Yesterday's breaking news informed us that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is softening to the idea of a Palestinian state.
He apparently called for the creation of a Palestinian state on the condition that it be disarmed.
That call is good, and long overdue. It is potentially the greatest development in the region since Yitzhak Rabin was alive. But the conditions must be expanded.
According to Netanyahu, "In any peace agreement, the territory under Palestinian control must be disarmed."
To be fair, we would need for both sides -- Israel as well as Palestine -- to be disarmed.
Otherwise, the situation is reduced to Netanyahu saying, in essence, "It's OK for Israel to be equipped to attack the Palestinians, but it's not OK for Palestine to be equipped to attack the Israelis."
And that attitude brings back too many memories of Israel's disproportionate retaliation in Gaza last year.
I want to see both sides live in peace. And that means disarmament -- i.e., a retiring of arms -- on all sides, and no double standards.
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