Is there any chance left to reach a Peace Agreement in the Middle East?
As we all know, the Israeli Palestinian conflict is considered the center of all other conflicts, violence, and chaos in the Middle East. Beside that, the instability in the Middle East is the reason for any international instability or chaos either it is in the economical field, or security and wars. A good question to ask these days is whether really there is any chance left for reaching a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
In order to answer this question, one should return to the political situation inside Israel and the Palestinian authorities. In Israel, elections are to be held on January 2009 to choose a new leadership that will decide the destiny of any possible peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Analysts say that although it is not clear, Benyam Natanyahu that leads the Lekod party seems to be the winning man in the coming elections.
Tsipy Livny that leads the Kadima party is still new to the game and didn’t go through a tough past in the army and the state’s associations in order to win a strong support from the Israelis. Ehud Barak that leads the Labor party seems to be the reason for weakening his party; he made the labor party a secondary one that only supports in the formation of the Israeli government.
In the Palestinian affairs, the inside situation seems to be chaotic and have no chance in getting over the crises between Hamas and Fatah. Instead of working in a unity to bring for the Palestinian people their right in living independently, both Hamas and Fatah divided the Palestinian occupied territories into a Gaza Islamic republic and a West Bank American project state. It is not about how good it is to be a part of an international project in the area, but it is about question the Palestinian leaders about their promise to protect the Palestinian state, dream, basic beliefs, and nation.
However, Hamas seems to be enjoying the temporarily seize fire with Israel that can renewed without forming a unity government with Mahmoud Abbas, since this would take from their hands a part of their control in Gaza.
Under the meanwhile political situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, it doesn’t seem that there is a possibility for any peace agreement unless a foreign pressure is made. Some Arabs criticize the idea of asking whether the Pre-elected American President Barak Obama will do something to end the conflict in the Middle East. They believe that the change must come from the Arab countries.
However, questioning whether the next leader of the meanwhile hegemony will do something is not a negative thing. The international system in these days changed into a one pole system that includes one great power which is America and therefore only interference from the United States would make a change in the region.
Sphere: Related Content
Loading ...
It is true that in order to put significant pressure on Israel, Arab countries will require the support of the new American administration but I am tired of leaving everything upto the US of A.
The only way to find a solution is to come up with a mutual agreement through dialogue.
At the moment Palestinians aren’t willing to engage in dialogue with each other, forget about dialogue and that too constructive dialogue with Israel.
Israel seems too busy in its confused coalition politics and increasing settlement activity to even consider this option as well.
If these parties have learnt nothing about cooperation in 60 years, there is little that the US can do to help them.
Why aren’t we asking Israel and the Palestinian authorities to prove that they are willing to negotiate instead of spending all our time scrutinizing the US and its foreign policies towards the Middle East?
To Gitanjali
The ISraeli and Palestinian will is important to reach a peace agreement or a solution for the conflict. However, the international community is important in deciding what should be made to end conflicts around the world. The United States of America until today is considered the only hegemony therefore its duties toward the world are more than any other country. In order to create an Israeli and Palestinian will to go for peace, one need to create a pressure on the system inside the two states. America’s role is important to create this pressure and to lead to a solution since both sides does not have leaders at this time.