Annapolis will achieve little
This Middle East summit is a distraction that will achieve little
The Annapolis Middle East summit won’t produce anything more than a commitment to hold another meeting. But the real worry is that Condoleezza Rice’s intense focus on the Israel Palestine question could distract her from more pressing matters in Iraq, Pakistan and North Korea.
Even those who are supporters of Annapolis have low expectations. One retired senior State Department official who is in favour of the initiative says that the best case scenario is that ‘all those who are invited come and they authorise some sort of follow-on process’. Another remarks that the very modest rabbit to be pulled out of the hat ‘is to re-establish a formal diplomatic progress’.
If the bar is this low, the talks have a good chance of clearing it. Even a joint statement from Abbas and Olmert that falls far short of the high-water mark of late 2000 and early 2001 would be viewed as real progress. (There are murmurs that the two men have covered more ground than people realise.) Rice and Blair might not get the Thanksgiving Peace they would have wished for, but they will — with any luck — get the Annapolis Accords, or Heads of Agreement. They will want to get something.
There is even a cautious case to be made for optimism. The argument goes that the rise of Shiite Iran and its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah has rattled the more moderate Arab states, which will now act as a constructive influence on the process, bolstering Abbas against Hamas if and as he makes compromises. Mitchell Reiss, the head of policy planning at the State Department from 2003 to 2005, who has recently returned from the region, reports that ‘the concern over the power of Iran is palpable. This is not just over its rising geopolitical clout but what it can do in terms of domestic unrest in these countries, especially Saudi Arabia.’
More articles from: James Forsyth | this section
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
In defence of David Southall
Theodore DalrympleTheodore Dalrymple examines the evidence against two much-vilified British paediatricians, Professors Southall and Meadow, and finds it sadly lacking
What possessed McCain to take a punt on Palin?
Rod LiddleRod Liddle says that the appointment of an inexperienced, gun-toting formerbeauty queen as his running mate may well be John McCain’s undoing
Labour’s punishment freaks are hounding honest citizens
Ross ClarkRoss Clark says that far from keeping our streets safer or cleaner, the government’s new force of amateur policemen are ignoring the worst offenders and pursuing law-abiding innocents instead
‘Whoever killed Benazir wants to kill me’
Christina LambChristina Lamb interviews the husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, who hopes to be named President of Pakistan this Saturday
Never mind the Olympics — get set for the Jubilee
Robert HardmanFree and open to everyone, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 will eclipse the London Games, says Robert Hardman — an unforgettable tribute to the monarch
High Life
Taki
Taking sides
Georgia sheds light on the mind of Cameron
James ForsythJames Forsyth says that the Tory leader is more immersed in foreign policy than first seemed probable. Unlike Brown, he has ambitions as an international leader
McCain is in for a terrible shock if he wins
Reihan SalamReihan Salam says that most Republicans have no idea how much the American social landscape has changed. They should learn from Obama’s Google-like appeal
Welcome to the United States of Amnesia
Mary WakefieldGore Vidal tells Mary Wakefield that America has forgotten its constitutional roots, and explains why Bobby Kennedy was ‘the biggest son of a bitch in politics’
C’mon Cherie: even Goering stuck up a bit for Hitler
Rod LiddleRod Liddle says it is no surprise that Gordon Brown has ended up as surly and suspicious as he has: the memoirs of John Prescott, Lord Levy and Cherie Blair are appalling acts of treachery and avarice
Latest blog posts
sponsored links
Sky - Official Site
Build your own Sky package online. Sky TV, Broadband & Talk only £16.
Sky TV, Broadband & Talk from £16 a Month
Sky TV & free broadband packages available from £16 a month. Choose from a standard free sky box, sky plus or sky hd.
Sky - Official Site
Build your own Sky package online. Sky TV, Broadband & Talk only £16.
Sky TV, Broadband & Talk from £16 a Month
Sky TV & free broadband packages available from £16 a month. Choose from a standard free sky box, sky plus...
ROME CENTRE
PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique
City Breaks. ROME and PARIS
ROME and PARIS: over 350 holiday rentals apartments listed: visit www.romanreference.com and www.parisreference.com or call +39 0648 903612.
Jewellery. RUFFS (Estd. 1904).
Goldsmiths by Design Welcome to Ruffs! You have found a company of Goldsmiths that specialises in the manufacture, amongst other
Spectator Business | Apollo Magazine
Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2008 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
Julian Cox
November 23rd, 2007 2:26pmWith her outrageous demand that Jerusalem, the one and undivided, historical capital of the Jewish homeland be divided, I sincerely hope that Condoleezza Rice is not only distracted but develops a nasty case of Attention Deficit Disorder. Who needs enemies when we have friends like her?
William Garrett
November 23rd, 2007 9:09pmTo Julian Cox (comment) Palestine has not been a Jewish homeland for 2000 years. To assume that the Jews have a right to return and throw out the indigenous inhabitants displays racial arrogance. The Jews were treated like rubbish by Nazi Germany but now they treat the Palestinians in a like manner. For shame.
Julian Cox
November 24th, 2007 12:52pmWilliam Garrett, following your argument, the English must surely give London back to the Welsh. I am talking about dividing Jerusalem into two political polities. I am not talking about the ethnic cleansing of those Arabs (and others) presently living (and voting) there. Jeruslem was never the capital of an Arab state. The comparison of Israel's behaviour toward Arabs with Nazi Germany's toward its Jews is a calumny that makes me question not only your anti-Semitic racism but the Spectator's decision to reproduce your odious views. For shame....
A. Resnick
November 26th, 2007 1:41amThe Arab countries don't want peace with Israel, they want to destroy it. How does one enter into peace talks with a opponent who only desires your annihilation.
Alex Haver
December 2nd, 2007 2:14pmMr. Alan Resnick's comment goes to show that he, most likely, hangs out w/ a wrong crowd, otherwise he would have noticed that at one time both Jordan and Egypt tried to destroy Israel. Today, however, they have solid diplomatic relations.