Posted on 08/19/2020 3:56:10 AM PDT by Kaslin
This week, while all eyes have been on the Democratic National Convention taking place via Zoom, truly historic events have occurred in the Middle East: a long-awaited peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, including full normalization of relations; presumed peace deals to follow between Israel and Sudan, Oman and Bahrain; the possibility on the horizon of a similar deal with Saudi Arabia. These are not only historic events; they are unmitigated goods: the recognition of a Jewish state in the Middle East is the precondition to any peace in the Middle East. And the formation of a durable coalition to stave off the aggressive Islamism of Iran provides more stability and greater deterrence in the region.
It's easy to tell whether these are historic events by identifying those who oppose them. Iran is particularly angry; so is Iranian publicity agent Ben Rhodes, who served as former President Obama's deputy national security adviser. The tyrannical government of Turkey is deeply miffed; so is the terrorist government of the Palestinian Authority.
All are angry for the same reason: The central myth of American Middle Eastern policy, formulated over the course of decades, has been thoroughly exposed. That myth suggested that in order for any peace to bloom in the Middle East, the West would have to apply pressure on the Israeli government to make concessions to the Palestinians -- that Israel would have to abandon claims to East Jerusalem, to the Golan Heights, to areas of Judea and Samaria.
That myth had been repeatedly tarnished by events of the last several years. When America moved her embassy to Jerusalem, foreign policy "experts" assured the public that the so-called Arab street would be set aflame. Instead, nothing happened. When America recognized Israel's formal annexation of the Golan Heights, foreign policy "experts" said that the Middle East would become a tinderbox. Nothing happened.
Now Arab nations are openly forming alliances with the Jewish state, fully acknowledging that Israeli-Palestinian issues remain bilateral in nature. Relations between Jordan and Israel; between the UAE and Israel; between Sudan and Israel; between Egypt and Israel -- none now hide behind the fig leaf of Palestinian demands to avoid peace. They have realized that other interests, both economic and security-related, are a top priority. And they have tacitly recognized that Palestinian intransigence is not worthy of their support.
Hilariously, former Vice President Joe Biden tried to take credit for the Israel-UAE deal, suggesting that his own communications with the UAE had paved the way for the agreement. That's laughable on its face: In 2014, Biden had to issue a formal apology to the UAE government after suggesting that the UAE supported militants in Syria. Biden's chief contribution to the diplomatic breakthrough was actually the Obama administration's sycophantic embrace of the Iranian regime: By making clear that the United States could not be relied upon to protect Sunni nations from Iranian predations, the Obama administration convinced Arab nations that their interests lie in security alliance with Israel.
And so, the region has changed for the better. In more honest times, Trump administration officials who brokered this breakthrough would be up for the Nobel Peace Prize; instead, the news has been largely downplayed in favor of the scandal du jour from Trump's Twitter account. But we should be clear: The first important breakthrough in the Middle East in three decades just took place. And it took place because reality finally set in for Israel's heretofore enemies: Israel isn't going anywhere. Perhaps Palestinians will eventually learn the same lesson and peace will truly be possible.
But according to John (I served in Viet Nam) Kerry, Trump’s foreign policy is a series of bloopers and love letters to dictators.
Didn't the agreement with the UAE require that Israel not annex any of the West Bank?
Great news. If you like your culture, you can keep your culture, right Berrie O Bozo. The “Charter of Negative Liberties” is not a cancel culture or a suicide pact, azzhat. It’s a culture of CIVILIZATION.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage’s whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men.
The precondition of a civilized society is the barring of physical force from social relationships—thus establishing the principle that if men wish to deal with one another, they may do so only by means of reason: by discussion, persuasion and voluntary, uncoerced agreement.
The necessary consequence of man’s right to life is his right to self-defense. In a civilized society, force may be used only in retaliation and only against those who initiate its use.
Ayn Rand
“Can’t we all just get along” - Rodney King
We could if...
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what your country can do to you.
Murder by government...BIG PROBLEM throughout history. Identify the SUPEREVIL in America.
Face - Words - Deeds
“We came, we saw, he died” - Hillaryous SUPEREVIL Rotten Criminal
Shapiro trumpets all the positive occurrences in the Middle East, including the Israeli-UAE peace deal, without once crediting the President who made it all possible. In fact, he goes deep into his article before mentioning “Trump officials.” So to hell with Shapiro and his opinions.
No. Under the agreement, Israel only suspends its West Bank activities.
For how long? Unless there is a time limit then the annexations aren't going to happen.
I don’t know for how long. You could consider looking for the full text of the agreement online.
Do’t worry. The problem and solution are beyond your capacity
But not beyond yours I take it? Then perhaps you'll enlighten me on what the solution is?
But not beyond yours I take it? Then perhaps you'll enlighten me on what the solution is?
It’s the 7 year peace treaty everyone left here should be worried about..
The solution will ultimately be that Israel will get the territory.
it is merely postponed.
Read the article
“For how long?”
At the press conference, the Israel ambassador went out of his way not to answer that question precisely. But “suspend” doesn’t mean “canceled”, he emphasized.
I suppose they were giving UAE political cover to make an agreement, but it’s not clear to me how Israel benefits from it. UAE hasn’t agreed to much. Maybe there is some underlying or unstated intelligence-sharing and military cooperation. UAE and other countries in the region must be terrified of Iran, so Israel and they have a common enemy.
it is merely postponed.
That's not what the UAE is saying. Mohammed bin Zayed of the UAE has said that the deal stops annexation plans Link
A misunderstanding like this could derail the whole thing.
Iranian publicity agent Ben Rhodes
I bet obama will win the Nobel Peace prize again for laying the groundwork and also a Emmy for his Netflix show.
You know he will at least get the Emmy : )
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