Dare We Hope?
We dare, and we should. For without hope, what is there? Well, for one thing, being resigned to a status quo which is so untenable that it cannot continue. So when we read a caption such as: Arab nations call for new Mideast peace talks, we rush to read the details. And, on the face of it, with certain reservations, there is hope that something worthwhile could conceivably come of it. New Mideast peace talks. Talking is good, talking is always good, better by far than ignoring a crisis - than behaving in a resolutely belligerent manner that belies all hope for meaningful solutions.But negotiations require determination to succeed, and in situations such as what we see at the present time, and indeed what we have seen and experienced second-hand through the news media the only determination in evidence was that of expunging one state out of the geography of the Middle East entirely. Now, if we are to believe statements coming from Arab League sources, the object will be to achieve peace between Israel and her closest neighbours, the Palestinians - and by extension the balance of her Arab neighbours.
A laudable goal, who on earth would not celebrate a peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Everyone cheers on the potential of two sovereign states living side by side in amity and co-operation. Perhaps, on the face of it, that is a little too much to expect right now, but perhaps also if the two-state contiguous solution is given a chance and becomes reality, a modicum of mutual trust could eventually come to pass and with it the opportunity to learn more about one another, to commit to co-operation.
The Arab League ministers issued a statement of intent, for a conference to be held to which permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Israel and Arab parties would be invited. This would be a peace conference, its purpose to resolve the Arab-Israeli dispute based on the principle of land for peace. If this is to be an offer for a reasonable exchange of ideas and offers, of reasonable assent to reasonable solutions, then there would be certain to be a favourable outcome - for all involved.
If, on the other hand, this conference turns out to be yet another in a long series of aggrieved demands and counter-demands, threats and counter-threats, then nothing is to be achieved by mounting it. Hopes will have been raised, and dashed. In the order of first-things-first, Hamas, as part of the official make-up of the Palestinian Authority must see its way clear to accepting the rightful presence of the State of Israel.
From there, proposals can proceed for the relinquishing of captured lands, for a re-alignment of official borders, for a workable agreement on border harmony. And speaking of border harmony, it must be a controlled border. A situation far removed from what we see at the present time, where Israel and its citizens are continually bombarded by Hamas- and militant Fatah-fired Kassam rockets.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa condemned the U.S. decision to veto the resolution to condemn Israel for the inadvertent bombing in Gaza which resulted in the truly unfortunate deaths of 18 civilians, but what he neglected to address was the reason why the IDF was there in Beit Hanoun to begin with: unceasing rocket attacks into Israel from the site. And in the time since the IDF withdrawal, and while the Arab League summit was ongoing, countless rockets have continued to be launched into Israel, resulting in injuries and widespread damage to public and private properties in the western Negev.
There is hope, but it cannot be for a one-sided solution. The solution to the conflict must benefit all parties, and it must be supported by all affected belligerants. Otherwise, it's just talk, and talk as we all know comes cheap. If the statement issued by the Arab League is to be taken seriously, and it is not merely meant for public consumption by the gullible, then the League must also call upon its members to accept the inevitable for the future of the entire region: The State of Israel is there to stay.
Accept it, learn to live with it, and find yourselves with a neighbour willing to lend itself to the solution of the problems facing the entire region, from the prospect of dwindling oil reserves in the future, to cheap and successful desalination, to agriculturally successful practices, to the sharing of academic, scientific and practical resources, to light and exportable industry to benefit the region as a whole.
posted by Pieface @ Monday, November 13, 2006
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