A new APN op-ed addressing the current Obama peace efforts, published last night on Foreign Policy's Middle East Channel.
The Obama administration has offered Israel a substantial package of incentives in exchange (it hopes) for the re-imposition of a (partial) settlement moratorium for 90 days that will (it hopes) permit the re-starting of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that, in turn (it hopes), will produce sufficient progress to allow negotiations to continue even after a moratorium lapses.
As everyone knows, there is enormous skepticism and concern about this strategy coming from across the political spectrum (here, here, here, http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/comment/obama-sets-the-oslo-clock-ticking-with-his-latest-offer?pageCount=0 (link has expired), here, here, and here). There is also growing discussion of what "Plan B" should be if/when this gambit fails (here, here, and here). And there are fears that the groundwork is being laid in some quarters to put the responsibility for the anticipated failure of this effort entirely on the Palestinians (see this tweet from AIPAC).
All are eminently rational reactions. The pitfalls of this current plan are myriad. And the Obama administration's Middle East peace record thus far -- two years of well-intentioned but ineffectual cajoling of the parties with no result -- does not inspire confidence. But if that is all we have to say, then those of us who are committed to peace and security for Israel are falling down on the job.
The Obama administration has offered Israel a substantial package of incentives in exchange (it hopes) for the re-imposition of a (partial) settlement moratorium for 90 days that will (it hopes) permit the re-starting of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that, in turn (it hopes), will produce sufficient progress to allow negotiations to continue even after a moratorium lapses.
As everyone knows, there is enormous skepticism and concern about this strategy coming from across the political spectrum (here, here, here, http://www.thenational.ae/the-national-conversation/comment/obama-sets-the-oslo-clock-ticking-with-his-latest-offer?pageCount=0 (link has expired), here, here, and here). There is also growing discussion of what "Plan B" should be if/when this gambit fails (here, here, and here). And there are fears that the groundwork is being laid in some quarters to put the responsibility for the anticipated failure of this effort entirely on the Palestinians (see this tweet from AIPAC).
All are eminently rational reactions. The pitfalls of this current plan are myriad. And the Obama administration's Middle East peace record thus far -- two years of well-intentioned but ineffectual cajoling of the parties with no result -- does not inspire confidence. But if that is all we have to say, then those of us who are committed to peace and security for Israel are falling down on the job.
Continue reading APN on the Current State-of-Play: Peace Needs Advocates, Not Cynics.