Time to preach peace, again
Josh HongPublished: Sep 4, 2009 4:04 AM | Updated: Sep 4, 2009 4:20 AM
The eight-year Bush administration produced many failures, one of which is the paltry effort by Washington to resuscitate the peace process in the Middle East.
Instead of moving things forward, Bush's obsession with the war on global terror only served to alienate the populaces in the region, save the Israelis.
It was only in the final days of his presidency did Bush show some real interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by hosting the Annapolis Conference in November 2007.
The eight-year Bush administration produced many failures, one of which is the paltry effort by Washington to resuscitate the peace process in the Middle East.
Instead of moving things forward, Bush's obsession with the war on global terror only served to alienate the populaces in the region, save the Israelis.
It was only in the final days of his presidency did Bush (right) show some real interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by hosting the Annapolis Conference in November 2007.
But whatever little progress that it made was subsequently wiped out in the war on Gaza in December 2008/January 2009.
On taking over the presidency, Obama knew full well America's attitude was crucial to setting the tone for a renewed process.
Greater and more earnest endeavour in this regard will invariably improve the standing of the US government in the eyes of the Muslim world as well.
Hence the meeting between Obama (left) and all the parties concerned in the White House in May this year, during which the US president came up with a two-state solution to be implemented in the next two years, while seeking the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, as well as King Abdullah of Jordan.
In addition, Middle East Special Envoy George Mitchell, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former president Jimmy Carter have been engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in the region, with a view to creating an atmosphere that is conducive to the new peace process.
The White House is even prepared to make concessions in order to secure consensus with Syria.
However, the complex issues in the Middle East cannot be resolved without the participation of other major powers.
While the European Union has been working closely alongside the US, Russia is also playing a proactively role to exert its influence now that the internal challenges following the disintegration of the former Soviet Union are largely kept under control.
When Moscow first proposed a peace conference to be held in the Russian capital, Israel nipped the idea in the bud by refusing to attend for fear of further interference by an outsider, despite Russia being a member of the Middle East Quartet.
Two state solution?
It was a severe blow to the Russians no doubt.
However, a tacit understanding between Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev changed that.
As the US government was putting more pressure on Tel Aviv to halt the settlement projects and to accept the two-state solution, the Israelis have turned to the Russians for support by agreeing to be in Moscow for talks.
Netanyahu's volte-face and softening stance on the Palestinian issue again shows that he has always been a pragmatist, although he can be hawkish at times, especially during election campaign.
In fact, it may be in the interest of the Israeli authorities to sit at the same table with the Palestinians as series of public opinions surveys in the country indicate more and more Jewish nationals have come around to the two-state solution as the only way out for the long-running conflict.
Netanyahu's change of heart also had a lot to do with the efforts made by Moscow to convince the Israelis that the Russians would be a trustworthy peace broker.
Russia has agreed to consider suspending the sales of the S300 aerial missiles to Iran, while having signed a deal to buy 12 unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel.
But a major hurdle will be about Hamas' presence at the conference, scheduled to take place by end of this year.
Two weeks ago, Shimon Peres, Israel's president, stated categorically that it would be desirable if Hamas was not on Moscow's guest list, and reminded that the peace process would be a long one, although the initiative itself was laudable.
Peres also warned against arms transfers from Syria to the Hizbullah organization in Lebanon, which he believed still continued unabated.
So long as these two issues remain unaddressed, the Israelis would have ample reasons to protract the process.
Again, the attitude of the Obama administration will be vitally important to keep the Israeli leadership at the table.
The world has seen several major conferences and genuine efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.
No other regional conflicts have received so much help and attention from the major powers.
It is important that the planned conference take place and set the process moving again, failing which the ordinary people - Jews and Arabs alike - will be the ones who suffer and languish in despondency.
Instead of moving things forward, Bush's obsession with the war on global terror only served to alienate the populaces in the region, save the Israelis.
It was only in the final days of his presidency did Bush (right) show some real interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by hosting the Annapolis Conference in November 2007. But whatever little progress that it made was subsequently wiped out in the war on Gaza in December 2008/January 2009.
On taking over the presidency, Obama knew full well America's attitude was crucial to setting the tone for a renewed process.
Greater and more earnest endeavour in this regard will invariably improve the standing of the US government in the eyes of the Muslim world as well.
Hence the meeting between Obama (left) and all the parties concerned in the White House in May this year, during which the US president came up with a two-state solution to be implemented in the next two years, while seeking the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, as well as King Abdullah of Jordan. In addition, Middle East Special Envoy George Mitchell, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former president Jimmy Carter have been engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in the region, with a view to creating an atmosphere that is conducive to the new peace process.
The White House is even prepared to make concessions in order to secure consensus with Syria.
However, the complex issues in the Middle East cannot be resolved without the participation of other major powers.
While the European Union has been working closely alongside the US, Russia is also playing a proactively role to exert its influence now that the internal challenges following the disintegration of the former Soviet Union are largely kept under control.
When Moscow first proposed a peace conference to be held in the Russian capital, Israel nipped the idea in the bud by refusing to attend for fear of further interference by an outsider, despite Russia being a member of the Middle East Quartet.
Two state solution?
It was a severe blow to the Russians no doubt.
However, a tacit understanding between Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev changed that.
As the US government was putting more pressure on Tel Aviv to halt the settlement projects and to accept the two-state solution, the Israelis have turned to the Russians for support by agreeing to be in Moscow for talks. Netanyahu's volte-face and softening stance on the Palestinian issue again shows that he has always been a pragmatist, although he can be hawkish at times, especially during election campaign.
In fact, it may be in the interest of the Israeli authorities to sit at the same table with the Palestinians as series of public opinions surveys in the country indicate more and more Jewish nationals have come around to the two-state solution as the only way out for the long-running conflict.
Netanyahu's change of heart also had a lot to do with the efforts made by Moscow to convince the Israelis that the Russians would be a trustworthy peace broker. Russia has agreed to consider suspending the sales of the S300 aerial missiles to Iran, while having signed a deal to buy 12 unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel.
But a major hurdle will be about Hamas' presence at the conference, scheduled to take place by end of this year.
Two weeks ago, Shimon Peres, Israel's president, stated categorically that it would be desirable if Hamas was not on Moscow's guest list, and reminded that the peace process would be a long one, although the initiative itself was laudable.
Peres also warned against arms transfers from Syria to the Hizbullah organization in Lebanon, which he believed still continued unabated.
So long as these two issues remain unaddressed, the Israelis would have ample reasons to protract the process. Again, the attitude of the Obama administration will be vitally important to keep the Israeli leadership at the table.
The world has seen several major conferences and genuine efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.
No other regional conflicts have received so much help and attention from the major powers.
It is important that the planned conference take place and set the process moving again, failing which the ordinary people - Jews and Arabs alike - will be the ones who suffer and languish in despondency.
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