The New Arab Pitch on Israel
At the annual US-Islamic World Forum, held last week in Doha, Qatar, some Arab participants made a pitch for the “reset” button to be pressed on the triangular relationship between the USA, Israel, and the Arab world. I think we will be hearing a lot more of this.
The pitch came in three parts.
First, an analysis. The Arab-Israeli dispute is the main obstacle to a better relationship between the Arab world and America. The main cause of last year’s Arab awakening was the people’s anger at their own leaders’ failure to be accountable to the people. On no issue was this lack of accountability plainer than their collusion with Israel in a fake “peace process.” When the US favors Israel, it does terrible damage to its reputation in the Arab world, as well as acting against its own interests. If the US could only focus upon its actual strategic interests (rather, it is implied, than passively remaining in thrall to the Israel lobby) then the US-Arab relations could go from strength to strength.
Second, a plea. To effect this change, the US needs a new mind-set. It should put aside the idea that the Islamist is an enemy, and accept that every people has a right to self-defense against oppression (a right the colonies exercised in the 18th century without becoming “terrorists,” it is noted).