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Fresh Ideas for the Middle East

[Washington Times] Zalman Shoval - Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, both highly respected foreign policy experts, seem to believe that "resolution of the Palestinian issue" would somehow miraculously create a turnaround in the attitude of the peoples of the Middle East towards the U.S. and restore its dominant position in the region. In fact, the Israel-Palestinian issue has little to do with the lack of stability and peace in the Middle East - or with America's deteriorating standing there. Iraqis are not shooting each other because of Israel, nor did al-Qaeda have the supposed plight of the Palestinians at heart when it blew up the Twin Towers. Syria will continue undermining Lebanon's independence and go on supporting terrorists everywhere, whatever happens in the Israel-Palestinian arena. Certainly, Israelis want to see the conflict resolved. The Middle East has a long history of well intentioned, mostly American, peace initiatives - all of which foundered on the refusal of many among the Palestinians and in the Arab and Islamic worlds to recognize the Jewish people's right to their own state in their ancient homeland. The "Arab Peace Plan" (or "Saudi Initiative") is being touted as a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and "57 Arab and Muslim countries." It is nothing of the kind; in fact, it is only a partially disguised ultimatum to the Jewish state to accept all the Arab traditional demands with regards to borders, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees. Furthermore, it expects Israel to comply with those demands before even starting negotiations. If adopted, it would create severe security hardships for Israel, giving Israel's enemies an opportunity to achieve what they had failed to get in five wars and countless acts of terrorism. The writer twice served as Israel's ambassador to the U.S.
2008-11-25 08:00:00
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