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Monday May 18, 2009
The Other View: Iranian code and Arab support
Posted by Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad
Comments: 9
    
There are growing suspicions that the US will apply pressure on Israel to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians. Prime Minister Netanyahu started his international tour by visiting Jordan where he said that the Arab world and Israel share a common threat - Iran. However, any agreement between Israel and the Arab world on the importance of limiting Iranian influence in the Middle East would not bear fruit unless Israel showed an interest in ending the Arab-Israeli conflict. Recently, the CIA director on a visit to Israel said that Israel should not surprise America by making a move against Iran and there have been unconfirmed reports that the United States will give Iran until October 2009 to stop its nuclear activities. Israel seems to be determined to put an end to the Iranian threat in the region but is working with few options. In order to face Iran, Israel and the United States will need the Arab world's support which would include Arab non-interference should Israel or the US decide to use force against Iran. If Israel and Arab countries reach an agreement regarding the Iranian threat, Iran will be in a weaker state since its main allies such as Hizbullah, Syria, and Hamas will not be able to support it. The only way to convince the Arab world to do so is by making real progress towards peace. By doing so, the Arab governments would find it easier to convince their people not to support Iran and consider it a threat instead. Currently, most Arab people like the idea of supporting anyone, including the devil himself, in order to get Palestinian, Lebanese, and Syrian rights back. Israel does not seem to be ready to make compromises and this makes the situation more complicated. On Friday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said that Syrian President Assad was not ready for peace and basically called him a dictator. Likewise, many Arab officials including the Syrian President stated that Israel is not ready for a true peace process in the area. The only side that really wants to see an agreement between Israel and the Arab world is the United States; reason being that it would make it easier to get Iran to stop its activities without having to engage in a new war which would be a disaster for everyone in the region. Although Arab countries such as Jordan and Egypt have shown an interest in cooperating with Israel, both of them along with the majority of the Arab world will not be ready to support Israel without the latter making a meaningful move towards peace with the Palestinians. So, the question is whether Israel is ready to make such a move. Or will Israel simply face Iran by force and risk?
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Jason, nyc,
Tuesday May 19, 2009
Two points: What do you mean by "Lebanese rights", and what does it have to do with Israel, which occupies no Lebanese territory? In what way could Iran or Hizbullah be said to be working to regain Lebanese rights?
Secondly, you state that Danny Ayalon "basically called [Assad] a dictator." Are you implying that his remark was undiplomatic and counterproductive, or that Assad is indeed something other than a dictator?
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Logic, Israel,
Wednesday May 20, 2009
"Currently, most Arab people like the idea of supporting anyone, including the devil himself, in order to get Palestinian, Lebanese, and Syrian rights back."
Do you have statistics to back up this claim? Even if this is true, the feelings of the "Arab street" are inconsequential because they do not determine their countrys' policies. Many Arab regimes are fearful of Iran to such a degree that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is far from their top priority.
The idea that the Arab masses are willing to become slaves to the Iranians in order to kill Israel reveals their irrational hatred.
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Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad,
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Lebanese rights are those of shebaa which is still under Israeli occupation. I am not concerned whether Asa is a dictator or not. I wanted to show the way Israeli diplomatics are talking with the Arab world. The reason Israel is not concerned in peace talks with Assad is not because he is a dictator but for other reasons such as the Golan.
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Gabor Frankl,
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Dear Mr. Ziad Khalil, Pardon me, but you are either misinformed or very biased and one-sided in your presentation of the actual legal situation. Neither of these options is good. What you call Shebaa farms (for Israelis Mount Dov...) does not belong to Lebanon even according to the UN based on official considerations by experts and geographers, but to Syria. The often - falsely - evoked intl. law by Israel's antagonists totally applies here and in Israel's favour. Its 'generous' ceding to Lebanon by Syria is just a ruse, a trick, a ploy... What's your answer to that Sir?!
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Jen USA,
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Ziad, Israeli diplomats are not only arrogant with the Arab world. After leaving meetings with President Barak Obama, Ron Dermer (aid to Israel's PM), called the two-state concept "childish & stupid". The majority of US citizents & the last two administrations (some would argue the last three) support the concept of an independent Palestine. It is not only in our best interests. It is just & right. Hmmm... & we (the US) are supposed to be Israel's best friend. Who do the Israeli's think will be there, when they decide to "go it alone" against Iran? Israel's leadership is her own worst enemy.
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MK boston,
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Dear Ziad, you, the palestinians have already a state, like it or not. What you don't have, is people able to govern this state. Arab countries are afraid of Iran, because they fear, Iran will invade them, the way Sadam tried before w/Kuwait. Who is a better neighbor, Israel or Iran? congratulations for your writings, thanks
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Ziad khalil Abu Zayyad,
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Gabor, it seems that you did not understand my words...I am not saying that i represent the lebanese demands or i am saying what they ask for is right or wrong. I am giving you a view of the Arab street. According to the Arab street you are misinformed because their sources are not yours. However, the Israeli war planes go into the Lebanese air whenever they want and this is considered illegal too. As for you logic, The Arabs do not want to be slaves of Iran but also refuse to be slaves to the Israeli occupation. If your leadership is smart enough they would listen at least to the Americans.
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Silicon Valley,
Wednesday May 20, 2009
It seems strange that if the US is the only party that wants to work on a peace plan - a sellout for Israel, why go along with it. The Arab world actually likes a prosperous strong Israel on whom they can depend in trade. The Arab worlds likes a strong Israel that can take on Iran militarily. The Arab world would love for Israel to free them from the Persian menace. They just can't say so publicly without putting themselves at risk of some fatwa by some idiot saying it would be a blessing to Allah to have them destroyed. So why doesn't Israel politely oblige and do what everyone hopes they will.
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Gabor Frankl,
Thursday May 21, 2009
OK, I accept. Err, with the caveat that in my humble opinion the Mid East Arabs (at least those who are rational and clever enough to see through Iran's sirene voices) are more fearful of Iran's hegemonic deadly designs than Israel's so-called (or not 'so-called' depending on your view) occupation, and justifiably so... The other thing regarding 'listening at least to the Americans': the Americans are now not Israel's friend, but that of the Arabs, big time. You know that, I know that, more and more people (will) know that...
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