(New York Jewish Week) Editorial - Any real peace process requires clear, unequivocal and consistent buy-in from Arab and Islamic countries that, more often than not, have served as instigators of more conflict, not supporters of peacemaking efforts. Without Arab League support, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is unlikely to follow through with the U.S. call for resumed talks. It doesn't make sense to keep pressing Israel while taking a relatively passive stance toward other regional leaders who have traditionally fueled Israeli-Palestinian conflict to serve their domestic political needs. Saudi Arabia claims a special relationship with the U.S.; Egypt is the second biggest recipient of U.S. aid. Where is the active leadership of these countries in pressing the Palestinians to get back to serious negotiations. Until the administration devotes as much energy to enlisting the active and unwavering backing of Arab and Muslim governments that say they're allies as it does to pressuring Israel, it's hard to imagine how this latest U.S. initiative will be any more successful than the long list of past failures.
2010-04-30 08:58:52Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive