While keeping myself updated with news from the regional religious-summit in the UN last week in NY, I recently set down to learn the new peace plan promoted by the Saudi leaders. The creators of this plan and its promoters, among them are the Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and the former Saudi intelligence director Turki al-Faisal are satisfied with the Israeli response, according to CBSnews from Octber 19.
The fundamentals for this new plan were laid during the Saudi’s initial plan from 2002. According to this plan, claimed Aron Heller (the associated press), a peace between Israel and the Palestenia would be part of a global Arab recognition of the State of Israel. The 22 Arab nations would recognize Israel as an equal nation among the world nations and this would officially put an end to the Arab boycott of Israel. Here are the proposed demands upon Israel according to the Saudi plan:
Israel withdraws from Arab lands were captured after 1967 war. That include:
- Withdrawal from the West bank, Gaza strip.
- East Jerusalem under Palestinian occupation.
- Withdrawal Golan Heights.
Officials in Israel said last week that “it is a good basis for discussion” (Avi Issacharoff 20/10/2008). However, from my personal analysis of the situation any non-direct negotiations are subject to fail. Although the use of a mediator proved to be successful in the past, i.e. the peace with Egypt, it never translated into full normalization between the parties. Israel should negotiate openly with Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinians and sit with officials from moderate Arab countries, because there are different limitations to each conflict matter and subsequent solution.
Yet, I offer here my input for any plan to be introduced in the future. The following three guidelines, in my opinion, will be acceptable by most Israeli’s, and therefore, should be considered as basic rules for future agreements:
- East Jerusalem should be granted international territory recognition by the UN, governed locally by the Palestinian authority. Borders should be guarded by both Israeli and the Palestinian forces.
- West Bank and Gaza become one Palestinian state with a territorially corridor connecting both areas. There will be no Israeli forces present in the area.
- No to the large-scale return of Palestinian refugees to the land of Israel. Such a demand is not realistic, and present an obstacle to the whole peace process.
To the Israeli’s package of claims, welcomed by the comprehensive deal by the Arab nations, I would add one more thing; Demand for global recognition of the Palestinian newly formed state. By this I mean that the Arab nations should also grant full support to the newly formed Palestinian state, and ensure the formation of a democratic and stable government. If all of the above would be agreed upon in our generation, we shall all see a new, prosperous and safe middle-east. Amen.
Image Used in this Post
Gaza Resident image courtesy of Flickr user nickolette22 published under the CC license.
5 Comments
Oren, this is your best post yet – nicely written.
If I were Israel, I would not be willing to give up the Gollan Heights. It has proved too valuable in past conflicts to simply hand over. Hamas could send their rockets even deeper into Israel from that vantage point as well as smaller ordinance.
I also don’t think the rest of the Arab world will support a Palestinian State. I think they would rather see Israel destroyed and don’t really care about the Palestinians.
Jack,
I agree with you view; it would take long before Israel would give the Golan.
Just small correction, Hamas group militants are actually fight from Gaza and associated with the Palestenian, while you probably meant to Hezbbulah militants who situated in South Lebanon and might exxpand into the Golan Heights.
This risk however, is minimal, because the Syrian would probably want to occupy the Golans and use it as astrategic point before they give it away to Hezbollah, who can turn back one day and fight moderate Syrians forces. When you deal with terrorists, loyalty set aside…
Do you think the Syrians would go out of their way to make sure The Golan was not used by Hezbolah to attack Israel?
Not really. The Syrian will do whatever serves them best at the moment. In addition, many of ex-commendors in the Syrian diverse defence forces (police, army, secert services)found their way into Hezbollah organization, so full control could ever be gained back.