Daily Times

We are now seeing a paradigm shift in the geo-political landscape in the Middle East. Yesterday’s enemies are becoming today’s friends. One example is the recent overtures of the Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, trying to reach out to Israel to form a unified alliance to act as a counter weight to Iran.

The Saudi government, with the backing of all members of the Arab league, has recently brokered a plan to Israel that guarantees its right to exist as an independent state, and also offers normalisation of diplomatic relations, provided Israel agrees to vacate from the territory that has been under its illegal occupation after the six-day war in 1967. Turkey and Egypt have also shown their willingness to normalise their relations with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the Saudi offer, as “The Arab Peace Initiative” can not only end the six-decade old conflict but will also pave the way for a two-nation state.

The question that comes to mind is what has led to the sudden change of heart by the Arab countries. The answer is far to seek: Iran. Iran is considered as an avowed adversary by all the Arab countries. The United States and the members of the Security Council called the P5+1 had entered into a nuclear agreement with Iran. Under the framework of the agreement, Iran was to dismantle its nuclear programme in exchange of lifting of economic sanctions against it, and also freeing up tens of billions of dollars in oil revenue and frozen assets.

Another aspect of the growing closeness to Iran was also necessitated due to export of radical brand of Islam known as Wahhabism from Saudi Arabia. Many of the terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda, Desh and its affiliates follow this brand of religion. We have also been lately seeing growing mistrust between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America.

Israel is also warming up to the overtures of the Arab league because like Saudi Arabia and other Islamic nations it also perceives Iran as a great threat. Israel also sees collateral benefit by accepting the Saudi-backed proposal, as the plan can bring all the Arab countries, Egypt and Turkey under a common umbrella to negate the growth of assertion of Iran. Iran’s open support to the Shiite-controlled Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen, and its support to Hamas, has not gone well with these countries. Israel, therefore, views the proposed peace initiative as an opportunity to unravel the complex Israeli-Palestine dispute and create the way for a two nation state.

The Saudi initiative is emblematic of growing mistrust of Arab countries with the Western bloc, especially the United States. Moreover, Riyadh expects the new alliance will help reduce its dependence on the United States.

It may be mentioned here that the Arab Peace Initiative was conceptualised by the late crown prince Abdullah (he later went on to become king in 2005) in 2002. The “2002 Arab Peace Plan,” as it was called, had the backing of 22 members of the Arab league. The plan had recommended restoration of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and Israel was advised to provide a “fair solution” for the 3.8 million Palestinian refugees who had been illegally evicted from their lands. It also called upon Israel to vacate the Golan Heights and other Israeli-occupied territory, including Southern Lebanon. However, the Israeli response to the Arab peace initiative was lukewarm, as it was not willing to concede its right over East Jerusalem. Secondly, Israel felt that the acceptance of the offer would have replaced the UN resolutions 242 and 338, which called for bilateral negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip, had also rejected the Saudi offer.

The new plan offers a great opportunity for both Israel and Palestine to bury their differences and settle the contentious dispute left by historical legacy. Although there is consensus in Israel to vacate the West Bank and other areas, but when it comes to handing over the control of East Jerusalem, there is a large constituency there that opposes ceding East Jerusalem, as it is considered the holiest site of Judaism. East Jerusalem is also equally a revered place for Muslims and Christians, as the Temple Mount, Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are located there.

One way to end the impasse is to declare East Jerusalem an independent zone under the joint command control of both the countries. This may not be an easy option, but it is the only viable option to end the conflict and restore peace and normalcy in the region. If this is achieved, the Arab countries together with Egypt could persuade Palestine to dismantle all terror networks there. They will also apply pressure on Hamas to support the statehood of Palestine. The United Nations has already agreed to recognise Palestine as an independent state, provided it holds free and fair elections and persuades Hamas to join the mainstream politics.

Although any settlement will be perceived by Palestine not to its satisfaction, as Israel had expelled over 800,000 Palestinians, and had also forcibly captured their land after the 1967 war, but today, Palestine has to compromise with the growing reality in the region. Moreover, if it refuses to accept the Saudi-backed proposal, there is a danger that it may lose the support of the Arab League, Turkey and Egypt, which may not be in its interests, as their support is vital to its existence.

In sum, the new development shows that countries have no permanent enemies or friends and it is the compulsion of politics that dictates a country’s foreign policy. Both Israel and Palestine need to fully support the peace plan, as it offers an opportunity for a “two-state solution” to the over six-decade old conflict. Israel should understand that it would be best served to negotiate with Palestine within the framework of the Saudi plan to bring peace and stability in the region, as history will not give another opportunity to resolve the 61-year Palestinian tragedy. On its part, Palestine should realise that it can’t hope to correct the historical injustice, but by persuading Israel to vacate all lands in its illegal occupation, it would have scored a moral victory. If, however, Palestine does not support the Saudi plan, there is a danger that Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries may go ahead with their new strategy of forming an alliance with Israel to counter Iran. This may drive Palestine into a hopeless situation, where it will find itself being totally isolated.

All that is now required is the political will from both the countries in implementing the peace initiative for making a fresh start in ushering in peace, stability and prosperity in the region for the benefit of people of both the countries.

The writer is a freelance columnist and political commentator based in India