Rice's rabbit hole -Caroline GlickWashington's primary diplomatic leverage over the Arabs stems from its ability to confer legitimacy on them. The US could have used this leverage if it had stated from the outset that it would only invite states to the Middle East conference that support the US's goals of isolating Hamas and accepting Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.
But rather than condition their invitation, Rice and President Bush made it clear from the outset that they want Arab states to participate in the summit. In so doing, the US turned the turned the tables on itself. Now it is the Arabs who by accepting or rejecting the US offer will confer legitimacy on Washington.
Needless to say, in the interests of securing their participation, states like Saudi Arabia and Egypt will not be called to task for their sponsorship of Hamas or their hostility toward Israel. [T]he US has been weakened just by organizing the conference. [And] America will weaken liberal democratic voices in the Arab world.
Given that the Palestinians have yet to make one substantive concession to Israel, it is clear that the only way the upcoming conference can succeed in advancing peace is if the Palestinians make some dramatic concession to Israel. But there is absolutely no chance that the Palestinians will be forthcoming. Over the past week, Abbas announced his adherence to maximal Palestinian demands from Israel. The only reason that Abbas remains in power in Judea and Samaria is because the IDF is maintaining security there.
Rice is dragging Israel with her, in her madcap descent down the diplomatic rabbit hole...
But rather than condition their invitation, Rice and President Bush made it clear from the outset that they want Arab states to participate in the summit. In so doing, the US turned the turned the tables on itself. Now it is the Arabs who by accepting or rejecting the US offer will confer legitimacy on Washington.
Needless to say, in the interests of securing their participation, states like Saudi Arabia and Egypt will not be called to task for their sponsorship of Hamas or their hostility toward Israel. [T]he US has been weakened just by organizing the conference. [And] America will weaken liberal democratic voices in the Arab world.
Given that the Palestinians have yet to make one substantive concession to Israel, it is clear that the only way the upcoming conference can succeed in advancing peace is if the Palestinians make some dramatic concession to Israel. But there is absolutely no chance that the Palestinians will be forthcoming. Over the past week, Abbas announced his adherence to maximal Palestinian demands from Israel. The only reason that Abbas remains in power in Judea and Samaria is because the IDF is maintaining security there.
Rice is dragging Israel with her, in her madcap descent down the diplomatic rabbit hole...
[Jerusalem Post]
3 comments:
Glick made some sense here.
Speaking about that conference, I assume interested parties have either seen this, or would be interested in it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071008/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_jerusalem
Thanks for the cool link.
Glad you found common ground with Ms. Glick. She is a seminal thinker whose critiques are well respected among Israel's policy makers. Even when I disagree with her, I find her thinking compelling.
Some years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing her speak to a small group in Jerusalem. Now she attracts larger crowds...her lecture tonight at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan is sold out!
Few Israeli's can pull such a crowd in the US.
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