Give Annapolis a Chance

The American press, predictably, is portraying the summit in Annapolis in strictly Bush v. Clinton terms. Clinton got engaged and failed, Bush is not getting engaged... and will also fail. The process is doomed to failure without outside pressure. Maybe. But also: Maybe not.

The Israeli press, equally predictably, is viewing the event differently, and it's important that we understand what they're saying. And that is: Bush is a groupie of Israel and, with the possibly exception of Giuliani, that is not likely to be the case next time, so better do something now in favorable terms or face a harsh reality in 2009 or beyond. There are problems with this point of view, too (if peace today is so favorable to Israel the Palestinians will balk) but it may be a smarter way to view the event. Here's Yoel Marcus in Haaretz:

Bush's road map has tangled up everything in a knot with its sequential demands: Before commencing permanent status talks, the Palestinians are supposed to halt terror and dismantle the terror organizations, and Israel is supposed to evacuate outposts in the territories. These demands have set the proverbial dog running in circles, chasing its own tail. Sly foxes like Sharon and Olmert have embraced the road map on the supposition that the Palestinians are not capable of ending terror.

Condoleezza Rice is the one who urged Bush to cut this Gordian knot with an international conference attended by the Quartet, the moderate Arab countries, and anyone supportive of peace in the Middle East. The conference thus created sponsorship for the two-states-for-two-peoples solution, a return to 1967 borders, and the creation of settlement blocs based on territorial exchange. Israel, which has always been traumatized by the idea of an imposed solution, received a promise from Bush that the Annapolis summit would only sponsor the talks, and not twist Israel's arm.

The summit in its current configuration, with Syria represented by a deputy minister (half coffee/half tea) has divided the world into good guys and bad guys, and isolated Iran and Hamas. For Bush, that is already a major accomplishment, says Americologist Zvi Rafiah.

As far as the talks themselves are concerned, it is still up to the Palestinians to prove that they're on the side of the good guys. The presence of the moderate Arab states is meant to back up Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. That is important not only for Abbas, but also for Israel.

We have never had a president like George W. Bush, and chances are we will never have another. If we reach an agreement, we are not only clinching a deal with Mahmoud Abbas, but with the whole of the moderate Arab world. On the other hand, Israel could find itself under pressure and sanctions from the whole of the international community if it fails to open up and engage in a serious discussion of core issues, as Olmert promised to do a few weeks ago.

It is doubtful that America's next president will be as friendly and supportive as Bush, who can be trusted not to pressure us on issues that compromise Israel's security and survival. So whatever can be achieved we must try to achieve now, while Bush is still at the helm. We are not going to be able to fool all of the people all of the time.

Bush showed his hypocrisy by criticizing Nancy Pelosi for talking to Syria ("aiding and abetting the enemy," "signalling to Syria they are part of the international community") then inviting Syria to U.S. NAVAL HEADQUARTERS, but having the moderate Arab states there was Condi's big coup. If there is peace, or even intermediate steps toward peace, the Arab world has pre-signed on to supporting it. The reason for that, of course, is that a weakened Iraq has strengthened Iran and its cronies Hezbollah and Hamas, and the Arab world fears them.

For better or worse, Annapolis was the first event of the post-war-in-Iraq-Middle East, which is one reason why the participants didn't exactly know how to act -- and another reason we have no choice but to give it a chance.

Comments

[Charles TW]

Nothing new was brought to the table at the Annapolis Conference. The only solution to this entire business was to have granted Palestine its statehood and used global pressure to keep in line, not dangling statehood before them with the condition that they make nicey-nicey with Israel. America never has been and never will be perceived as an honest broker of peace in the Middle East until we find a common ground that aligns our interest with theirs.

As much as it pains me to state it, there is no imperative that requires the Arab states to become democracies on our or Israel's timetable. Hopefully, they will come to realize that there is no better way to go than democracy. But the fact remains that their weaning themselves off of their ancient ways should not be conditions to respecting their humanity and allowing them to pursue what they believe is their proper course to function in the world.

www.charlestwilliams.com

[Pantheist]

Give Annapolis a chance? Sure, why not. It won't work, but what the hell, at least they're talking. In my opinion, nothing is ever going to be resolved until the Israelis admit that sixty years ago they stole an entire country. With continued financial and military support from America they have maintained a policy of murder and repression against the Palestinians that amounts to genocide. Plain and simple. It didn't take the Israelis long to become the very monsters that they sought to escape. For the Jewish people to claim historical ownership of Palestine is laughable and ludicrous. This would be akin to the Catholics of the world deciding that they own Italy.

[SeaBlood]

How can these talks succeed ? They didn't even invite Iran!! Iran,being insulted, will do anything in its power to sabotage this idiotic conference, and I'm sure that they have the power to do much damage.

[nowaterboardUSA]

There can be no peace in Israel/Palestine for one very important reason - Israel is the biggest buyer of US weapons. Without continious war Israel would need less weapons and thus the Military Industrial Complex would make less money. Millions of Americans would also lose their jobs. The jobs of millions of Americans are literally tied to a endlessly waring Israel/Palestine. The perfect clusterfuck!

[Ramus]

How are we going to create peaces without negotiating with all the parties involved? that would mean including "Iran and its cronies Hezbollah and Hamas" in these talks. I believe Hamas was democratically elected? No? Israel needs to get out and stay out of the West Bank and Gaza.

[mrcontinental]

Are you kidding? NO ONE wants peace; not the U.S. and certainly not Israel.

[matahari888]

a change since 60 years ago..?????
give me a break....
this just another photo opt. to show the world and historian later...."­we tried...it­'s fail....it­'s not our fault" We Need More OILLL...

[Countess]

This misses the whole point which is that the Palestinians are divided and crushed and with no real power thanks to the Israeli-American military empire so now is the time to put their defeat in concrete. Their will be no justice for these people. Israel will give back less than 5 percent of the land they have stolen and the Palestinians will blamed for not accepting such a "generous" offer.

[rwe]

Unlike Bills failed attempt to salvage his legacy Pres Bush is taking the next step forward... With the success in Iraq he is now focusing on bringing together through diplomacy those invlolved.­. But needless to say the left will try and villify any process that brings peace if brought forward by Pres Bush..

[freon500]

The talks in Annapolis are a sham as the huge demonstrations in the concentration camps in Palestine are showing. The only solution is to let the Palestinians take their country back and let the long sad night of the Palestinian people come to an end.

[A Meat Beetle]

Did anyone catch the audio or video of Bush standing next to Abbas, trying (in vain) to pronounce his name? What sort of nitwit strikes a "peace" deal with a world leader, then can't pronounce his name? It's only four syllables!

It is beyond me that there are still people in America who are neither ashamed of nor embarrassed by this so-called president!

[Hubert]

I fail to see how Annapolis is not another in a long list of photo opportunities concocted to shore up support for weak corrupt leaders like Olmert and Abbas.

I suspect that the 50 nations attended Annapolis for one reason- to support the the Palestinian right to self-determination. Israel has no credibility when it comes to making peace with the Palestinians.

There is no reason to believe that Israel will negotiate in good faith. Once this is proven again during "the new peace process" Israel will find itself even more isolated than it now is and less likely to maintain its Jewish nature.

The time for theocracies has past.

[Henry]

Does Abu Masen really speak for the Palestinians, or is he a minion (stooge) to the vested interests? I think we all know the answer to this question.
The place for a military imposed democracy with 130,000 troops and 50,000 contractors spewing out 10's of billions in cash injections is: the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Democracy a chance?

[section9]

Look, I hate to break this to Democrats, but if we were actually losing the war in Iraq, we would actually be accepting dictated Iranian terms instead of convening a peace conference. We can only convene this conference because Petraeus and our armed forces, despite the incompetence of Bush, Rumsfeld, and the craven opportunism of the Democrats in Congress, have won their war.

Nancy Pelosi had nothing to do with it.

Liberals don't get this. Because we have annihilated Al Qaeda in Iraq and have put paid to Iran's attempt to dominate their Western neighbor, the Arabs feel that it's okay to do business with us instead of going to Tehran to genuflect to their new Persian masters.

Our strategic situation is vastly improved from a year ago this month. Period. Otherwise, there would be no Annapolis Conference. Why do you think Democrats have become rather confused over the Iraq "disaster" and are now splitting hairs? The Lebanon War has't started up again precisely because of our improved strategic position in Iraq.

Lastly, U.S. Naval Headquarters is in the Pentagon. Annapolis is the home of the U.S. Naval Academy. Midshipmen learn this during Plebe Year.

[fpie]

So what you are saying is that because Bush has bungled everything he has touched in the Middle East now could be the best chance to get an agreement because everybody is so scaired. I can't argue with your logic but somehow I don't think so.