A 'settlement freeze' is not enough

Last week, Congressman Robert Wexler (D - FL) , a supporter of Israel and a close political ally of President Obama, stated his belief that Israel would say yes to settlement freeze. According to Wexler, Israel would not stand to lose much by making this necessary move aimed at making Arab states - who say they are ready for normalization with Israel - lay their cards on the table. 

"I want to call their bluff," Wexler said. "I want to see, if Israel makes substantial movement toward a credible peace process, whether they are willing to do it. And if they are not, better that we should find out five or six months into the process, before Israel is actually asked to compromise any significant position."

In other words, Wexler has indicated that the Arabs will be considered as lacking a will for peace if they refuse to start normalization relations after Israel freezes settlement construction and growth.

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The coming of the third intifada?

Since its establishment, the State of Israel has largely depended on its security forces and intelligence agencies to ensure its national security. Today, Israel believes that diminished Palestinian attacks is a result of the successful efforts of its security and intelligence forces.

Israel began building its intelligence and security forces even before the declaration of the state of 1948. Jews in Palestine did not trust the Arabs who lived among them, and often offered bribes to the Arab population in exchange for information about Arab plans in Palestine. The Israelis also went about recruiting inside the Arab world, across the Middle East, and around the world.

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Reconsidering the Middle East

Many people wonder why Israel and the Arab world have not reached an agreement to end the historical conflict between them. Neither side has yet to find a solution that meets its needs. It also seems that none of the leaders in the region over time, wanted to take responsibility for any kind of compromise reached.

The Middle East, and the world in general, is affected by the Arab-Israeli conflict as it has international repercussions. There is an old theory that says that Israel's establishment was accepted by the West only to "keep an eye" on the Arab world and the region.

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A new chapter in US-Arab relations?

The US has been showing brave policy shifts towards the Muslim world and the Israeli-Arab conflict. This change is mostly noted in America's view on the importance of finding a solution for the Israeli-Arab conflict.

The changes started as soon as President Obama took office. Both Europe and America have indicated that ending the conflict in the Middle East would be beneficial to the Western world and would help bring about international security.

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Is Israel starting to feel US pressure?

Last week, Israel started to feel the pressure from the US as plans for a new peace initiative proposed by Obama were said to be in the works. Obama was said to deliver the contents of the plan on his visit to Cairo next week, but recent reports have suggested that his speech will focus on American ties with the Muslim world and not on the new peace plan which is rumored to refer to east Jerusalem as the future capital of an independent Palestinian State.

Since then, Israeli politicians have not stopped talking of the importance of getting Israel out of this situation in any way, including the removal of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

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Iranian code and Arab support

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.

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The Middle East mystery

Israel has stated that the Iranian threat must come to an end and that it is impossible to live with the idea of someone like Ahmadinejad - who has said that he is ready to "wipe Israel off the map" - having nuclear weapons. PM Netanyahu recently said that he would take responsibility and prevent anyone from causing the Jewish people another holocaust.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made several important statements regarding the Iranian threat and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Clinton said that the United States and Israel will lose the Arab support in facing Iran if the latter keeps denying the Palestinians' right to their own state. Clinton also stated that the US will not stop its financial support for the Palestinian Authority because of Hamas; according to her, the United States did not stop its financial support to the Lebanese government even though Hizbullah was a part of it. Clinton said that it is in America's interest to keep good relations with the Arabs.

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Is it real silence..or silence before a real storm?

The relative quiet we've seen so far with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to be coming to an end. The new Israeli government has been formed and the international community wants to see real progress in the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

During his recent visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, US Middle East envoy George Mitchell said that the two state solution is the only way to end the conflict. Avigdor Lieberman, the new Israeli foreign minister, stated in the presence of Mitchell that Israel will work to improve the Palestinian economy. The latter responded by saying that the Israeli plan to improve the Palestinian economy must be a part of a complete plan to end the conflict by having two states for the two peoples. 

In a meeting held between White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Jewish leaders in the United States, Rahm stated clearly that the interest of the White House is to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a period of four years with a result that includes two states; one Israeli and one Palestinian.

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A policy change strikes the Middle East

Following several key steps made by the new American administration, it seems the US is changing its approach to the Middle East. Last week, Senator John Kerry visited Gaza and met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Iranian-American talks are still unclear but seem to be active behind the scenes. President Barack Obama, Middle East envoy George Mitchell, and other American officials are trying for a new strategy and their challenge involves breaking through the Iranian alliance and trying to negotiate with each element separately.

Obama is working on removing all the economic sanctions against Syria because of its ties with Iran and Hizbullah as he recognizes that the Syrians may play an important role in affecting the conflicts in the Middle East through their relations with Lebanon and Hamas. Sen. Kerry stated that he will ask President Assad to invest in changing the situation by applying pressure on Hizbullah and other such elements in the region.

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The real situation in the Middle East

[Likud leader Binyamin]Netanyahu stated yesterday that moderate Palestinians should be strengthened and radicals should be weakened. According to him, under the curent circumstances, the possibility of holding negotiations for a two-state solution is next nothing. Netanyahu stated again that strengthening the Palestinian economy is how he will deal  with the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. 
 
Livni believes that Israel must give up land to remain Jewish and democratic. She adds that no Palestinian refugees should be allowed to return to their lands in Israel because their real national aspirations exist somewhere else; the Palestinian territories. This is not the first time Livni speaks of the importance of keeping Israel a Jewish state.

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