US asks Arab nations to reach out to Israel
Well it seems that the new Presidency is no different from the old...
The White House has asked at least seven Arab countries to consider what they might do in return for an Israeli pledge to freeze construction of settlements in the West Bank.
The US administration is reaching out to moderate Arab countries in the region to inject some momentum into efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Jonathan Rynhold, a London-born expert in US-Israeli relations at Bar-Ilan University, said the White House was likely to have contacted Morocco, Bahrain, and other Gulf states.
The Americans are thought to be asking for the opening of trade offices, flight routes between the countries and cultural exchanges.
Mr Rynhold said: “It does serve as an umbrella strategically if the Palestinians want to move forward.” Washington hopes such moves will encourage Israel to reconsider their plans to continue construction for what officials term “the natural growth” of existing settlements.
But the efforts to reach out to the Arab countries are understood to have left administration officials frustrated so far. Most notably, Mr Obama left his recent visit to Saudi Arabia without any such promises in hand. George Mitchell, the US envoy to the Middle East, met Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, on Tuesday in another attempt to end the deadlock between the countries over the issue.
“We have made good progress,” said Mr. Mitchell emerging from a two-hour meeting with the Israeli leader. The two are reportedly close to a compromise deal in which America would sanction the completion of settlement construction in its final phases in return for Israeli assurances it would freeze all other building for an as yet undetermined amount of time.
The subject of Israeli settlements is one of the most contentious involving the two sides. The Palestinians view the settlements as an affront and a physical obstacle to their plans of building part of their future state in the West Bank.
Telegraph
Once again, the Arabs will be patsies and life will go on till the next general election..
Wrong again. Its the Israelite who would want to put Palestine of the map.
do they have enough israeli tu put in those houses?
I agree.. israel is playing games and so is the US.
Putting settlements in some areas is similar to having the KKK move in within an ethnic residential area.
Arab nations have approved a peace initiative some 10 years ago. It is very simple and straight forward:
1. Withdraw from the lands occupied by Israel since 1967.
2. Israel to sort out the problem of Palestinian refugees.
3. If the above 2 conditions are fulfilled, then all Arab countries are ready to deal with Israel like any other country: Normal diplomatic relations. Besides openning the Arab countries market to Israel.
Israel and USA did not take that initiative seriously. They are very smart in playing on words and wasting time. The result. More radical movements in the area.
I wonder. If Mr. Obama is the most open-minded president and George Mitchel is a moderate un-biased envoy are blaming or pushing the Arabs to take a move towards Israel and are unable to control the country that breathes through USA.
Looks like we are having another 8 years of time wasting and another reason for more "radicalism" in the area.
Bottom line. Israel will never reach at a stage of full peace in the area. It is a country built on an aggressive army. The reason for its existence is the availability of enemies and existence of continuous threats.
Taking the above into consideration, most likely Hamas, Hizbulla and Iran will be having more supporters considering them the only entities that can face Israel. Where as "moderate" Arab countries who are trying to sort the issue peacefully will be turned down.
===================================== http://www.qatarliving.com/node/58409
As Iranian President said...Israil should be wiped out from the face of the earth.
As Iranian President said...Israil should be wiped out from the face of the earth.
As an outsider I find it strange that the issue of settlements cannot be resolved..
Yeah right, reach out to an Israeli and he'll cut your hand off