Amid talks, Israel’s best bet is to find ally within own borders

By Ahmed Mahmoud / ahmed@theklaxon.com / 03.11.2010

Updated on: 03.11.10 at 6:07 pm

Here we go again in another round of the Middle East talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

As many have expected, the peace talks have ended before they have even started. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Israel Sunday to bring the Israelis and the Palestinians to the table once more to kick start the peace process.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Israelis announced the construction of 1,600 new homes in the disputed area of East Jerusalem. This came as a shock to Biden who, up to this point, thought he had the support of the Israeli government.

The announcement came from the Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai. Yishai, a member of the right-wing Shas Party, and who is very vocal on the settler movement, denied that the announcement was timed to embarrass Biden and the Obama Administration. Netanyahu’s aides indicated he was blindsided by the announcement, but fell short of saying Israel will not go forward with the building of the homes, just that the timing was all wrong.

Clearly, this is a slap in the face to the Obama Administration, a slap heard around the world, even according to Israeli newspapers. As expected, Abu Mazen has called off the peace talks, saying the Israeli government does not take them seriously. But he can’t be blamed, as he has entered into these indirect talks with Israelis in the hope of boosting the stalled peace process.

It was 14 months ago that Abbas broke off negotiations with Israel because of the war in Gaza and has since refused until the building of illegal settlements are halted. He has ventured into these indirect talks with the Israeli government despite the fact the construction still goes on. Biden went on record as to condemn the move by Israel. But now what?

Clearly Israel has no intentions as to negotiating with the Palestinians. Obama has no real power over the Israelis and is disliked by many in Israel since his run for president, where he has voiced his opinion on halting illegal Israeli settlements.

We like to remain optimistic and believe that one day peace can be reached by people who live in that region. There has to come a time when Palestinians and Israelis will have to say enough. In the midst of threats from all sides to Israel, which it considers credible and real.

Israelis cannot afford to treat the Palestinian issue as something that can be placed on the backburner. In an ever tumultuous Middle East, Israel’s first ally should be within its borders. For so few lie beyond it.