Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)
The Bush initiative to convene an international meeting on the Middle East has caused contradicting reactions in the region. Some politicians and analysts, particularly in Israel and Palestine, have greeted the initiative with optimism. They believe that as a result, a political process may be reactivated along with the American engagement that the conflict has long been waiting for. They see in this plan an attempt to reverse American support for former Israeli PM Ariel Sharon’s unilateral approach and a return to the bilateral process that the US has traditionally supported.But others have been very skeptical about the real American motives and the ability of this administration to deliver anything positive on the Middle East. …
While renewed American diplomatic involvement is a good sign, success also requires American efforts in influencing positively internal Israeli politics while taking into consideration the internal Palestinian political reality. Access the full article>>
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