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Published on: 4/15/2008
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IT IS more critical than ever to reinvigorate the Arab Initiative and place it in the forefront of the regional peace process, Middle East expert and academic Alon Ben-Meir told the eighth Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade yesterday."Unless the collective Arab will and weight, especially Syria's, is positively engaged in the diplomatic process, the concerted efforts for peace will lead nowhere," said Ben-Meir, a professor of international relations and Middle Eastern studies at New York University's Centre for Global Affairs.The noted journalist and author, who has had two decades of direct involvement in foreign affairs with a focus on the Middle East, explained that all previous peace plans have failed because they lacked the comprehensiveness of the Arab Initiative and excluded Syria from the peace process."It is at this time that all parties involved must take a serious look at the core requirements of both Israel and each of its neighbouring Arab states who still have claims against it in order to achieve any solid progress," he suggested.Ben-Meir said that although Israel has reservations about the initiative, it must fully and publicly embrace it in order to quell the violence, exchange territories captured in the 1967 war, find a humane solution to the Palestinian refugee problem, and seek a mutually accepted solution to the future of Jerusalem - all of which represent the initiative's principal requirements."If any type of agreement between Israel and the Arab states is to be made, Syria must also be included in the process and its territorial claims to the Golan Heights taken seriously, as well as grievances coming from other regional players," he said.Taking this position should not preclude Israel from clearly stating its basic requirements for peace, such as ensuring national security and territorial integrity, sustaining the Jewish national identity, securing Jerusalem as capital (allowing Palestinians to establish their own capital in the same city), and finally establishing normal relations with the entire Arab world, all of which are reconcilable with the principles of the initiative."Israeli leaders must understand that for the Arab states to offer this initiative represents a monumental leap forward and an historic opportunity for Israel to secure the peace it has been seeking for 60 years.Implementation of these efforts on both sides would undoubtedly produce a remarkable transformation throughout the region," Ben-Meir said.He stressed that Israel has to return all the occupied territory."There is consensus in Israel that occupation is not viable, so Palestinians should be given the land they lost in 1967 and the Golan Heights returned to Syria," he said.Ben-Meir however was of the view that Palestinian refugees could not expect to return to their homes in what is Israel today and many of them could return to the West Bank and Gaza.He said the Arab states simply cannot wait for Israel to act."They must make clear and open overtures towards Israel to demonstrate to the public that their leaders have made a strategic and committed dedication to peace.This is what the Israeli public needs to see." Ben-Meir also pointed out that Israel's distrust remains an underlining factor as radical Arab groups openly seek its destruction.Efforts to persuade Israel to embrace the initiative must include concrete and transparent steps that demonstrate a significant shift in the conflict's dynamic."If Israel and the Arab states do not want this initiative to meet the fate of the 2002 version in Lebanon, then they must reconsider their strategy and attitudes towards diplomacy," he said, adding that adopting the Arab Initiative should serve as the ultimate road map to cohesive and comprehensive peace.
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IT IS more critical than ever to reinvigorate the Arab Initiative and place it in the forefront of the regional peace process, Middle East expert and academic Alon Ben-Meir told the eighth Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade yesterday."Unless the collective Arab will and weight, especially Syria's, is positively engaged in the diplomatic process, the concerted efforts for peace will lead nowhere," said Ben-Meir, a professor of international relations and Middle Eastern studies at New York University's Centre for Global Affairs.The noted journalist and author, who has had two decades of direct involvement in foreign affairs with a focus on the Middle East, explained that all previous peace plans have failed because they lacked the comprehensiveness of the Arab Initiative and excluded Syria from the peace process."It is at this time that all parties involved must take a serious look at the core requirements of both Israel and each of its neighbouring Arab states who still have claims against it in order to achieve any solid progress," he suggested.Ben-Meir said that although Israel has reservations about the initiative, it must fully and publicly embrace it in order to quell the violence, exchange territories captured in the 1967 war, find a humane solution to the Palestinian refugee problem, and seek a mutually accepted solution to the future of Jerusalem - all of which represent the initiative's principal requirements."If any type of agreement between Israel and the Arab states is to be made, Syria must also be included in the process and its territorial claims to the Golan Heights taken seriously, as well as grievances coming from other regional players," he said.Taking this position should not preclude Israel from clearly stating its basic requirements for peace, such as ensuring national security and territorial integrity, sustaining the Jewish national identity, securing Jerusalem as capital (allowing Palestinians to establish their own capital in the same city), and finally establishing normal relations with the entire Arab world, all of which are reconcilable with the principles of the initiative."Israeli leaders must understand that for the Arab states to offer this initiative represents a monumental leap forward and an historic opportunity for Israel to secure the peace it has been seeking for 60 years.Implementation of these efforts on both sides would undoubtedly produce a remarkable transformation throughout the region," Ben-Meir said.He stressed that Israel has to return all the occupied territory."There is consensus in Israel that occupation is not viable, so Palestinians should be given the land they lost in 1967 and the Golan Heights returned to Syria," he said.Ben-Meir however was of the view that Palestinian refugees could not expect to return to their homes in what is Israel today and many of them could return to the West Bank and Gaza.He said the Arab states simply cannot wait for Israel to act."They must make clear and open overtures towards Israel to demonstrate to the public that their leaders have made a strategic and committed dedication to peace.This is what the Israeli public needs to see." Ben-Meir also pointed out that Israel's distrust remains an underlining factor as radical Arab groups openly seek its destruction.Efforts to persuade Israel to embrace the initiative must include concrete and transparent steps that demonstrate a significant shift in the conflict's dynamic."If Israel and the Arab states do not want this initiative to meet the fate of the 2002 version in Lebanon, then they must reconsider their strategy and attitudes towards diplomacy," he said, adding that adopting the Arab Initiative should serve as the ultimate road map to cohesive and comprehensive peace.
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