U.S. envoy: Arab peace initiative will be part of Obama policy

[bemildred]

The Arab peace initiative will be part of the Obama administration's policy toward the Middle East, the United States special envoy to the region said.

The 2002 initiative offers to normalize relations between the entire Arab region and Israel, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories including East Jerusalem, the establishment of a Palestinian State and a "just settlement" for Palestinian refugees.

The envoy, George Mitchell, said the U.S. intends to "incorporate" the initiative into its Middle East policy. He made the statement at a meeting with Israeli, Arab American and European senior diplomats and officials in Washington a few weeks ago. At the Brookings Institute workshop, Mitchell asked the participants for their recommendations for U.S. policy toward Israel's Syrian and Palestinian.

The Arab representatives were reportedly satisfied with Mitchell's statement, but added that the initiative is a package deal and cannot be modified. Israel has yet to express a formal position on the Arab initiative.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1076396.html

[Donald Ian Rankin]

1. Good news if it were true, but I don't believe it for a minute.

It would be a massive change from previous US policy, and enrage Israel's supporters.

[GoesTo11]

2. Calling their bluff?

On paper, the Arab proposal is not that different from what prior Israeli governments have indicated is acceptable, except for some Wye like land swaps and a more nuanced arrangement in Jerusalem.

But it has been proposed in a heavy handed fashion that makes Israelis rightly skeptical - it cannot be modified, it has added a demand for Palestinian right-of-return as opposed to some other resolution and compensation for refugees, which makes it a non-starter for Israel.

If Obama wants to use this as one starting position for negotiations and is able to frame things so that both sides can view movement toward a solution as something other than defeat, that would be productive. If (as I do NOT expect) Obama attempts to dictate to Israel that it must accept this proposal as-is, that ultimatum will fail:

"Arab leaders in Qatar for the Arab League summit sent Israel an ultimatum Sunday: Accept the Saudi Peace Initiative or it will be rescinded.

The draft proposal of the statement states: "The peace initiative being proposed today will not be on offer for a long time. Arab commitment to this initiative is dependent on Israeli acceptance."

This just doesn't make sense, unless they are just trying to bargain like a shopkeeper.