Israeli-Palestinian Talks Could Avert New Prolonged Protest |
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By Shaul Arieli, Ha'aretz
5.9.2011
via Ha'aretz (click for original)
With the upgrading of the Palestinians' diplomatic status after their application to the United Nations, and in the absence of a diplomatic process, Israel might find itself forced to deal with new and prolonged waves of protest. Geneva Initiative's Shaul Arieli gives us a glimpse of what could happen without negotiations on the opinion pages of Ha'aretz.
EXCERPT
Egypt and Jordan, even though they are up to their necks in domestic problems and dependent on American aid, will find it hard to ignore the tweets on Twitter and the Likes on Facebook that will inundate the Arab world with impressions of the clashes between Israel and the Palestinians. Though all the parties in Egypt signed the Al-Azhar agreement, which included the provision honoring the peace accord, the accord is liable to become de facto nonbelligerency, and the recall of the last Arab ambassador from Israel will be only a matter of time.
The renewal of negotiations with the Palestinians with a view to reaching an agreement based on U.S. President Barack Obama's speech will not transform the Arab world into Zionists. But it will dilute the gasoline fumes that could spark a conflagration that could damage Israel.
Renewing negotiations would indicate Israel's willingness to distinguish between the good guys who favor a compromise and the bad guys who reject one and are coalescing against it. It would also enable the United States and Europe to act against Iran's intention to obtain a military nuclear capability. This capability would entail an arms race and a change in the regional balance of power that would undermine the stability Israel so badly needs.
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