For the first time, a high level Israeli official is using the pages of Asharq Alawsat to address the Arab world. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and former Ambassador to the US Danny Ayalon says that Israel and the Arab world are being pushed together by outside forces—primarily Iran—and should use that impetus to advance their relationships.
The letter, published in English and Arabic is seen by the Israeli Foreign Ministry as ‘historic’. Various commentators, though, don’t see anything new or important in the letter, other than that it is an attempt to reach Arabs directly.
An Open Letter to the Arab World
Danny AyalonSince the reestablishment of our state, Israeli leaders have sought peace with their Arab neighbors. Our Declaration of Independence, Israel’s founding document that expressed our hopes and dreams reads, “We extend our hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help.” These words are as true today as when they were first written in 1948. Sadly, sixty one years later, only two nations, Jordan and Egypt, have accepted these principles and made peace with the Jewish State.
Recently the Israeli government has made significant steps to restart negotiations with the Palestinians and reach out to the Arab world. In his Bar-Ilan speech in June, Prime Minister Netanyahu clearly stated his acceptance of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel. My government has removed hundreds of roadblocks to improve access and movement for Palestinians and has assisted the facilitation of economic developments in the West Bank, through close cooperation with international parties to expedite projects and remove bottlenecks.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a right-wing government has, in an unprecedented move, declared it would refrain from building new settlements in the West Bank. All of these moves taken together amply demonstrate Israel’s willingness for peace.
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December:17:2009 - 10:28
Much to my surprise, some of the published letters from Arab readers in response to the column are sympathetic to the Israeli viewpoint.
December:17:2009 - 11:54
What came to my surprise is how HOT it really is gonna get here. If Saudi gets any hotter I am gonna need proctective gear to prevent myself from catching on fire!
December:17:2009 - 16:10
If this letter is real ? why Israel ignored the Arab extended hand on Beirut summit, when all the Arab states accepted Israel as neighbor and offered recognition and relationship ?
December:17:2009 - 16:46
The letter is certainly real. The Israeli Foreign Ministry made a big deal over it and it was reported widely in the Israeli media.
As for the politics, you’ll need to ask both Israeli and Palestinian leadership. I’m not sure even they really know.
December:17:2009 - 19:13
Prince al Faisal rains on the parade:
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=19194
December:18:2009 - 08:42
“obtaining peace in the region is like “holding water or sand in your hand. You see the amount of water, you think you can hold something, but it falls away. Sand is the same thing.”
It is very frustrating, but these problems seem to have a common root: the belief that Israel is fundamentally sustained by U.S. aid and if that support disappears, Israel will, too.
That belief inverts cause and effect. In the 1967 war Israel conquered huge amounts of territory with inferior weapons and no U.S. support; in 1973, after a massive U.S. airlift, Israel was persuaded not to conquer Damascus or starve the surrounded Egyptian 2nd Army into surrender by the promise that the U.S. aid would sustain Israel as the strongest military power in the region.
In short, U.S. aid is a kind of bribe to keep Israel from defeating its enemies, not the reverse. (If you disagree with me, just consider what Israel might resort to if the U.S. spigot was turned off tomorrow.) So when a U.S. president pursues peace and Arab leaders respond by sitting back thinking they need do nothing as the U.S. pressures Israel, it shouldn’t be surprising that nothing comes of this approach.
December:18:2009 - 09:22
I suspect you and I differ on just how much pressure and what kinds might be appropriate…
December:19:2009 - 18:40
And upon whom, exactly.
December:26:2009 - 00:26
Federalism is a possible solution to the Israel and Palestine conflict. Joint control for Jerusalem would be a better that dividing the city in half. If these suggestions were placed on the table in peace talks, there may be a better chance for results.
The Israelis, Palestinians, and Christians should all have access to their religious sites, control over their own neighborhoods, and be able to build homes.
December:27:2009 - 20:54
Peace can be achieved in 24 hours if just now israel anounce it`s withdrowel of 1967 territories and just recognises the sufferring of Palestineans because of occupation and ethnic clensing occured in 1948,without the right of returning back and some compensating money I assure you that Arabs will accept it.
And the entire region will got what the Europeans have, a common market and prospirity.
Let 2010 be the year of PEACE.Inshaallah