You’ve Just Been Appointed U.S. Middle East Envoy…Now What?
January 7th, 2009With the bloody fighting in Gaza, emotions are running high in the region, and around the world. The ghastly images we see on the news evoke a wide range of emotions: sympathy, empathy, regret, guilt, remorse, and yes, anger. All this is understandable. And yet we sense that strong passions and unbridled emotions, in and of themselves, will not bring peace.
What is needed is a rational and concerted effort to broker a peace deal which maximizes justice, and which creates new realities on the ground that will help to sustain the peace once it is in place. And so, if you get a call, in the middle of the night, from President Obama, informing you that you have just been appointed U.S. Middle East Envoy; what would you do to bring peace to the Middle East? Here are a few suggestions. Perhaps you have something to add.
Gaza: Negotiate a ceasefire, and then a truce, between Israel and Hamas, on the basis of an Israeli pullout, accompanied by a cessation of missile and mortal fire by Hamas, to be monitored by U.N. observers. Suggest to Hamas to give up their military ambitions in exchange for: an easing of border restrictions, a lifting of an economic blockade, and an opportunity to partner with Fattah to provide a democratic government for the Palestinian people. If Hamas agrees, launch an international investment program for Gaza, with the purpose of: creating jobs, building infrastructure, growing the economy, and weakening the hold of extremist thinking. Along with the hope that comes from economic growth, launch a series of programs to sustain the hope: a more balanced and modern approach to education, a student exchange, a cultural exchange, an empowerment of women, an expanded Peace Corps presence, a media campaign, international conferences, etc.
West Bank: Continue to train Palestinian soldiers, so as to enable the duly elected government to defend itself from outside threats, including the threats posed by Hamas and other extremist factions. Encourage Fattah to reach a workable agreement with Hamas so that the two could work together to negotiate a comprehensive peace deal with Israel for the creation of a Palestinian state, along the lines of the understandings that have been reached between President Abbas and Foreign Minister Livny, and reminiscent of the deal offered by President Clinton and Prime Minister Ehud Barack to President Arafat in the year 2000. Continue to develop the four industrial zones in the West Bank, and launch an international effort to invest in good paying jobs, jobs which grow the economy, jobs which protect the environment, and jobs which help to neutralize extremist thinking. Work to inspire Palestinians with a Vision of Hope, and support that economic effort with Public Diplomacy Programs which are specifically designed to prop the vision up and to carry it forward. Use an Ideology of Common Sense to speak to Palestinians with common sense and with a sense of personal dignity.
Israel: Encourage Israel to embrace and enhance the possibility of peace, and to take positive action in that regard by: negotiating a truce with Hamas, allowing Hamas to partner with Fattah for the sake of democratic rule, helping Hamas to build infrastructure and to grow Gaza’s economy, and helping Fattah to do the same in the West Bank. Encourage Israel to negotiate a final status agreement, one that protects Israel’s security, but one that also allows Palestinians to achieve at least most of their political aspirations. To the extent possible, convince Israel to become actively involved in orchestrating the economic growth of the new fledgling state so that the ordinary Palestinian citizen is finally given a place at the table, a stake in his or her future.
Syria: Encourage Syria to negotiate peace with Israel on the basis of an Israeli pullout from the Golan Heights, along with a U.N. monitored military free zone in that area. Structure a series of economic and diplomatic incentives to lure Syria away from Iranian control, and to cause Syria to stop its support of terrorist organizations, and to stop interfering with internal Lebanese affairs.
Lebanon: Continue to bolster Lebanon’s democratically elected government. Try to steer Hezbollah away from military confrontation, in favor of a political role as part of a duly elected government. Use a Vision of Hope to empower the Lebanese people to embrace the possibility of peace among themselves, and with Israel.
Egypt: Encourage the international community to continue to invest to grow Egypt’s economy and to create good paying jobs. Support Egypt’s efforts to mediate regional disputes. Empower the man on the street with the notion that his life could get better, and use that hope to weaken the hold of extremist thinking. Push for warmer relations between Israel and Egypt on the basis of peace in Palestine, and on Israel’s efforts to help orchestrate an economic revitalization of the Middle East with her technological know-how and her economic drive.
Saudi Arabia: Give Saudi Arabia credit for proposing a comprehensive peace deal with Israel. Encourage Saudi Arabia to continue mustering Arab support in this regard. Encourage Saudi Arabia, in light of lower oil prices, and worldwide green demand, to diversify its investment portfolio by investing in green technology in Palestine, and throughout the Middle East. Use oil profits to create green profits, and use these profits to create even more good paying green jobs, jobs which will grow the economies, jobs which will protect the environment, and jobs which will weaken the strangle hold of extremist thinking. Use a growing economy, and the prospects for Middle East peace, to shift the thinking on the street from an extremist ideology to an ideology of common sense. Use the momentum of change to gear the educational system to a more modern and balanced approach, and to gear religious practice to be more in keeping with the more peaceful aspects of Islam.
Iran: Try to convince Iran that its nuclear ambitions are not in keeping with Iran’s best interests long term. Make the point that a nuclear Iran will be in the crosshairs of many a potent foe, and that the least bit of miscalculation could spell a doomsday scenario. Use diplomacy and economic incentives to convince Iran to give up its nuclear aspirations. As such, Iran could begin to play a vital role in pushing a comprehensive peace process forward, based on mutually shared economic and political interests. Iran could also cooperate by having Hezbollah and Hamas play political, as opposed to military roles. Iran would also be able to quell dissatisfaction from within by delivering to its people the promise of a better day.
With this much on your plate, you may think twice about taking the job. But don’t you agree that a chess game of this sort is what is called for, given current realities on the ground? Don’t we have to table at least some of the emotions and passions, for there to be even the slightest chance for peace? And do we have any choice but to try, even against all odds?
For more information, please visit our website www.sellingavisionofhope.org
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just say to USA to f* off and everything will be fine in our region. Israeli occupation is the main cause of all this problems. over the years, “the Zionist regime” has occupied more lands and killed more ppl. I blame all the arab countries and goverments for not standing against this regime which killed more than 500 “kids, womens, old and young” and 2500 wounded. Iran nuclear program is transparent and UN atomic agency are aware of that. Iran has the right to go on with its nuclear ambitions. Why no one questioning isreal nuclear program which is not transparent at all and UN atomic agency do not know anything about??!! ..one more thing, we don’t need USA or isreal to tell us what to do in our countries man. You people need to understand that not every one over the wrold must do same as you do “USA” to be right. Each region or country have its owen culture and working taword making this world abetter place. I believe you have bigger problems inside and I think you are worse than middle east….so just f* off
We in the Arab world initiated many peace plans and we are looking to the day when all this conflict become a part of our history . the least was the Arab peace initiative by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in 2006 .You Know what the responce of the Israelis to that initiative was attacking Lebanon under the the war against Hizbullah
So this so called entity, Israel by it`s acts is delaying the pease for at least 10 or 20 years from now and Israel is killing itself by her own hands creating so much anger and hate even between the most moderate Arabs.
I think there may be many Americans who would rather for their country not to be involved in the Middle East, but do you really think that would be in everyone’s best interests, Ahmed? So, for example, if a guy like Saddam Hussein wants to take Kuwait, that would be OK with you? Or if the Taliban wants to reassert control of Afghanistan, that would be fine as well? Or if Al Qaeda wants to impose its brand of Islam on the entire Muslim world, or even on the entire world, that would be OK too?
I’m not saying that the U.S. is doing everything right. Far from it. But is it just possible that in the final analysis, some involvement from the West is necessary to make things better?
The occupation of Gaza and the West Bank may have been a strategic mistake in the wake of the Six Day War of 1967, and certainly the occupation should be ended, and justice brought to Palestinians, but I’m not sure you can say that the occupation was the source of all the problems. Keep in mind that Israel had troubles with its neighbors long before 1967. The trick here is to end the occupation without ending up with an extremist state on Israel’s border. Such an outcome will just result in additional wars and bloodshed, which is not in anyone’s best interests.
Do you really believe that, Ahmed? Forget about Israel, for a moment. Given the agenda that Iran has expressed with regard to its foreign policy, and even with regard to its domestic policy, do you think it is right to allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons? And if the leadership decides to use such weapons, what do you think the prospects will be for the Middle East? Is it really wise to mix an ideology of martyrdom with the kind of weapons that could give actual substance to that ideology?
I would agree with that. The U.S. should help people to achieve their aspirations even if those aspirations include being different from the U.S. Not every street around the world is Wall Street. We should invest in people to give them a place at the table, and a stake in their future. But we should not dictate how people live their lives. Each person should be allowed to live his life as he sees fit, as long as he doesn’t step on someone else who wishes to do the same.
Wael, I do appreciate the fact that King Abdullah proposed a comprehensive peace plan. I am still optimistic that one day, hopefully soon, we can work together to give substance to that plan. Like you say, peace may be 10 or 20 years away, but it’s time now to plant the seeds that will bear fruit in the not too distant future. I don’t think that Israel, or any other country for that matter, can win this thing military.
This battle, the battle for peace, must be won in the heart and the mind of the man on the street. We can win his mind by speaking to him with common sense and with a sense of personal dignity. We can win his heart by investing in him, by giving him a place at the table, a stake in his future. And we can win the peace by selling him on a Vision of Hope. Give the man on the street a sense of hope, and you will have turned the corner on world peace. Nothing else is needed, and nothing else will suffice.
Ahmed: Iran is a member of the NPT, that is why its nuclear program is under the light, Israel along with India, Pakistan, and North Korea are not members of the NPT. This is why Israel Nuclear program is not “Questioned”, Iran’s nuclear program is not as transparent as the IAEA/UN would like it to be. Israeli occupation is not responsible for the problems and political problems in countries such as Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, UAE, Lebanon, yes Lebanon, etc. You could have Israel withdraw back to the 1967 or heck even the 1948 borders and all those problems in all those countries would still remain.
I believe what Ahmed is implying is that the USA is heavily involved in Middle Eastern politics to the point where it funds many regional governments. It empowers those that serve their interests no matter how deadly or corrupt such regimes may be, Saudi Arabia and Egypt being perfect examples.
I must agree because this is really what happens here. We don’t need to be lectured about human rights by 2 countries that do not respect human rights either. Furthermore if they wish to see less corruption they could easily stop funding it.
The arrogance and presumption of both Israelis and Palestinians is sickening. They seem to think that they can do anything and the rest of the world will just have to put up with it. There’s coming a tipping point in which the people of the United States and the people of Moderate Arab and Muslim states will say, it’s not worth it any longer — and wash their hands of them. Only then, when the enabling stops, will there be an opportunity for peace.
Regarding Syria where I AM FROM I think the Syrians both people and authority now are too far from any negotiation with Israel after the images of war in Gaza and Syria now is more radical then everbefor and much closer to Iran,so Israel has done much harm to it`s future by this advanture no matter wan or lost militarily
I agree with Wael completely. Israel right now has created millions of enemies regionally and worldwide, much more than it can ever handle, and it’s because of its own doing, not related in any way to anti-Semitisim as even my Arab Jewish friends despise its brutal attacks against innocent civilians.
Esra’a, this mindset, on the part of the U.S., may be more characteristic of the past than the future. In the first place, the world will have no choice but to move away from oil, and some of the policies of supporting dictators to keep the oil flowing may come under close scrutiny. This is especially the case since 9/11, which proved that the old ways of doing things will not suffice, because rogue actors are now in a position to destablize the entire world. Therefore, we may have to find a way to unravel the hold of extremist thinking, by empowering the man on the street, which will automatically mean helping the Middle East to develop economically, and hopefully, democratically as well. In short, not out of the goodness of its heart, but because of sheer self-interest, it may well behoove the U.S. to align its foreign policy more closely with the aspirations of the man on the street.
I don’t know that I would have used the words “arrogance and presumption,” jgoge. I probably would have used the words “desperation and hopelessness.” These two people are locked in battle not because they are arrogant, but because they have both created an ideological trap which has no give. The vast majority of people on both sides want peace, and are willing to make substantial concessions for peace. But peace requires the kind of give and take that ideology does not allow. Both sides are convinced of the legitimacy of their cause, and in that context a recurring cycle of violence is not at all a surprise.
What is needed, at this time, is a way of breaking the ideological hold of entrenched positions, and using that opening to create facts on the ground which speak louder than words, and which point to the possibility of peace. I remain hopeful that this is still possible, and actually, it may be the only way to move forward.
Wael, I can’t be sure, but my guess is that Syrian leaders know how to analyze their situation, but that there are certain realities that can’t be talked about in the heat of the moment, and this is one such moment. It is true that because of what is happening in Gaza, that it would be very difficult for Syria to say anything, at this time, about a peace deal. The time is not right. But on another level, I don’t think that Syria’s long term best interests is to ally itself so completely with Iran. And I also don’t think that the motivations of organizations like Hamas and Hizbullah are in the best interests of Syria, which is much more secular than the policies of Iran, Hamas, or Hizbullah would allow.
I just hope that this war will come to a quick end, and that as tragic as it has been, that there will be new opportunities, with the new U.S. administration, and with people on all sides seeing the futility of violence, and with nation states assessing their best long term interests more wisely, for the peace process to move forward. Ultimately, peace will be upon us. The question remains whether it will be the peace among the living, or among the dead.
Esra’a, there is some truth to what you’re saying, but I think you’re pushing it too far when you say that it’s not about “anti-Semitism.” There are players in the Middle East, as we speak, who never accepted the existence of a Jewish state, who wouldn’t accept it under any circumstances, and who vow, on a daily basis, to bring about its destruction. If that’s not “anti-Semitism” then I don’t know what is.
Uh … no. The fact of the matter is that the hate towards Israel already existed for other reasons, and is typically being scapegoated for the ills of the West. If you want us to believe that you all are outraged by actions alone rather than merely against the minority committing those actions, forget it. The proof tells a much different story than the one you are peddling.
Here is proof.
Turkey and Iran have been sending mortors and rockets into Iraq, displacing thousands of Kurds, murdering hundreds of people and killing a huge number of livestock this past year, but no justifications for rage and no enemies by the Arab and Muslim streets. Not even a complaint or whimper because obviously their plights don’t matter as much as the representatives of the the region’s dominant ethnic group. You know how many Kurds I have spoken with lately who are utterly disgusted by hypocritical Arab outrage over Palestine at the same time Arabs are feverishly working to violently colonize Kirkuk and other Kurdish cities in Iraq to institutionalize (rather than counteract) Saddam’s forced Arabization, with no outcry against it by the international community? And they colonize Kurdish land for reasons other than self-defense or necessity for a homeland of their own, but hey, it’s not worth burning a calorie over, let alone get worked up into a frenzied hatefest, isn’t that right? So don’t even get me started talking about occupation.
Clean up your own house before you dare lecture others and justify hate and bigotry.
Darfur is a humanitarian crisis with more victims and less chance to change the status quo than Palestinians have, but no rage, no enemies, no systemic condemnation by the Arab and Muslim streets. As Darfurians are displaced, Arabs move in to take over, but that doesn’t muster any outrage or hate, does it? Heck, even your own website about Darfur hasn’t been updated since last summer! (I guess that’s how you prove that Darfurians supposedly mean as much in the media as do Palestinians, ha? What a crock.)
When Lebanon attacked Palestinian refugee camps, using tanks and heavy weaponry against them last year, there was no outcry, no rage, no justification for so many enemies and we all know why. But if Israel did it? You’d justify hate until the cows come home. (And let’s face it, if there ever were an apartheid state, it’s Lebanon where Palestinians are warehoused in purposeful squalor and not allowed to participate in over seventy professions, nor can a Palestinian even pass along land he/she owns to his/her children in Lebanon. This is an unbelieveable crime against humanity that flies directly in the face of the UN’s Charter. But on this issue, you’ve all continue to remain utterly silent, forget mustering up rage over it because that’s how you prove how much you care for Palestinians and are outraged by actions against them rather than ethnicity.)
Iran has expunged hundreds of thousands of Khuzestani Arabs off their ancestral land and replaced them with Persians from Yazd, but with no outcry, no rage, and no complaint by the Arab and Muslim street. Why is that? Because hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced people are inconsequential and don’t deserve rage?
Wait, there’s far more … Palestinian political parties, both Hamas and Fatah, use government resources to cultivate child soldiers and inculcate an entire generation on the glory of violent conquest, but that doesn’t deserve outrage or hate either even though that ensures Palestinian victimization. And let’s not ignore the fact that a critical mass of Palestinians chose to enfranchise a group that has institutionalized blatant genocide and societal destruction into its charter, but let’s not consider them responsible for their choices, and just make excuses for them and call them victims without any power to change their situations, right?
You have absolutely no room to talk or complain about others given the state of dysfunction, hate, violence, bigotry, and blatant conquest that takes place in your own society as we speak. If hate against Israel is justified, then so too must it be against Arab and Muslim societies over the things they do to others — something I absolutely do not agree with. You cannot have it both ways, or justify group hatred just to suit your own undeserved, sanctimonious agenda.
No hate. No outrage. No protests. No mass petitions over the systemic abuse suffered by Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa at the hands of Arabs and Muslims, but rationalize gutter hatred against Israel? Oh yeah of course you do because that’s what you know.
And don’t point me to your little websites, which don’t address these issues I presented at all. Your Kurdish site says nothing about forced Arabization, wanton violence, or displacement. Your Darfur website can’t even get your attention for months. And there is nothing by you demanding Palestinians be given basic human rights in Lebanon, or any rage on behalf of Khuzestani Arabs. And these are just websites, but actively work to create mass mobilization and justify hatred to protect those suffering at the hands of your own ethnic group? Forget it. If it were behavior, rather than identities, that really mattered we’d see balance. But there is none. CLEARLY the overwhelming evidence proves that Arabs and Muslims who suffer at the hands of Arabs and Muslims mean less to you than do Arabs who suffer at the hands of Jews regardless of the actual facts on the ground. You may speak out about it … a little … but get enraged? Create a street protest just once? Justify hatred? Excuse group animosity? Use singlulary negative terminology to describe entire entities? Never. Spare me your crocodile tears and vile rationalizations why Israel should be hated but violently abusive Arab and Muslim communities should not.
Hypocrite.
We all keep saying that in the name of peace we should do that and do this…etc, forgetting something is really very important that non of the Arabic or non Arabic Countries are in peace with each others, they are all in a NON WAR situation. What our systems and regimes really need is HUMANITY.
Not to hurt – Not to kill – Not to occupy- Not to Rape – Not to Envy etc… are not Devine words those are what the human is made of, this is what the minimum we should be Human beings…. where are we from that? Where are our leaders from that? Dear friend’s peace is an editable word we use to justify our lack of humanity.
Matthew, I knew it was you the moment I started reading your hateful comment, which is really funny coming from someone running an organization called “Prevent Hate.”
The irony in this is quite blinding because if you applied your own logic to your comment, you will not be criticizing Arabs for things irrelevant to Gaza and will only be criticizing what the IDF is committing throughout Palestine. It’s a cute statement but doesn’t actually work if you’re only applying it to those you seriously disagree with.
That’s not proof. You merely listed the ways in which Arab societies should be hated and not that of Israel (even though no one here says that Israel should be hated, we clearly are only noting “why” it currently is). Many of what you listed are issues that we have already admitted here and are effectively working on. In any case, I do not see how having a society with many faults means we can dismiss whatever crime Israel commits. I do not see you writing such an abusive comment whenever someone here condemns Iran for its crimes against the Baha’i minority, for example. Why? Because it’s not people in “your team” committing them, and it’s therefore justifiable to hate the wrong-doers? Please, don’t sicken us with this childish logic. I don’t know about the Kurds you run around with, but many Kurdish authors out there are writing in solidarity with Palestine because they actually understand what it feels like to be under such cruelty and fire while being denied their own state.
Then why are you resorting to that? I don’t see you condemning Israeli crimes. I see you making petty excuses for them, and later claiming that we should divert our attention to our own issues, which we already spend a great amount of time dealing with. Why did you write me e-mails asking me to invite more Israeli authors and increase PR on their behalf? Because you’re crippled with fear that people out there are actually becoming aware of atrocities committed by the Israeli government.
You ask me not to list the websites we operate on behalf of the abused minorities here, the same minorities that you choose to do nothing for, but I am free to list them as an example of our hard work for our citizens here which we care about regardless of their religions and nationality. This includes Israeli Arabs by the way who continue to be discriminated against in Israeli society, unfortunately you have not once sympathized with their cause and you have viciously attacked anyone who dares to bring it up, claiming other Middle Eastern governments impose worse upon their citizens and therefore no one should bother criticizing Israel, home to the region’s most powerful and merciless military. If you give me the right to criticize Iran, a non-Arab country, and claim it is courageous to condemn abuse by the IRI, then why do you not recognize my right to equally criticize Israel for what millions of people consider to be injustice?
Everyone reading this knows that we run many campaigns fighting local crimes, without grossly politicizing the situation (as you’re encouraging us to do), or welcoming hatred of Kurds towards Arabs, another thing you seem to be supportive of. Our Kurdish site is targeted around Arabs and Kurds working hand in hand for a better society; why should you be against that?
No one in this site denies what minorities have gone through. Give me one link to a post that denies the Kurdish genocide or that spreads hatred of Baha’is or even local Jews whom we are extremely supportive of. You will not find it. You will also not find many people here denying what Israel is doing in the name of “self defense” either, because whether you like it or not this issue is just as grave as many of the others. If a Kurdish author here can write and express his condemnation of years of Arab, Turkish and Iranian abuse, an Israeli or a Palestinian today can do the same for the war crimes committed in Gaza, yet instead of reasoning with them you call it “bigotry.”
This is the beauty of alternative media which your beloved government can no longer control. It must make you sick to your stomach to see that not every “moderate” in the Arab world has to bend over to corrupt Israeli policies for them to be accepted by the West, perhaps that’s why you’re resorting to name-calling and stereotypical abuse.
My society has its faults. I’ve never denied this. I suffered with these faults throughout my life, as a member of a minority myself with Iranian origins, hence why I fight for all rights. But unlike Israel, in Bahrain we don’t brutally attack and torture an entire nation merely for the sake of our existence. We fight for human rights here all the time, why should Israel be treated any differently? Why should criticism of Israel be painted as “bigotry” and “anti-Semitisim”? Just because you’re Jewish, Matthew? Why can’t we criticize you respectfully without having you violently and personally attack others? So much for your “Prevent Hate” organization, when its own Director cannot even prevent his own hatred of Arabs and Muslims. Touché.