalation.