Breathing New Life into the Peace Process: An Attempt to Resuscitate an Opossum?

(From the AP) The latest news out of Punxsutawney, PA is that an opossum was found in critical condition at the side of the road.  Bending over it was a man in a high state of inebriation attempting to revive it with what appeared to be mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. What a grand waste of time in the cold of Penn’s woods. Opossums are known for playing dead whenever drunken men among others try to revive them![CBS, Philadelphia]

And then there is President Obama, drunk with power, determined to publicly push Israel around in an attempt to revive the Middle East Peace process Chicago style.  The Administration has played the “snub card” since Biden was 1 1/2 hours late for a state dinner during his ill-fated trip to Israel.  Miscreant allies are best handled in private meetings. If Obama continues his irritable diplomacy,, Israel just might turn to China and an arbitrator.  China would love nothing better than to be the one to bring this part of the world to heel.

The resumption of ties via scheduled visits by representatives to China and Israel  to their respective countries had been scheduled before tensions with the US reached their current pitch. Israel hopes that China will purchase military equipment.  Meanwhile, the Chinese have toured various military units in Israel. This is an excellent way for them to record the set up of these units and possibly of American aircraft  in the region. [China mashup via world tribune]

With all the disclaimers, it is almost certain the Israel will use China as a bargaining chip with the US to leverage their demands prior to agreeing to indirect talks.  Additionally, it appears that the Palestinians smell blood as well.  Obama’s deplorable treatment of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may also have empowered the Palestinians to not only launch attacks on Israel this week but have encouraged them to up the ante for resumption of indirect peace.  Already they have made strong demands for specific concessions from Israel via the Obama Administration’s top negotiator,  George Mitchell.

Meanwhile the UN and Obama’s position have been embraced at a meeting this week of the Arab League in Libya (the gathering is known as “The Jerusalem Summit”) Note the stand of our NATO ally Turkey. Turkey is a bridge between the West and the Muslim world and can achieve many things other of our allies in the region cannot.  Their viewpoint needs consideration.

Photo by: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Amr Moussa: We must prepare for failure of peace process

By JPOST.COM STAFF
27/03/2010 16:23

Arab league chief says the situation “has reached a turning point”; calls for nuclear talks with Iran; Erdogan calls Israeli policy on east Jerusalem “madness.”

The chief of the Arab League warned Saturday that Israel’s actions could bring about a final end to the Middle East peace process.

Amr Moussa urged an Arab leadership summit in Libya on Saturday to forge a new strategy to pressure Israel, saying the peace process could not be “an open ended process.”

“We must prepare for the possibility that the peace process will be a complete failure,” Moussa said. “This is the time to stand up to Israel. We must find alternative options, because the situation appears to have reached a turning point.”

Earlier this month, Arab nations opened the door for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to enter four months of indirect, American-brokered peace talks with Israel. But they later threatened to withdraw support for the talks because of Israel’s announcement of new plans for construction in east Jerusalem.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a guest at the summit, said in his speech that the Israeli “violation” of peace in Jerusalem and Muslim holy sites was unacceptable.

Erdogan said that the Israeli position defining the whole of Jerusalem as its united capital was “madness.” Israeli construction in east Jerusalem was completely unjustified, he said.

Moussa also urged the 22-nation bloc to engage Iran directly over concerns about its growing influence and its nuclear activities, a proposal that could undermine US and Israeli efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic. Moussa’s engagement plan would involve a forum for regional cooperation and conflict resolution that would include non-Arab nations Iran and Turkey.

So Obama’s tough and public stand rather than revive the indirect talks, have scared off the would be participants and made the Peace Process look dead at the side of the road.  But are Israel and the Palestinians playing opossum?  Various reports suggest that talks continue  below the radar. [Tantalo News]

______________________________________________

HotAir – Report: Obama humiliated Netanyahu at the White House

Advertisement

Posted in: Uncategorized