Obama's Peace Offensive (Part 1)

This is Part 1 of a two-part series on what the Obama administration must do to achieve a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace deal

On a recent trip to the Middle East I had the opportunity to meet with many Israelis and Palestinians from all walks of life, including high government officials, settlers and members of the Peace Now movement. I also met with academics, poll takers, journalists, former military and intelligence personnel, and scores of other ordinary people. Paradoxically, while repeated polls confirm that a majority (between 68 and 72 percent) of Israelis and Palestinians seek peace based on a two-state solution, no such unity exists between the various groups and factions who continue to promote their own agenda regardless of the consensus of the majority. What I heard and saw simply reconfirmed the profound lack of political cohesiveness within both Israeli and Palestinian communities.

Political factionalism coupled with intense personal rivalry too often prevents majority support of one leader or party. This is the case for Netanyahu's coalition with Shas, Yisrael Betanu and other right wing elements, just as it is for Mahmoud Abbas' support within Fatah and with Hamas. More alarming is that while disconnect within each community persists, there is still a misperception between Israelis and Palestinians about each others' national aspirations, requirements and ultimate intentions. Too many Arabs and Israelis remain highly suspicious and oblivious to each others' psychological dispositions. Yet with a significant majority of Israelis and Palestinians in favor of a two-state solution with peace and normal relations, why then there is no national drive in either camp to push for a solution? The answer may be attributed to the following:

First, both sides generally have little faith in their own leadership's ability to deliver peace with security and dignity anytime soon. Israelis and Palestinians lack determined, visionary and courageous leaders. In Israel, the nature of a coalition government often prevents the Prime Minister to rise above the fray and take decisive measures toward peace without risking the collapse of the government. While Netanyahu's coalition represents a majority within the Knesset, it by no means represents the overwhelming number of Israelis who are ready for a leader who can maintain a united government and deliver peace.

The Palestinians, on the other hand, suffer from a chronic factionalism, making it impossible for a leader to make the necessary concessions without risking his position of power. Mahmoud Abbas is meant to represent the moderates, although most moderates have a hard time fully backing him because he has been unable to achieve any significant gains for them. Hamas' charter -- which calls for Israel's destruction -- is both offensive and intolerable to Israel and much of the international community, yet they are far more organized and enjoy popular grassroots support in Gaza. Without reconciling the political agenda of these two groups, Israel and the U.S. will not have a strong partner with which to negotiate. Moreover, both sides often use this internal division and lack of consensus as an excuse for inflexibility.

Second, many Israeli and Palestinian leaders still feel that more time may further improve their position and lead to more concessions, hence they argue against 'rushing' into any agreement. This is coupled with strong rejectionist elements in both camps. In Israel there are those who still seek "Greater Israel," especially among the settlers. On the Palestinians side there are several groups, such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas, who want all of mandated Palestine, including Israel. They believe if they cannot take it by force then they can wait and use demographics to overwhelm the Jewish majority, therefore, the idea of a one state solution has began to gain some currency among Palestinian radicals.

Third, neither the Israeli nor Palestinian government has been preparing the public over the years for the inevitability of peaceful coexistence based on a two-state solution. Whereas Israeli officials talk about the lack of a worthy Palestinian interlocutor and complain about continued violence perpetrated against Israel, the Palestinian media and public condemnations of Israel continue to incite the public against Israel, often using venomous language that makes the possibility of coexistence seem beyond repair.

Fourth, both sides are wrapped up in a tit-for-tat process where neither party wants to show its cards first. Both remain internally conflicted as to how far they can go to accommodate each other while maintaining the upper hand in negotiations. For example, on the surface it appears that the Israeli government would not compromise on the future unity of Jerusalem as "Israel's eternal capital" while the Palestinians would presumably not compromise on the issue of the right of return of the refugees. In reality however, both sides have substantially modified their positions and reached agreements in principle on both of these critical issues in previous negotiations.

Lastly, there has not been consistent pressure exerted from the outside to prompt both Israelis and Palestinians to settle their differences. Although the United States has exerted some effort over many years, it was neither consistent nor did it display the leadership needed to bring parties together to forge peace. The Clinton and the Bush administrations focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict largely at the eleventh hour of their presidencies. The U.S. has failed to assert itself as the most influential power, and has too often allowed excessive violence to severely undermine the peace process as happened during the second Intifada under the Bush administration's watch between years 2000 and 2006. The Arab states too have often used the Palestinian plight to cover for their domestic failures. It is only in the past few years that some Arab states have put forth a concerted effort to advance the Arab Peace Initiative that calls for a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace. Although historical in its dimensions and implications, the Initiative remains static because neither side is ready or willing to translate it into a real peace process.

Considering this paradoxical reality, both Israelis and Palestinians have shown that they are simply incapable of resolving this conflict on their own. This is why the Obama administration must pursue an aggressive political agenda with unwavering commitment to produce concessions from all sides to provide the basis for an agreement. The United States cannot equivocate with the Israelis, the Palestinians or the Arab states as to what is required to forge a lasting peace. But for peace to occur, the Obama administration must secure a number of prerequisites to avoid the pitfalls of previous administrations and capitalize on the changing political environment in the Middle East especially among the Arab states that favor peace with Israel.

Read part two here

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Comments

[theaetetus]

very balanced but im not so sure if it is fair.

us has to put more pressure on israel to stop the settlements and acknowledge that hamas is not going away and it is only feeding corruption but solely supporting fatah.

[mountainweb]

The Palestinians also have a serious problem with hate. They have taught their youths to hate others for years and it has stained their political process. The leadership is having a tough time truly seeking peace with someone they have been preaching hate toward. The arabs need to find another place for the Palestinians to settle down and leave Israel along. The city was NEVER the capital of ANY Palestinian county. Need to stop trying to divide the land....

[MotherMiasia]

I could say the same for the Israelis. When you plant fear hunger and hopeless into the Palestinians way of life, all you will reap is hate.

And your call for ethnic cleansing is disgusting.

[S1m0n]

Alon Ben-Meir: "The Palestinians, on the other hand, suffer from a chronic factionalism, making it impossible for a leader to make the necessary concessions without risking his position of power."

The 'other hand" in this statement is outrageously unjustified. Israel is identical in this regard.

There has been an abundance of recent analyses explaning how Netanyahu is constrained by his highly conservative coalition partners (Lieberman), including settlers and 'Eretz Israel' advocates adamantly opposed to any kind of concession or compromise.

If Israel's 'leader', Netanyahu, makes 'the necessary concessions', his coalition will collapse, and he will risk - nay, lose - his "position of power," unquote.

[j mcdouglas]

Each party needs a Ghandi.

A sort of high profile surrogate "wiseman" that is for whatever reason above reproach and who can stand in and meet with Obama in lieu of these societies not having respectable government leaders.

[Darwin256]

In my opinion Obama's contribution will be to help show that the two-state solution is dead. Israel will not give up the settlements and Palestinians will not give up 'right of return'.

The Palestinians definitely need a Ghandi, to fight Apartheid Israel with non-violence.

[tjt5]

Well, Mahmoud Abbas and Ben Netanyahu are not fatah and likud's Ghandi, let's be honest. Neither represents even close to an absolute majority of their citizens. Likud alone represent on 20% or so of Israeli citizens, the whole coalition obviously more. Abbas can't even claim a true majority in his own party, never mind the fact his party was defeated by Hamas in 2006 in the PLC elections.

So who do you propose can fill the Ghandi role?

[BannedNBoston]

Why no mention anywhere of Cynthia McKinney being taken hostage?
What of the other boat occupants seized by Israel in international waters?

[Aron Cohen]

When someone mentions a 9/11 truther I go catatonic.

[mommamia526]

I am not associated with any group/groups. I gues, because I write comment, some publications have found my address, and I get sometimes articles, or referrals to articles, in my inbox. The last few days there was an interesting little pileup. One from www.Road90.com has some videos on *Jihad*. Americaisrael sent a message with some upsetting referrals to a.o. www.jewishhindy.com, http://isr­aeldaypara­demay31200­9/shutterf­ly.com and in it is an website inbed: www.salafitalk.net. The latter on a poster stating that Auschwitz should be reopened. Salafitalk is a muslim website. I have no means to verify any of it, as I am not a journalist. However, those things, and others I see on websites, do not make me a believer that Palestinians want PEACE. Individual Palestinians may want it, but they have no power. It is a fact, is it not, that those in power for the Palestinians have a long record of enriching themselves, such as the late Arafat, and doing nothing for the population on behalf they say they are active. Hamas and the PA are constantly at odds with each other and ropepulling for power. They are not compatible, Gazans are Egyptians. I like the above article. We must look at other issues beyond Palestinian/Israeli issues. The issues are much more complex.

[Freenation]

"I am not associated with any group/groups":

this notion itself is a complete fabrication, most of the sites mentioned by you are propaganda sites, who knows who is 'actually' hosting them....

try going to daniel pipes web-site and much of the content is in the same line and he is a pretty known propagandist....

[mommamia526]

IF two dogs fight over a bone, a third will walk away with it. IF two or more factions, Israeli, or Palestinian, fight over issues, another party will come in, strike, and take over. Today there is an article on www.arutz7.com, stating that Al Quada, under the direct command of Bin Laden has some interesting plans. Go read it for yourself, and see what you think of it. I have voted for Mr. Obama, and would do so again, however, I do not have his faith in any effective peace process with Palestinians. There are too many Palestinian utterances to believe that they, as a group, are interessted in any peace. Moreover, those who are really in power, or appear to be, seem to be directed and puppeteered from elsewhere. Mashaal (Hamas) resides in Syria. Iran is heavily involved with both Hamas and Hizbullah. Now it appears that Bin Laden is also involved with Hizbullah - which is it, are they not competing groups? Iran and Al Qaeda - . The REAL ISSUE at this time, however, it appears to me, IS NOT Israeli/Palestinian any longer. It is much larger, and world wide. Peace between Palestinians and Israelis is elusive, but even if it were possible, the cancer has spread and is no longer localized.

[samg1]

"Clairty is Refreshing"

The United States and Israel are finally on the right track regarding the ability to debate the issues of a comprensive peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.

Having the political fortitude and courage to disagree regarding settlements in occupied Palestine is being a honest friend.

Some times you have to step out side the box,this is what true leadership is about. Taking a genuine hands on approach is needed to deliver an over all peace deal in Palestine and to the rest of the Arab World.

For almost sixty years we have been in a lock step approach with Israel regarding settlements and American foriegn policy has been absent.

Of which has been a costly mistake in pursuit of peace and the quest for a tangible and a real peaceful settlement of occupied Palestine.

I applaud President Obamas approach and the ability to disagree with our allies when there is a difference of opinion.

United States foriegn policy has also been extremly costly in terms of loss of american capital,american lives and damage of american credibility. This has also been a major factor leading to erosion of support within the international community.

I have strong admiration and praise for President Obamas courage to finally give peace in the middle east a real chance of succeeding.

[sc300nc]

Please, how many new U.S. presidents thought they were going to be the ONE to do this? What makes you think that Obama, inexperienced Obama, will be able to accomplish it?

[samg1]

Your ignorance of U.S. foriengn policy is lacking...perhaps you should brush up on it!