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Annapolis opportunity
NO ONE expects miracles to happen in Annapolis, the venue of the US-hosted Middle East Peace Conference. Yet the world has seldom awaited any meeting and its outcome with greater eagerness in recent times.
- PUBLISHED: Wed 28 Nov 2007, 8:59 AM UPDATED: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 12:59 AM
This is a historic opportunity in every sense of the word as this is the first meeting that sees the Arabs and Israelis sitting down for some real and frank talks. That Saudi Arabia, among other key players is attending the talks says something about the path-breaking nature of this meeting. Time is now for America, the host and the real player in the Middle East, to demonstrate its strength as a well-meaning mediator.
The urgency of finding a solution to the crisis -that has inflicted untold suffering on the Palestinians and bloodletting of the worst order for over half a century - is there for everyone to see. That the efforts in the past, including the high-pitched meetings at Madrid, Oslo, and Camp David in the past, or the laying out of a US-backed road map for regional peace five years ago, have helped little in realising the dream of Palestinians for statehood, is a fact. The past seven years of the Bush administration have been a period when the issue just hanged fire with no serious efforts being made to resolve the issue. And, now, the administration is left with just about a year before a new dispensation takes charge. Scepticism about the current initiative is anchored essentially in this fact: why now? But, better late than never.
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On the positive side, despite its genuine reservations and past history of such initiatives, the Arab world, led by Saudi Arabia, has joined the talks with a rare sense of hope and optimism. In fact, by participating in the Annapolis meeting, the Arabs have demonstrated a sense of purpose that must be appreciated from all sides. It shows they are looking to the future, rather than the bitter past.
The exclusion of the Hamas from these talks is unfortunate and unrealistic. This could do more harm than good. An effort should have been made to get them on board. After all, it won a massive mandate of the Palestinian people in elections that were truly free and fair. This is not to lose sight of Hamas' own aversion for dialogue with the Israelis. They treat it an attempt by the Jewish lobby to buy time. Dialogue, however, is the only way forward; and, a final settlement is in everybody's interest.
As a footnote, there have been apprehensions that Annapolis is aimed at isolating Iran. All the more reason why America should push for concrete outcome at Annapolis. It must prove its credentials of being an impartial mediator. Making Israel see reason and grant the Palestinians what belongs to them wouldn't be easy. But, having finally taken a step forward, it is time the Bush administration pushed the matter to its logical conclusion. Peace in the Middle East is not only a historic necessity; it will also be the foundation on which a new world order can be built.