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Mission Impossible

The U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, is a smart dresser. For her visit to the Middle East last week, she carefully matched her jewelry to her mission. Around her neck she wore a necklace of doves--the international symbols of peace.

Albright made her first official visit to Israel with hopes of renewing the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. The assignment was a tough one. In recent months, bombings and violent attacks added to the distrust between these two old enemies. Even people on Albright's staff had doubts about the chances of success. Said one of them: "Poor Madeleine is going out there, expected to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. It's an almost impossible mission."

A Long Way To Go
The bitter struggle between Arabs (including Palestinians) and Jews goes back many years. The creation of the Jewish state in 1948 displaced many Palestinians from their homes. Since then, Israelis, Palestinians and other Arab neighbors have fought deadly battles over territory.

The U.S. has a long history of trying to help make peace in the region. Four years ago, things were looking up. For the first time Israel officially recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization. The P.L.O., led by Yasser Arafat, agreed to stop attacking Israel. Both sides promised to make peace. In 1995 Arafat and then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed a historic peace agreement in Washington.

A few weeks later, progress toward peace was shattered. An Israeli gunman who was set on destroying the peace plan killed Rabin. Last year Benjamin Netanyahu was elected the new Prime Minister. He also promised peace but took a tougher stand toward Palestinians.

Since then, bombings and broken promises have hurt the peace process. Arafat and Netanyahu distrust each other so much that they cannot bear to talk to each other.

In last week's meetings, Albright was met with polite smiles but made little progress. At week's end, she left Israel, saying she would not return until Arafat and Netanyahu "have made hard decisions."

Is There Hope?
Albright announced some "small steps": Israeli and Palestinian diplomats will meet in the U.S. this month.

Among those praying for progress is Rabin's widow Leah. She met with Albright, asking her "to give us back our hope." It was she who gave Albright the necklace of many doves. "One dove," she explained, "may not be enough."

Next: The Fossil Finder