The Forward reports that our European allies are urging George Bush to reengage with the Israeli-Arab peace process. Further, they are lobbying the Administration to pressure Israel into negotiating with a national unity government should one be formed. I am pleased by the urgency inherent in their efforts; by the recognition that if there are no positive developments that there will undoubtedly be negative ones. Some of those negative developments could include Iran securing nuclear weapons and using them, or threatening to use them against Israel (among many potential negative scenarios). To avert this, they say, drastic measures need to be taken and Israel must be prodded out of its torpor when it comes to negotiating with its enemies.
I found this passage especially intriguing:
The Arab League is leading a move to grant the U.N. Security Council the management and supervision of an expedited negotiation process between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as with Syria and Lebanon. Under the proposal, the Security Council would be granted the authority to impose sanctions on the side that uses violence during the negotiations.
I like the muscularity of this proposal in that it would give the Security Council vastly more direct impact over the parties and their negotiating stances than the current Quartet has had. I just hope that the Arab League propsoal doesn’t go the way of all promising Mideast peace initiatives: Phhht!
Any attempt, on the the part of the Arab League, to encourage some sort of solution is a positive in my view. How can we make progress in this world if communication and plans aren’t offered? The US has a similar dilemma as it relates to so many countries we find “difficult.” I think it is the epitomy of hubris and ignorance to not do everything possible to patch up some of these festering wounds….especially for our children’s sake.
Ron