December 2008
The Mumbai attacks and a potential resurrection of the ‘War on Terror’ threaten to polarize the India-Pakistan, Israel-Palestine nexus. If not dealt with carefully, these attacks may exacerbate inter-state rivalries and consequently encourage the growth of terrorist networks instead of actually quelling the problem. Read more…
Sphere: Related ContentToday Olmert assured that any deal with the Palestinians about withdrawing from any lands that are considered a part of the Israeli lands should be brought to the Knesset in order to get its approval. This statement made me think again about Olmert’s personality and whether he is able of making any serious decisions that needs a strong leader that may risk a little in order to achieve.
If we look at this decision from the Israeli side, it is a part of the Democratic process that Israel uses in making any serious decisions, although some times this process was directed and even forced into a wanted direction. As Ariel Sharon did when he withdrew from Gaza; he made pressure on his ministers so they vote for his plan. Sharon’s Plan succeeded when he worked upon his own strategies but also made sure that he stays inside the democratic process that Israel always asks for. At the time Ariel Sharon was preparing his self to withdraw from Gaza from one side, a few attempts were made to accuse him of corruption in order to slow his withdrawal from Gaza and make him return on his decisions. Exactly nowadays, we hear some accusations of Olmert being involved in corruption especially in the Bank Leumi case, only at the time he started his meetings with Abu Mazen and talked about leaving some lands for assuring the security of the Israeli state and also do something to give a chance for the November Peace Conference.
All of these accusations were done only because of the Democracy field that gives the chance of accusing a prime minister or investigating him of any corruption that he may be a suspect of. It is quiet amazing to see how this democratic process moves in the Israeli state and shows the clarity of its steps, but sometimes democracy could be leaded and directed and here it ends itself. If the Law system is studied well, it would be easy to direct and take control of the Democracy system and use it to achieve benefits and personal needs.
So here again Olmert goes upon the democratic process and brings any agreement to the approval of all the Israeli people including their extremist and also their peace believers, but on the other side when we look at the Palestinians and how Abu Mazen acted since the Gaza chaos until know, it is clear that he was not acting upon the democratic needs and demands. After Hamas took control of Gaza, Abu Mazen made a decision of making his own government and prevented any negotiations or even meetings with any of the Hamas leaders although they represent a big part of the Palestinian people, saying that he will never sit with them again because of what they did in Gaza and until they return everything as it used to be before. But also one of the real hidden reasons was his need of not sharing any decision he will take to make an agreement with Israel with Hamas, because he knew that Hamas will immediately refuse any kind of an agreement with the Israelis, and in order to show that he is working upon the Law and democracy, Abu Mazen always reminded us that the Negotiations with Israel are under the responsibility of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) that Hamas is not part of, and to my opinion will never be permitted to be part of it. But it seems that Abu Mazen forgot about the need of the Palestinian council approval of any agreement with Israel or lets say is not paying attention to this important matter, because he knows that the majority of this council is filled with Hamas members that will prevent any kind of a peace agreement to pass. One of the reasons that made Abu Mazen use this strategy was the pressure he had from the Americans and also Israel as a condition in order to start any negotiations. So do you think that there is a chance for any agreement to be achieved and at the same time must include some sacrifices that for sure a part of the people that will vote on it will refuse?
Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad
Sphere: Related ContentThe Russian, American last Statements about the Iranian Nuclear Project.
In his last meeting with Ihud Barak, the American President, Bush made it clear that everything should be done to prevent the Iranians from holding a nuclear weapon, he said that if the Iranians get nuclear weapons in there hands, a third world war could start. It is not a new thing to hear this statement from the American president, specially that it is a common thing to see the cooperation between the United States and Israel to prevent any improvement in the Syrian-Iranian weapon filed, that could be a direct threat to the American-Israeli interests in the region.But the real weird statement was the Russian president one that is not clear. Putin, the Russian president, visited Iran yesterday, and said that Russia would never accept on any strike on Iran, and that no force should be used in solving the Iranian Nuclear issues. Putin invited Ahmadi Najad, the Iranian president to come and visit Russia. The press said today, that Putin introduced a new plan to end the Iranian Nuclear problem, but the Iranians are still denying it. After this friendly visit to Iran, and promise not to use force against it, the Russian president met with Ihud Olmert, the Israeli Prime minister yesterday. In this meeting, Putin made a promise to Israel, that Russia would not support the Iranians in building and obtaining a nuclear weapon. Another sources said that Ihud Olmert asked from the Russians to end a planned deal with the Syrians, to give them rockets that could become a threat on the Israeli aircraft. Russia made promises to the both sides, the Israeli and the Iranian, so what is this clever president trying to do by this. Putin is known for his well planning of returning Russia to the first class super powers in the world, and that he strongly refuses the moves that the United States does in order to make the Russian influence less in the former Soviet Union states. So would he really be a good friend of Israel, the best friend of the United States in the region, or would he start thinking of supporting a new power in the Middle East like Iran. Putin even started planning for his position in the Russian Government after the coming elections; he is planning to be the Prime Minister and support a weak President so he can stay in control in an appropriate legal way.
The Iranians only care now to obtain Nuclear Weapons with any price they will be paying for it, because they are sure that once they get these weapons, it will be hard for any State to face them.
I do believe that Russia will keep on being Neutral at the moment, as it always did since the Soviet Union collapsed, in order not to mess up with anyone, BUT if there would be a good moment to make a real shift and return to the first class powers, it wont hesitate in supporting any new upcoming power. Maybe it will follow the secret work plan until things become clearer.
Are the Syrians doing any Nuclear or Atomic Activities?
Today some Press sources like the Washington Post, was talking about the remains of the body or aim that Israel hit in Syria a few weeks ago. It said that the Syrians hided these remains, and misled the press by taking them to shoot another place, claiming that what Israel destroyed was nothing, and that no military activities are being held in this area. The Washington Post said, that satellite pictures were captured and shows a small atomic or nuclear active body that is similar to the North Korean Nuclear items, and that was what Israel really wanted to destroy in the Syrian lands.What I believe is that Israel and the United States are starting a press campaign, accusing the Syrians of attempts to hold Nuclear or atomic weapons in order to make it easier or lets say more convincing when they take a decision of attacking it.
The November Peace Conference, is there a chance?
On the other side, the faith in the November Peace conference is become weaker and weaker every day. Today Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian negotiator says for the first time, that there will not be a final peace paper in this conference, and only a plan will be wrote of how to reach a final agreement. Even Condoleezza Rice said that it is better not to hope much improvement from this Conference. Abu Mazen said that it will be even difficult to go to this Conference, and the reason I think is that how he would explain to his people the failure or lets say not getting the minimum from this conference after all the promises he gave to his people if they follow his program, the peace program. Lets not lose hope, still there are secret negotiations happening between the both sides, and no one knows what did each side offer to the other, the door is still opened and there may be a chance for a change, but not in November.
Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad
Sphere: Related ContentIranian Issues, Israeli, Syrian Issues, Palestinian, Israeli Conflict
I have been thinking lately about all the news and events that have been going on concerning Syria-Israel threatening war, and the November peace conference that the United States is preparing.
Israel lately carried out an air strike inside Syria, and until now non-Israeli official statement was said about it, except for what Binyamin Netanyahu said about his involvement in it since the beginning and the planning, but also said that everything will be clarified at its time. Some were talking about a nuclear project being held in the place Israel attacked, that the Syrians were establishing with the help of North Korea. Others said that weapons were hidden there and Israel had pictures captured of this area by satellites. Actually I do believe that nothing of these statements says the truth about what is going on. Syria said lately that Israel should forget about peace with it especially after what Israel did. Iran keeps on preparing itself with Rockets and threatening to destroy anyone who thinks of attacking its lands, they even talked about attacking the American forces in Iran and Iraq. Well what I think is that Israel wanted to check how Syria would react after attacking its lands and see if they are really prepared to face it. The Syrians are still in the middle of taking a decision about whether to face Israel and bring all the middle east to an opened violence state that could involve Lebanon, Iran, and even make it worse in Iraq, or to hold their breath and try not to start a war until they are really sure that they can win it. Syria said yesterday that they wont participate in the November peace conference even if the United States asks from it to participate…why? Because Iran should decide and Iran should be asked so they can have the permission to go to this conference. Another statement that Ihud Olmert said and really confused me, is what he said today when he met the Arab kenneset members about the November conference and that it wont be as serious as some people think and that it would be only a start for negotiations but not a final one that could really change from the roots. He also said that any bomb attack inside Israel could destroy everything. The reason for what he said was the strong objection and disagreement of Kadeemah party to talk about dividing Jerusalem for two capitals. Still the Israelis are not ready for this and he doesn’t want to risk by talking about it. Hussni Mubarak, the Egyptian president said that if this Conference wont succeed, then this time really all the middle east will go to war and violence and it would be difficult to stop it this time.
I really agree with what he said, and I add that the chances for this conference are really low, what we should think about is how bad it would be, if both the Israelis and the Palestinians didn’t reach the minimum that is needed to make the people return back again to believe in peace in this conference. And how would this be used by Syria and Iran as a support for them in fighting their enemies and becoming loved by the Arab people? If this conference doesn’t succeed, then you can be sure that things will become worse, and that’s why Bush and Condoleezza rice are doing their best to make sure that it will give what is needed to gain the support of the Arab countries and the Palestinians in order to start facing Syria and Iran. One other thing is don’t be surprised if we wake up on a day and you see on the television that Israel attacked Syria because the Americans and the Israelis wont give Syria a chance to become a direct threaten on Israel by bringing more dangerous weapons or making movements on the boarders…it’s a matter of time but cant be known if it is going to be a matter of days or months because it all depends on what is hidden under the table; the Syria- Iranian power to face any attack or even to attack and the Palestinian Israeli situation that could again become critical if it wont be solved or pushed towards peace.
Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad
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