'Israel should embrace, not fear, James Baker' | Jerusalem Post

'Israel should embrace, not fear, James Baker' | Jerusalem PostThis is an interesting article, that many friends of Israel may dispute, but which points out the central "cart and horse" issue facing Israel, if it is to ever achieve coexistence in the Middle East -- is it better (or possible?) for Israel to pursue normalization with the Arab world ahead of solving the Palestinian issue, as Baker pushed in the Madrid Conference (the near civil war in the Palestinian areas and the Saudis view of things today give Israel a real opening to pursue that agenda), or is it better to focus on a resolution of the Palestinian issue, and have that drive Israel's relations with the rest of the Arab world (the Oslo approach).

Since the Palestinians have become a non-partner in a near state of civil war, and the Jordanians, Saudis, Egyptians and other "moderate" Arab regimes now seek to curb the tide of both Islamist extremism and Shiite ascendency, it might seem as if Baker's approach is worth pursuing for Israel. Even if talking does not end up with any immediate solutions, the Israelis and the non-Islamist Arabs have a lot of common interest worth pursuing. As I have posited in this blog before, a deal by Israel with the Saudis and Jordanians to hand over control of portions of the West Bank and Gaza to the Jordanians as trustees for the Palestinians under a confederation scheme, withthe Jordanians assuring Israel's security, could be a very promising basis for moving forward in the Middle East, reducing the strength of extremists in the street, taking the Palestinians closer to a solution for them and putting increased pressure on the Syrians to play ball (lets see what the assassination of Gemayel in Lebanon yesterday yields in that regard -- there are over 5,000 well armed European troops in Lebanon now sitting on their hands).

Happy thanksgiving.