Peace or no peace.
Ahmed Hany
August 20, 2009
There are many talks about peace in the Middle East in all regional capitals and in Washington alike. When President Obama promised that his presidency will witness the creation of the Palestinian state predictions were that the Israelis would manipulate their Zionist lobby in Washington and they would search for a way out to keep the status quo as their governments are weak and cannot decide now.
They adopted policies of instigating the Palestinians by expanding settlements, forcing Palestinian families out of their homes in Jerusalem, threatening to attack Lebanon and instigating the Americans to attack Iran so that the entire region might explode.
Astonishingly, the Americans asked the Saudis to normalize relations with Israel instead of pressing the Hebrew state to succumb for the international will of peace. Even American strategists disengaged the national interests of the US from Israel. Previously they talked about Israel as the most important ally that should be more powerful than the entire Arabic and Islamic countries. Now they see Israel should live safely and be integrated in the region in normal secure relationship with its neighbors. However the American Administration tries to pressurize the Saudis as a step towards peace while Israelis violate Palestinians´ human rights day and nights.
The Israelis started their repeated play of changing governments as their prosecutor general may investigate corruption and money laundry crimes of the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. This step will lead to his resignation with new trials of Premier Benjamin Netanyahu to convince opposition leader Tzipi Levini to formulate a national government. She declared before that she wanted to have her share in the premiership not in the foreign ministry only. The result will be going to another election. Peace process will be postponed for at least six months.
Let us remember Olmart and his corruption cases during the past year and his regular meetings with Mahmood Abbas and during the Syrian-Israeli negotiations in Turkey. With every new Israeli government their premier and foreign minister ask the Palestinians and the Syrians to restart from the zero point. Then there is no credibility for Israeli governments to negotiate. Credibility is one of the important prerequisites to start negotiations.
Unfortunately, regional factions that call themselves resistance groups gave Israelis every reason to play this game. They call for resistance without clear strategy and vision about the shape of their proclaimed victory if it ever would happen. Another war with Hezbollah means destruction of the Lebanese infrastructure again and more victims of wrong war decisions while leaders of Hezbollah would be safe in their shelters. Hamas that rules Gaza with an iron fist and started to adopt Taliban-like policies as they asked shop vendors to remove any underwear goods because they see it indecent angered owner of these shops because it affected their sales. Did they succeed to solve Gaza problems?
Hamas Leader Khaled Mashaal announced that he would accept a Palestinian state within borders of 1967. However his faction is at odds with Fattah that calls for the same thing and kept Fattah members in the enclave. One of Hamas men said that they did not allow Fattah members to go to Ram-Allah to attend Fattah congress because if they went they would vote for Mohamed Dahlan to be elected a member in Fattah´s revolutionary council. Is the conflict between Fattah and Hamas leaders personal? Is it over who rules? Is it over who appoint his followers to posts? Is it over who gets the financial aids? Do these leaders want to see a Palestinian state really?
In fact these proclaimed resistance groups play their game for the sake of two countries Israel and Iran.
Unfortunately, Arab League and its members just wait and see. They supported the Arab initiative. Most of them did not talk with these proclaimed resistance groups to stop their harmful policies. Even some of them support both. Some of them aid these groups while announcing support of Arab initiative to find a role. The US will not give a Palestinian state for the Arabs as a charity.
Regional peace is strategically important for Egypt and for the Saudis. It should not be left to the Palestinian leaders who fight each other and let their followers kill and arrest their rivals. It is also strategically important for the US. It should not be left to Israeli governments that play tricks by appointing corrupted politicians to be impeached when needed. A strategic dialogue should start with the US about the future of the region. If the Americans prepare an initiative it would be much better if they asked the Israelis to appoint negotiators who are from the presidency to avoid governments change. Egypt and the Saudi Arabia with the Arab League could appoint Palestinians from the occupied land and from refugees to negotiate. If final agreements passed a referendum in Israel and in West Bank, Gaza and among refugees who could vote in Arab League offices, these agreement should be imposed by an international force. Otherwise the peace process will be hunted by those who cry for peace and kill each other. Palestinians will not unit. Israelis will not stop playing tricks.
They adopted policies of instigating the Palestinians by expanding settlements, forcing Palestinian families out of their homes in Jerusalem, threatening to attack Lebanon and instigating the Americans to attack Iran so that the entire region might explode.
Astonishingly, the Americans asked the Saudis to normalize relations with Israel instead of pressing the Hebrew state to succumb for the international will of peace. Even American strategists disengaged the national interests of the US from Israel. Previously they talked about Israel as the most important ally that should be more powerful than the entire Arabic and Islamic countries. Now they see Israel should live safely and be integrated in the region in normal secure relationship with its neighbors. However the American Administration tries to pressurize the Saudis as a step towards peace while Israelis violate Palestinians´ human rights day and nights.
The Israelis started their repeated play of changing governments as their prosecutor general may investigate corruption and money laundry crimes of the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. This step will lead to his resignation with new trials of Premier Benjamin Netanyahu to convince opposition leader Tzipi Levini to formulate a national government. She declared before that she wanted to have her share in the premiership not in the foreign ministry only. The result will be going to another election. Peace process will be postponed for at least six months.
Let us remember Olmart and his corruption cases during the past year and his regular meetings with Mahmood Abbas and during the Syrian-Israeli negotiations in Turkey. With every new Israeli government their premier and foreign minister ask the Palestinians and the Syrians to restart from the zero point. Then there is no credibility for Israeli governments to negotiate. Credibility is one of the important prerequisites to start negotiations.
Unfortunately, regional factions that call themselves resistance groups gave Israelis every reason to play this game. They call for resistance without clear strategy and vision about the shape of their proclaimed victory if it ever would happen. Another war with Hezbollah means destruction of the Lebanese infrastructure again and more victims of wrong war decisions while leaders of Hezbollah would be safe in their shelters. Hamas that rules Gaza with an iron fist and started to adopt Taliban-like policies as they asked shop vendors to remove any underwear goods because they see it indecent angered owner of these shops because it affected their sales. Did they succeed to solve Gaza problems?
Hamas Leader Khaled Mashaal announced that he would accept a Palestinian state within borders of 1967. However his faction is at odds with Fattah that calls for the same thing and kept Fattah members in the enclave. One of Hamas men said that they did not allow Fattah members to go to Ram-Allah to attend Fattah congress because if they went they would vote for Mohamed Dahlan to be elected a member in Fattah´s revolutionary council. Is the conflict between Fattah and Hamas leaders personal? Is it over who rules? Is it over who appoint his followers to posts? Is it over who gets the financial aids? Do these leaders want to see a Palestinian state really?
In fact these proclaimed resistance groups play their game for the sake of two countries Israel and Iran.
Unfortunately, Arab League and its members just wait and see. They supported the Arab initiative. Most of them did not talk with these proclaimed resistance groups to stop their harmful policies. Even some of them support both. Some of them aid these groups while announcing support of Arab initiative to find a role. The US will not give a Palestinian state for the Arabs as a charity.
Regional peace is strategically important for Egypt and for the Saudis. It should not be left to the Palestinian leaders who fight each other and let their followers kill and arrest their rivals. It is also strategically important for the US. It should not be left to Israeli governments that play tricks by appointing corrupted politicians to be impeached when needed. A strategic dialogue should start with the US about the future of the region. If the Americans prepare an initiative it would be much better if they asked the Israelis to appoint negotiators who are from the presidency to avoid governments change. Egypt and the Saudi Arabia with the Arab League could appoint Palestinians from the occupied land and from refugees to negotiate. If final agreements passed a referendum in Israel and in West Bank, Gaza and among refugees who could vote in Arab League offices, these agreement should be imposed by an international force. Otherwise the peace process will be hunted by those who cry for peace and kill each other. Palestinians will not unit. Israelis will not stop playing tricks.
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