The regional politics of mideast peace
One of the more interesting things that has developed over the last year in the growing regional struggle bewteen Saudi Arabia and Iran, has been the efforts of the Saudis to claim the Palestinian cause as their project.
After the Israelis were pushed back by Hezbullah and Nasrallah, Iran, through its long time Hezbullah support, became a hero and a rallying point among the mostly Sunni Palestinian groups and, more broadly, among Palestinian sympathetic Muslims across the region. In the regional populist mind, the Palestinian plight reflects the greater sense of Israeli and US dominance/interference in the region.
In alot of ways, this offered Iran a vehicle to take the mantle of protector of Islam's vast oppressed majorities, extending its influence even into deeply Sunni countries.
So, as we now watch Saudi Arabia inserting itself so publicly into the Israel/Palestine negotiations, let's remember that their goal is not so much to garner a middle east peace as it is to diminish Iran.
Right now, this is far more about appearance than result, and so long as they don't have to actually give anything up, the Israelis are more than happy to participate in this Saudi/US charade.
(Question: How much does the Hamas/Fatah conflict reflect the Iran/Saudi split?)
After the Israelis were pushed back by Hezbullah and Nasrallah, Iran, through its long time Hezbullah support, became a hero and a rallying point among the mostly Sunni Palestinian groups and, more broadly, among Palestinian sympathetic Muslims across the region. In the regional populist mind, the Palestinian plight reflects the greater sense of Israeli and US dominance/interference in the region.
In alot of ways, this offered Iran a vehicle to take the mantle of protector of Islam's vast oppressed majorities, extending its influence even into deeply Sunni countries.
So, as we now watch Saudi Arabia inserting itself so publicly into the Israel/Palestine negotiations, let's remember that their goal is not so much to garner a middle east peace as it is to diminish Iran.
Right now, this is far more about appearance than result, and so long as they don't have to actually give anything up, the Israelis are more than happy to participate in this Saudi/US charade.
(Question: How much does the Hamas/Fatah conflict reflect the Iran/Saudi split?)
posted by mikevotes at
7:39 AM
4 Comments:
The Hamas/Fatah split is about different approaches to Israel. They would both settle for a two-state solution under certain conditions but Hamas is afraid Fatah would settle for something less than a viable Palestinian state.
Fear and distrust of Israel run deep. The Saudis seem reluctantly prepared to accept a two state solution but the Iranians under Ahmedinajad would like to see the end of the Jewish state.
By
Anonymous, at 8:57 AM
Good analysis.
One point, I don't think the question really is about a two state solution anymore, it's really about the complicating factors, where those boundaries are, Israeli settlements, right of return, and Jerusalem.
(And, I might argue that neither side has a real impetus to do this now other than some tepid outside pressure.)
By
mikevotes, at 11:46 AM
Well there are extreme views on both sides. Some Palestinians want Israel wiped out. Some Israelis want the Palestinians wiped out.
If there is a solution it will require compromise. But I'm not optimistic because I don't see either side getting what they want....total security for Israel and a viable independent state for the Palestinians. The two ideas are contradictory.
By
Anonymous, at 1:00 PM
Right.
By
mikevotes, at 1:49 PM
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