The road to peace between the United States and Muslim countries is through Jerusalem. The United States has been Israel’s staunchest ally. Israel needs American support to survive. Without that support Israel would have been destroyed by its neighbors decades ago. It is time for Israel to help the United States win the war against terrorism. That goal can be achieved by an Israeli Palestinian peace accord. Once that accord has become reality the Arab terrorists will lack a major battle cry that is now used to recruit terrorists. That peace accord will enable Israel to focus its energies on other things besides the defense of its borders. That accord will afford the opportunity for the United States to show Muslim nations that America does care about their values and beliefs.
Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party in Israel, is now the man likely to become Israel’s next prime minister. He has the reputation of a “conservative” leader and is known to oppose a treaty with Palestinians that creates a two nation solution. It has also been written that he wants to draw out (or drag out) any negotiations as a delaying tactic to signing any kind of peace accord with the Palestinians. I can understand why he has taken this position. There are doubts among Jews everywhere about the reliability of any treaty.
Palestinians are divided on a course of action towards Israel. There is no single unifying group or committee that speaks for most of them. The three leading groups that would like to lead all Palestinians are Hamas, Hezbollah, and Fatah. Under current conditions George Mitchell, the American diplomat looking for a solution, will be hard put to bring real negotiations to a table before all Palestinian groups agree on their objectives.
Mr. Netanyahu couldn’t be happier with the current in-fighting among Palestinians. If his plan is to delay negotiations, the Palestinians have aided him in that objective.
Both Jews and Arabs are very sensitive to the treatment they receive by the American government. That appears to be the major stumbling block that has deterred every U.S. administration from taking the needed actions that will bring peace to the area. At this time the Obama administration does not appear to be any more willing to force its vision on the parties than any previous administration. Sending George Mitchell to the Middle East as an American representative only showed that President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton understand that the situation is both complex and delicate.
The United States needs to look out for its interests first. To accomplish the U.S. objectives the American government should insist that all parties involved participate in negotiations that will lead to permanent peace and stability. That objective can be accomplished by using a “carrot and stick” approach. Time lines need to be established to end this open ended confrontation. The carrot is help to those to those nations and groups who participate. The stick is isolation and containment for those refusing to participate. Egypt apparently agrees with this approach as that country blocked entry and movement into Gaza during the recent Israeli attacks. Similarly there was a noticeable lack of support for Hamas in Gaza during those Israeli attacks. Unfortunately Israel killed and harmed too many innocent civilians. The isolation needs to be sustained indefinitely if Hamas refuses to participate in peace negotiations. Israel should be treated equally if it refuses to negotiate.
American Jews and Arabs may be unhappy with the Obama administration but the time has come to end the stalemate.
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