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Annapolis will achieve little

This Middle East summit is a distraction that will achieve little

James Forsyth

Wednesday, 21st November 2007

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.

This, Reiss thinks, has made the ‘Arab world much more prepared to assimilate Israel into the region not because they have any greater love for Zionism but because they are afraid of something worse.’ Arab support for Abbas should help counterbalance the criticism he will attract for attending a summit that will not deliver much immediately. The Saudis will also be keen to make the diplomatic running to prove to their own people that, for all Tehran’s tub-thumping, the House of Saud remains the pre-eminent diplomatic force in the region. Equally, America, by engaging with the peace process, shows Arab states that it is not deaf to their concerns, making it easier to keep the coalition together against Iran — or so the theory runs. At the same time, the American naval build-up in the Persian Gulf continues; reassuring Israel that America is preparing itself to act if necessary. There is more than a grain of truth to the journalistic description of Annapolis as the Summit of All Fears.

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Julian Cox

November 23rd, 2007 2:26pm

With 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 9:09pm

To 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 12:52pm

William 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 1:41am

The 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 2:14pm

Mr. 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.

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