World: Middle East: At Last, a Way Out?

IT was just after dawn in California when the word flashed halfway round the world to the Western White House in San Clemente that Israel had accepted the U.S. proposal for a limited cease-fire and negotiations in the Middle East. Fittingly, the architect of that proposal, Secretary of State William P. Rogers, was one of the first top U.S. officials to hear the news. Coupled with Egypt's acceptance the previous week, and that of Jordan, Lebanon and five less directly involved Arab states, Israel's agonized decision signaled a chance for reason and diplomacy...