Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)
Salam Fayyad, Finance Minister in the Palestinian unity government and Chairman Abbas’ Prime Ministerial designate wrote of the need for international support for the Palestinians in an LA Times commentary on March 31, 2007:
"The U.S. has long acknowledged — as has the entire world community — that the formation of a viable, independent Palestinian state on the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip is the way out of this nearly 60-year-old conflict. But until the international community demonstrates the political will to help bring about a comprehensive settlement — one that will grant Palestinians the freedom to build our own economy and institutions in our own land — we will all continue to pay the price. Despair will continue to erode hope. And, lest we forget the words of Jefferson, hope is indeed "as cheap, and pleasanter."