Obama to push the Saudi Peace initiative?

[DSeid]

Apparently Obama is planning to push the Saudi Peace initiative.

The Arab peace initiative, first approved by the Arab League in 2002 in Beirut (and reaffirmed last year), calls for Israel’s withdrawal from all the territories and a solution to the refugee problem in exchange for an Arab recognition of the end to the conflict and normalization between Israel and all the Arab countries.

Meanwhile Livni has stated that the US really needs to butt out for a while.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Thursday Israel did not need any “dramatic” intervention in peace talks with the Palestinians from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama when he takes office in January.

Livni said that while there were expectations from Obama on the Middle East, her message to the new administration was: “You don’t need now to do anything dramatic about it. The situation is calm. We have these peace talks.”

The foreign minister, who as Kadima Chairwoman could become prime minister after the general election in February, told Jewish leaders in New York that the international community should limit itself to backing the talks according to parameters set out at a peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, nearly a year ago.

So is this going to go any where? How do the leaders of Arab countries assure Israel of security from Hizbollah and Hamas? From those supported by Iran’s leadership (who still benefit from the Goldberg ten minute hate that the Israel boogeyman supplies)?

Do I seem skeptical? Uh, yeah I am.

[Lantern]

I think the Saudi initiative or something very close is the way to go but I wouldn’t have expected a major push by Obama on this issue in his first term. I think Afghanistan/Pakistan and Iraq are much bigger issues for the US at the moment. Even North Korea, though it’s quiet as of now, is a bigger issue. However I suppose that even if Palestine isn’t that vital in itself it is a hugely important symbolic issue around the Muslim world and US support for Israel is a deadweight which constrains its policy options elsewhere in the region. Obama may believe that a breakthrough in Palestine could bring big benefits elsewhere and push hard for it early.

As for Hamas and Hezbollah, it’s not as if they are launching many successful attacks as of now. Israel’s defensive and deterrent capabilities are doing a decent job of keeping their casualties to very low levels. A peace deal would improve things in a number of respects. Once they get their state the Palestinians would have a lot more to lose if they provoke a conflict with Israel. The other Arab states would also have some stake if they are involved in a peace deal. It would also have the benefit of isolating Iran.

[Lantern]

Oh I just realized the original report was from the Sunday Times. In general I don’t think British papers have a good track record of breaking US stories. If I read about it in the NYT or WaPO I may put more credence on it. As I said I would be surprised if Obama pushed hard on this issue early in his term.

[Simplicio]

@Lantern

Oh I just realized the original report was from the Sunday Times. In general I don’t think British papers have a good track record of breaking US stories. If I read about it in the NYT or WaPO I may put more credence on it. As I said I would be surprised if Obama pushed hard on this issue early in his term.

The whole article seems to be based on a third hand, anonymous report of a single sentence Obama is said to have spoken back in July. I don’t think it really tells us much about what the new administration will actually do regarding Israel.