Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., May 13, 2009 Iyyar 19, 5769 | | Israel Time: 11:43 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100
Last update - 09:35 29/03/2009
A comprehensive Mideast peace is a fantasy
By Zvi Bar'el
Tags: Doha, Arab League 

Pieces of a puzzle that do not fit together but are being forced together so some sort of picture can emerge - this is how the Arab League summit in Doha is looking. Host Qatar, is not getting along with Egypt. Jordan is furious with Qatar because Al Jazeera, owned by the emirate's ruling family, reiterated the claim that the late King Hussein was a CIA agent. Sudan, whose participation was still unclear as of Saturday afternoon because of the international arrest warrant for its president, is trying to rally Arab support. Egypt and Syria are still not reconciled. Saudi Arabia has embarked on a pan-Arab reconciliation effort, but with limited success. The Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, have not reached an agreement. And Iraq is still considered suspicious, in part because it is under Iranian influence. In short, it looks like the Arab Disagreement League.

On the face of it, this scene is not uncommon. It's a joyous moment for anyone seeking proof of a divided Arab Middle East, in which even the lowest common denominator is being destroyed. But it's also a scene that should raise thoughts about the concept of the Arab initiative, which passed during the 2002 Arab League summit in Beirut.

At that time the Arab countries unified on an issue they had never been asked to agree on. The enormous efforts of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, with cooperation from Jordan and a number of Gulf states, spurred a new sort of Arab unity: to grant Israel security, declare an end to the conflict, and hold diplomatic ties and normalize relations. This would be in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from all the territories, the establishment of a Palestinian state and a just solution to the refugee problem. That was the summit that officially replaced the Arab strategic outlook toward Israel formulated at the Khartoum summit in 1967 − the three nos: no recognition, no peace and no negotiations.
Advertisement
However, the strategic change the initiative offers depends entirely on across-the-board Arab support. Without it, there is no point.

Theoretically, the initiative is still alive and kicking, but after seven years of stagnating in the frozen sauce of diplomatic inactivity, we can agree to put the initiative in a folder along with the road map, the Mitchell and Tenet reports and the other beautiful documents that hit the rocks in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

After we said Israel had lost another historic opportunity for peace, also because of the cold shoulder it gave the initiative, it would not be terrible sacrilege to argue that comprehensive peace was just too ambitious, and not only because of Israel. Will Iraq, which follows Iranian dictates, make peace with Israel just because of a peace agreement with the Palestinians? Will Lebanon, whose policy is dictated by Hezbollah, agree to peace with Israel even if a peace agreement is reached with Syria? And will fundamentalist Sudan be in any hurry to shake hands with Benjamin Netanyahu?

And what will the Palestinians propose? Peace in Ramallah and war in the Gaza Strip? Even the Gulf states will find it hard to form a uniform policy on Israel. The view claiming that the Middle East is only waiting for an order - a peace agreement between Israel, Syria and the Palestinians - to march together toward Jerusalem and lay down its swords, was appropriate for the Middle East when there were no Arab states.

Nonetheless, the crumbling summit in Qatar, which is calling itself the "Arab reconciliation summit," does not merely prove that the Arab initiative is no longer valid because there is no longer accord among the Arabs. It requires the adoption of a new political paradigm that considers individual agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, and between Israel, Syria and Lebanon, as essential interests even if Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Algeria do not join such a peace with Israel the next day.

The question before the Israeli government and its critics is not what would have happened had Israel and the Arabs adopted the Arab initiative, but how can talks with the Palestinians and Syrians make progress as if there were no Arab initiative. This realistic approach is now necessary instead of the endless debate over what the Arab initiative includes or excludes, and certainly instead of that fantasy of comprehensive peace.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Shoah on Facebook
Social networking site refuses to ban Holocaust denying groups.
Illegal in Gaza
Haaretz reporter Amira Hass detained at Israel border, for violating Gaza entry ban.
  1.   The focus should be peace with the Palestinians 03:49  |  Yossi 29/03/09
  2.   no peace 04:41  |  israel 29/03/09
  3.   "just solution" to refugee problem = no return 05:03  |  McQueen 29/03/09
  4.   SAUDI "PEACE" PLAN IS IN REALITY A DECLARATION OF WAR 05:35  |  G Marcus 29/03/09
  5.   The only solution is WB to Jordan, Gaza to Egypt 05:48  |  AKUS 29/03/09
  6.   Yossi (# 1). Where have you been for the past 61 years? 06:21  |  flyingdoc57 29/03/09
  7.   Solution 07:02  |  Texan 29/03/09
  8.   You want fantasy for solution? 07:28  |  Gary Tucker 29/03/09
  9.   What are the chances of peace? 07:51  |  Jean Van Daem 29/03/09
  10.   Any peace is a fantasy 08:03  |  Colin Wright 29/03/09
  11.   Think Small -- Comprehensive Ain`t Working 08:09  |  John Eason 29/03/09
  12.   HAVE YOU NOTICED?? 08:31  |  fred 29/03/09
  13.   THE PENNY FINALLY DROPS INTO THE SLOT 09:05  |  vhardman 29/03/09
  14.   Fred of Stockton, if the Cypriots won`t do it, why . . . 09:58  |  Zev Davis 29/03/09
  15.   Just solution to a refugee problem 10:17  |  Sceptic 29/03/09
  16.   Conflict 11:11  |  zechariah 29/03/09
  17.   who needs peace? 11:38  |  ibn Ibrahim 29/03/09
  18.   Including Sudan ! 11:39  |  Akiva P 29/03/09
  19.   PLUSHamas spokesman T a-Nunu"Hamas will never accept 2 state soln 11:49  |  PETER SM 29/03/09
  20.   Until America gets Israel under control... 11:50  |  Natallie Durson 29/03/09
  21.   A chance for Peace 12:18  |  Fred 29/03/09
  22.   NATALIE WILL"controlling Israel"make Shiites&Sunnis love each oth 12:45  |  PETER SM 29/03/09
  23.   Halleliah! I see! Barel,one of the greatest appeasenicks conclude 12:59  |  Absolute Sweden 29/03/09
  24.   To Fred & Natallie 13:07  |  Akiva P 29/03/09
  25.   Fred says "Israel mus|t" make peace 13:22  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 29/03/09
  26.   to PETER SM #19 13:25  |  zeev 29/03/09
  27.   Mr Barel Israel did not give the initiative a cold shoulder 13:26  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 29/03/09
  28.   Israel`s alternative - separation or dissolution 13:30  |  Optipessimist 29/03/09
  29.   Israel`s Settlements Enterprise liquidation is peace cornerstone 13:53  |  Ivar 29/03/09
  30.   Hamas, PETER SM? Why talk 13:58  |  Sceptic 29/03/09
  31.   The usual attempt to blame everyone else but themselves 14:13  |  Labhras 29/03/09
  32.   Natellie Durson 14:22  |  Angela 29/03/09
  33.   Saudi peace plan is only solution 15:58  |  John 29/03/09
  34.   If Palestinian support for a peace agreement were strong enough 17:52  |  newageblues 29/03/09
  35.   Margie they did reject it and kept building illegal 17:56  |  Labhras 29/03/09
  36.   Arab frei Israel? Let me show you, Labhras, 17:58  |  Sceptic 29/03/09
  37.   You are preaching to the wrong side, John#33 18:00  |  Sceptic 29/03/09
  38.   Stunning change 18:04  |  Chrisona 29/03/09
  39.   Comprehensive Mideast Peace 18:08  |  newyorkone 29/03/09
  40.   To Labhras (#31). Can you really be that out of touch ? 18:21  |  flyingdoc57 29/03/09
  41.   Great direct,succinct oppinion newyorkone. 18:36  |  Sarah 29/03/09
  42.   I agree with Ms. Durson 18:57  |  Lou Medel 29/03/09
  43.   JESUSALEN 19:53  |  jesusalen 29/03/09
  44.   The great war 19:57  |  arik 29/03/09
  45.   islam never at peace with anybody 20:24  |  rich 29/03/09
  46.   # 5, AKUS has it right, with a tweak or 2 21:10  |  US CITIZEN 29/03/09
  47.   Hamas rejected the Saudi Plan and continued the suicide intifada 21:36  |  Realist 29/03/09
  48.   Quite succinct Yossi 21:53  |  Mark Lincoln 29/03/09
  49.   Saudi innitiative was a bluff 22:15  |  citizen zero 29/03/09
  50.   SCEPTIC Exactly.Thats the" Partners for peace" PA talking 22:31  |  PETER SM 29/03/09
  51.   to Margie in Tel Aviv #27 - 3rd try 23:19  |  zeev 29/03/09
  52.   .. 23:30  |  .. 29/03/09
  53.   29 ivar has never explained how his nightmare plans would work 23:41  |  vhardman 29/03/09
  54.   ZEEV T.Al Nu Nu is the CURRENT spokesman for Hamas govt. 23:45  |  PETER SM 29/03/09
  55.   To Yossi: Abbas and Bibi Must Strike a Deal 00:23  |  Dav Lev 30/03/09
  56.   fred 01:18  |  Michelle Wayne 30/03/09
  57.   labhras from Ireland 01:53  |  Michelle Wayne 30/03/09
  58.   #39, newyorkone, excellent summation of the rightwing view 02:08  |  newageblues 30/03/09
  59.   peter sm and abuse 02:09  |  truth 30/03/09
  60.   Peace??? 02:15  |  Muskens 30/03/09
  61.   The Problems With The Arab Ultimatum (Saudi Initiative) 02:31  |  Jeff Northridge 30/03/09
  62.   #43 "Jesusalen" nonsense 03:40  |  John Eason 30/03/09
  63.   any peace with Israel is a fantasy 04:13  |  American in NY 30/03/09
  64.   Hypocritical Arabs oppose a Kurdish state 04:47  |  Ken Jurist 30/03/09
  65.   Ivar post# 29 you lie as usual. 04:52  |  David Stoler 30/03/09
  66.   Charlie Rose - SAUDI PEACE INITIATIVE / FIORINA 05:28  |  Arab 30/03/09
  67.   Ahmadinejad is an Iranian Nasser ! 05:34  |  Akram Zekaria 30/03/09
  68.   to Zeev 26 - Correction ! 05:51  |  Akram Zekaria 30/03/09
  69.   The question before the Israeli government and its critics 06:16  |  Joseph.E 30/03/09
  70.   Fred 08:15  |  I am tired too 30/03/09
  71.   Israel should make like the Brits in India 08:57  |  Marilyn 30/03/09
  72.   It is all about the WATER 09:13  |  Gary Tucker 30/03/09
  73.   to Margie in Tel Aviv #27 - 4th try 11:15  |  zeev 30/03/09
  74.   wrong gary tucker 12:08  |  Allon 30/03/09
  75.   iVAR CONTRADICTED HIMSELF 12:18  |  Allon 30/03/09
  76.   Wrong assessment 14:13  |  Don 30/03/09
  77.   Fred Stockton HAVE YOU NOTICED 15:30  |  Petra 30/03/09
  78.   ME peace fantasy 16:57  |  Raskolnikov 30/03/09
  79.   As If all Israelis are in Agreement! Arabs Recong. of Israel is 17:57  |  Monitor 30/03/09
  80.   to Akram Zekaria #51 - 2nd try 18:24  |  zeev 30/03/09
  81.   peace solution 22:28  |  Gary R. 30/03/09
  82.   to Zeev. You have no respect for the truth.. 06:48  |  Akram Zekaria 07/04/09
  83.   Barel doesn`t get Saudi Initiative 11:14  |  Reid 13/05/09
  84.   Truth - the last Hamas Hudna didn`t last two days 11:29  |  Reid 13/05/09
 Read & React
UN: Israel gives Lebanon cluster bomb data from 2006 war
Responses: 34
Haaretz reporter Amira Hass arrested upon leaving Gaza
Responses: 45
Hezbollah deputy chief: We actively support Hamas
Responses: 7
Obama declares May Jewish American Heritage Month
Responses: 6
Pope to Abbas: Palestinians deserve sovereignty
Responses: 12


More Headlines
10:55 Palestinians deserve sovereignty, says Pope in Bethlehem
10:58 'Syria willing to resume talks as soon as Israel is ready'
11:05 Hezbollah deputy chief: We actively support Hamas
11:10 Obama declares May Jewish American Heritage Month
11:06 Cabinet approves 2009-2010 budget with near majority
09:21 Israel wins place in Eurovision finals with Jewish-Arab duet
11:35 National Service to accept only half of its Israeli Arab applicants
11:27 SPECIAL FEATURE / The Pope In The Holy Land
13:52 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
09:06 Netanyahu likely to allow food shipments into Gaza
11:12 Berlin university translates Holocaust archive for students
10:36 Court rules gun maker not liable for 1999 L.A. Jewish center attack
00:19 UN: Israel gives Lebanon cluster bomb data from 2006 war
04:47 Mubarak to Israel: Progress in peace process before Arab recognition
07:17 IDF reinstates officer booted for refusing Gaza pullout order
09:12 Israel's schools strike Wednesday over education cuts
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
The Meier on Rothschild Tower
Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved