Green Energy
Jonathan Spyer at the Gloria Center writes about how the Arab/Islamic states in the mideast are typically shunning normalization of their relations with Israel. Among the details given here, he says:
- Israel's Peace Plan Marks A New Era In The Country's History And The Israeli-palestinian Conflict
From Barry Rubin: Israel has entered a new era of thinking and policy in which old categories of left or right, hawk or dove are irrelevant under a national unity government bringing together the two main ruling parties. How did this new paradigm arise?...
- Hamas Chief Admits That The Term "palestinian People" Is Fraudulent
From Reliapundit at the Astute Bloggers: #3 HAMAS LEADER, MAHMOUD ZAHAR TO THE ECONOMIST: “We [Palestinians] were never an independent state in history,” he notes. “We were part of an Arab state and an Islamic state.” THEY DON'T WANT A RETURN...
- Annapolis And "the Jewish Question"
From Bernard Lewis: On the Jewish Question By BERNARD LEWIS November 26, 2007; Page A21 , Wall Street Journal Herewith some thoughts about tomorrow's Annapolis peace conference, andthe larger problem of how to approach the Israel-Palestine conflict....
- Abbas Openly Calls On Palestinians To Attack Israel; Mass Media Again Misses The Train
WorldNetDaily reports that "Abbas' call to arms was not reported by most major media outlets featuring articles on the Palestinian leader's speech." More details at Jerusalem Post: Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called...
- Arab Times Editor-in-chief: Israel Is Doing The Arab People A Favor
Man bites dog at the Arab Times: PEOPLE of Arab countries, especially the Lebanese and Palestinians, have been held hostage for a long time in the name of “resisting Israel.” Arab governments have been caught between political obligations and public...
Green Energy
Arab countries say no to normalization
Jonathan Spyer at the Gloria Center writes about how the Arab/Islamic states in the mideast are typically shunning normalization of their relations with Israel. Among the details given here, he says:
The rejection of this idea derives from two elements. Firstly, the near-universal, though rarely expressed, belief that the current attempt to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is doomed to failure. Secondly, the distinct lack of urgency felt in Arab capitals regarding this issue.Yes, that militancy is lurking ominously around the corner. And sooner or later, I suspect it's going to manifest itself in one of the ugliest ways possible. Nor will the neighboring Arab countries have any true objections to it; they'll even bankroll it given the chance.
Regarding the first issue, the factors that caused the failure of the peace process in the 1990s have not disappeared. They are waiting to trip up any negotiation should final-status talks begin.
The demand that Palestinian refugees and their descendants be permitted to make their homes in Israel, the demand for exclusive Muslim sovereignty over the holy places in Jerusalem, the refusal to countenance recognition of Israel as a Jewish state - all these remain part of the non-negotiable core position of the Palestinian national movement. Indeed, in so far as the situation on the ground has changed since 2000, it is for the worse.
The split in the Palestinian national movement between nationalist Fatah and Islamist Hamas increasingly has the look of permanency about it. And since militancy against Israel remains the currency of legitimacy in Palestinian politics, the effect of this is to induce the ageing Fatah movement to dress itself up in radical array once again.
- Israel's Peace Plan Marks A New Era In The Country's History And The Israeli-palestinian Conflict
From Barry Rubin: Israel has entered a new era of thinking and policy in which old categories of left or right, hawk or dove are irrelevant under a national unity government bringing together the two main ruling parties. How did this new paradigm arise?...
- Hamas Chief Admits That The Term "palestinian People" Is Fraudulent
From Reliapundit at the Astute Bloggers: #3 HAMAS LEADER, MAHMOUD ZAHAR TO THE ECONOMIST: “We [Palestinians] were never an independent state in history,” he notes. “We were part of an Arab state and an Islamic state.” THEY DON'T WANT A RETURN...
- Annapolis And "the Jewish Question"
From Bernard Lewis: On the Jewish Question By BERNARD LEWIS November 26, 2007; Page A21 , Wall Street Journal Herewith some thoughts about tomorrow's Annapolis peace conference, andthe larger problem of how to approach the Israel-Palestine conflict....
- Abbas Openly Calls On Palestinians To Attack Israel; Mass Media Again Misses The Train
WorldNetDaily reports that "Abbas' call to arms was not reported by most major media outlets featuring articles on the Palestinian leader's speech." More details at Jerusalem Post: Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called...
- Arab Times Editor-in-chief: Israel Is Doing The Arab People A Favor
Man bites dog at the Arab Times: PEOPLE of Arab countries, especially the Lebanese and Palestinians, have been held hostage for a long time in the name of “resisting Israel.” Arab governments have been caught between political obligations and public...