I do not want to say "I told you so" but... two weeks ago I reported from Jerusalem that both Palestinians and Israelis had low expectations for the Annapolis peace conference; and this week these expectations were met. As a matter of fact, the majority of Palestinians and Israelis believe that the conference was a failure. No major breakthroughs and no major declarations.
At times, the Annapolis conference looked like a poor theatrical production—the Saudi Foreign Minister ducking a handshake from both the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, President Bush mispronouncing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ name, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert looking lost on stage whilst Abbas ... looked like a little kid just happy to be at the White House. Nevertheless, representatives from 16 Arab countries showed up and sat uncomfortably with the Israeli delegation at Annapolis.
So...why did the Arab nations attend the Annapolis Conference in full force?
To find out, you can check out this week's Mosaic Intelligence Report.
It is titled "Arabpolis."
Click here: http://www.youtube.com/...
Here is the complete transcript for those who may want a copy of it:
TRANSCRIPT
I do not want to say "I told you so" but... two weeks ago I reported from Jerusalem that both Palestinians and Israelis had low expectations for the Annapolis peace conference; and this week these expectations were met. As a matter of fact, the majority of Palestinians and Israelis believe that the conference was a failure. No major breakthroughs and no major declarations.
At times, the Annapolis conference looked like a poor theatrical production—the Saudi Foreign Minister ducking a handshake from both the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, President Bush mispronouncing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ name, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert looking lost on stage whilst Abbas ... looked like a little kid just happy to be at the White House. Nevertheless, representatives from 16 Arab countries showed up and sat uncomfortably with the Israeli delegation at Annapolis.
The presence of these Arab delegations was designed to give official sanction and support to President Bush’s initiative to secure an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of 2008; however, the general consensus in the Arab world is that this was a charade orchestrated by the US Administration to further isolate Iran and perhaps pave the way for attacking it.
I was bemused by various US pundits’ analysis. While some attributed Arab governments’ attendance to a fear of Iran, others saw it as sincere support for the Palestinians. But could there be another reason? Why were these Arab nations tripping over each other in a bid to make the Annapolis photo-op? Why for a brief period of time, did Annapolis turn into Arabolis?
I don’t think it was fear of Iran that drove them to Annapolis. More likely, it was their fear of the US. They showed up because Bush summoned them.
Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries have an historical dependence on the US to secure and protect their oil-rich regimes and cannot afford to say "no" to President Bush. Poor countries like Egypt, Jordan and Yemen are on the US aid dole and couldn’t manage without it. Then there is Syria which opposes Annapolis in principle but attended to make sure its occupied territory in the Golan Heights was put on the agenda. Iraq simply declined the invitation. Could it be because the US is incapable of threatening it? What can the US Administration do... invade it again? Or could it be that the Bush Administration did want not Iraq to be a reminder to the attendees of the sort of "peace" the US could bring to the Arab- Israeli front?
The two invisible elephants in the room were Iran & Hamas: without them peace discussions are a non-starter.
I am Jamal Dajani for the Mosaic Intelligence Report. To learn more about this program or to share your thoughts visit us at linktv.org/mosaic