Could a U.S. Regional — Really Regional — Plan Save the Arab-Israeli Peace Process?
It’s the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, and everyone seems to be celebrating. In my neighborhood in Los Angeles, the local bakeries are offering “Happy New Year” cakes for the local Iranian residents. President Obama and even President Peres are sending greetings of hope and future peace to the Iranians still living in the home country. Those who question the accommodative spirit are complaining, especially those who believe a new attitude of diplomatic engagement will threaten Israel’s — and America’s — security. They needn’t do so. The critical message is that the US in particular is trying a new approach, and it has direct relevance for the Arab-Israeli dispute. The Iranian issue today has become integrally related to Arab-Israeli relations because the constant threat of Iranian arms helping Israel’s adversaries increases the reluctance of Israelis to make concessions, which is clear in the right-wing movement of the recent elections and in both the Lebanon and Gaza wars, especially th
