Arab States Renege on Commitments to Western Diplomacy
Western leaders have invested much time and energy into finding a path to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is in large part a response to pressure from Arab states, who have impressed upon Western leaders their view that Western support for Israel is the chief cause of hostility towards the West.
Yet when offered the chance to play a constructive role, the Arab states do not act in a manner consistent with a desire to assist Western efforts. Last December, Western and Arab governments agreed upon a plan to help prop up the West Bank Palestinian Authority as an alternative to Hamas, because, unlike the intractable Hamas, it is viewed as a partner in any future peace agreement with Israel. Wealthy Arab states pledged to provide a large share of the needed funds.
A Jerusalem Post article on July 31, 2008 highlights the fact that the Arab states have so far reneged on their commitment despite desperate appeals for help from Palestinian President Abbas and Prime Minister Salam. According to the Post, the Arab states have set as a condition for providing the promised aid that the more moderate West Bank leadership bury its differences with Hamas, the Islamist organization irrevocably opposed to peace with Israel.
Their is as yet little discussion in the media as to what Arab efforts to reconcile the Iranian-backed Hamas and the West Bank Fatah government implies for peace prospects. Much of the Western media continues to micro-focus on minor disturbances in the West Bank, disputes over visas for Fulbright fellows in Gaza or allot precious space to providing a forum for a convicted Lebanese terrorist to deny his witnessed atrocities. The Jerusalem Post deserves praise for its exposure of the broader issues of the conflict, like the Arab states’ reneging on their commitment to support Western diplomatic efforts.
More from SNAPSHOTS
Why Does a NY Times Journalist Want to Suppress an Anti-Hamas Article?
May 29, 2018
A New York Times journalist thinks the Wall Street Journal shouldn't have published an opinion piece criticizing Hamas's anti-Israel propaganda campaign. The reporter, Declan Walsh, is one of the Times reporters who has covered the [...]
Iran is Funding Hamas’s Violent ‘Protests’ at the Border, Media M.I.A.
May 22, 2018
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini The Islamic Republic of Iran is behind the recent Hamas-orchestrated violent demonstrations—dubbed the “March of Return”—at the Israel-Gaza border, according to Israeli authorities. Yet many major U.S. news outlets [...]
Are Gaza Gunmen “Protesters”? NY Times Refuses to Say
May 21, 2018
After repeatedly insisting that "Israeli soldiers killed 60 protesters" during clashes last Monday, May 14, the New York Times is refusing to clarify whether its count of supposed protesters includes the eight armed Hamas fighters [...]
Bahrain Says Israel Has a Right to Self-Defense, and the Media Shrugs
May 15, 2018
Bahrain's Foreign Minister and then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry The foreign minister of the Arab nation of Bahrain, Sheikh Khalid al-Khaalifa declared on May 10, 2018 that Israel has a right to defend itself. [...]
AFP Captions Call Jerusalem Parade Participants Settlers
May 15, 2018
Numerous Agence France-Presse photo captions generalized all participants in Sunday's Jerusalem Flag Parade as "settlers," despite the fact that the crowd hailed from across Israel, within the Green Line, as well as outside. A sampling [...]
Journalist: Hezbollah Shows ‘More Maturity’ Than Israel
May 9, 2018
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah A Los Angeles Times special correspondent, Nabih Bulos, declared on Twitter on May 7, 2018, that Hezbollah (“Party of God”) shows “more maturity” than Israel. Hezbollah is a Lebanese-based, Iranian-backed, [...]