Posted on 07/27/2009 5:49:16 AM PDT by SJackson
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- President Barack Obama's strategy for rejuvenating Arab-Israeli peace talks is running into resistance from Saudi Arabia, which has rebuffed the American leader's appeals for the influential Middle East ally to play a more active role in his plans.
Saudi officials have expressed skepticism about Obama's attempts to secure concessions from the Arab world in exchange for a commitment from Israel to stop building Jewish homes in the Palestinian-dominated West Bank.
To drive that point home, the Saudis have been putting private pressure on their regional allies to make sure that they don't make any dramatic gestures unless Israel takes the first step.
Most recently, when Bahrain made a public overture to Israel, Saudi Arabia gave its blessing but cautioned its neighbor not to go too far, one Saudi official said.
"It is clear that the road leads through Riyadh for the Israelis - and whoever is their backer - if they want the wider Arab and Muslim world to recognize them," said the adviser to the Saudi government, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so he could offer candid views on the political developments. "We will not move an inch if the Americans don't get the Israelis to stop immediately all settlement construction."
With Israel refusing to make a major gesture, Obama has been unable so far to secure Arab assurances that could jump-start regional peace talks.
"The ambition to bring the Saudis on board has been disappointed," said one Western diplomat based in Riyadh, who asked not to be identified because of the delicate nature of the debate. "I think it would be quite difficult for the Saudis to lead the way the U.S. is hoping, because any warmth towards Israel would be deeply unpopular with its public."
During his hurriedly arranged visit to Saudi Arabia last month, Obama asked King Abdullah to try to broker a new Palestinian unity government, to revamp his 2002 peace initiative and to consider some good-faith gestures to Israel, officials in Riyadh said,
With Saudi Arabia apparently unwilling to take such steps, American officials have been approaching less-influential Arab nations that may be more amenable to Obama's overtures.
Israel and the United States have floated a variety of ideas:
Qatar might reopen the Israeli trade office it shuttered in January to protest Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Tunisia and other countries might allow Israeli planes to use their airspace.
Arab leaders also might grant interviews to Israeli journalists, an Israeli government idea that the crown prince of Bahrain publicly endorsed last week, saying that Arab nations should "tell our story more directly to the Israeli people by getting the message out to their media."
"We must stop the small-minded waiting game in which each side refuses to budge until the other side makes the first move," Shaikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa wrote last week in an opinion piece for The Washington Post. "We've got to be bigger than that. All sides need to take simultaneous, good-faith action if peace is to have a chance."
The article was carefully crafted and well coordinated. One Saudi official, who also asked not to be named in order to speak candidly, said the Bahraini king personally sought approval for the opinion piece from King Abdullah and had been cautioned not to go too far in offering concessions to Israel.
While the idea of an Israeli reporter interviewing an adversarial Arab leader seems like a small step, it was one suggestion that Israeli leaders floated as a possible move to build confidence between the two sides.
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foreign countries don’t know who they are dealing with either.
Nothing good will occur while this guy is occupying the white house
“Despite Obama’s appeal...”
Another example of a reporter interjecting an opinion that is totally without merit or fact.
The only concessions Hussein has asked for are those he demands from Israel!
Ha.Ha. Welcome to the REAL world of Mid-East politics Barry.
So much for your pied piper routine.
"It is clear that the road leads through Riyadh for the Israelis - and whoever is their backer - if they want the wider Arab and Muslim world to recognize them," said the adviser to the Saudi government, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so he could offer candid views on the political developments. "We will not move an inch if the Americans don't get the Israelis to stop immediately all settlement construction."To get results, the US and EU need to stop supporting Hamas, Fatah, and the rest of the so-called Palestinian so-called Authority, and interdict all other efforts to keep them supplied. Those who want to leave should be offered one-way tickets to the Arab / Muzzie country of their choice.
They are continuing to implement the solutions agreed on during the W administration. They are quietly building the economy of the west bank, providing a new, reliable police/military mechanism and allowing Hamas/Gaza to die on the vine.
There is no fanfare or press releases, just quiet progress
Obama is being finessed. They know he is a lightweight imbecile.
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