Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Toggle search form
  • Bavaria non-Alcoholic
    Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award Business
  • ADALAH confronts racist laws
    Civil Society Organizations to the Israeli Supreme Court: Cancel the Racist Admissions Committees Law Activism
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist American Arabs
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees American Arabs
  • Congresswoman Debbie Dingell Wikipedia
    Flooding slams Wayne County in Detroit Michigan: Dingell releases statement of support Michigan
  • MBC launches new satellite channel focused on Saudi Culture
    Saudis launch new Satellite TV channel dedicated to Saudi Culture Arab World
  • The names and faces of the 14 Palestinian engaged in an open hunger strike to demand freedom from administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Graphic by Samidoun. You can join Samidoun's campaign here and find useful resources.
    Palestinians mount hunger strike campaign against administrative detention Arab World
  • “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights,” McCormick Place, August 14-18, for the largest, worldwide gathering of global, faith-based, and social change leaders. 
    Largest global interfaith gathering coming to Chicago this week Christian & Muslim
  • State rep. Cyril Nichols, Democrat, 32nd Illinois House District
    Relationship between Arab Americans and African Americans needs more balance, Black State Rep says American Arabs
  • Syropotamia Online Magazine logo
    SYROPOTAMIA online magazine launched to Illuminate Arab American Stories American Arabs
  • Detroit’s true freedom fighters, activist, trailblazer, and leader Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson who died on July 10, 2023
    AHRC Mourns the passing of Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson, Freedom Fighter and Detroit Icon American Arabs
  • Abed Ayoub ADC National Director (Aug. 2022)
    ADC launches Arab American Business Advisory Council American Arabs
  • Rev. Jesse L. Jackson celebrates the 35th Anniversary of his 1988 campaign for president, an event which empowered Arab American voters.
    Rev. Jackson to host 35th Anniversary of his historic 1988 candidacy for president American Arabs
  • The grand opening ceremony and special ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Muhammad Ali Park in Detroit was held on Wednesday, June 21 at 12:00 p.m., with H.E. Mr. Meshal Bin Hamad Al Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to the US; Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit; Mayor Abdallah Hammoud, Dearborn; Mayor Amir Ghalib, Hamtramck; Eric Sabree, Wayne County Treasurer; and a number of civic and religious leaders.  
    AHRC Salutes All Who Made the Muhammad Ali Park in Detroit a Reality  American Arabs
  • Rev. Jesse L. Jackson celebrates the 35th Anniversary of his 1988 campaign for president, an event which empowered Arab American voters.
    Zogby to speak about Jackson’s role in supporting Arab empowerment at Rainbow Push conference July 14-19 American Arabs
Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat shake hands at 1993 White House peace signing with President Clinton. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

A regional approach to ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Posted on February 21, 2018February 21, 2018 By Ghassan Rubeiz No Comments on A regional approach to ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Loading

A regional approach to ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Writer Ghassan Rubeiz explores the challenge of ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieving peace on a regional basis.

By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz

Ghassan Rubeiz

Peacemaking is more about settling on new ideas and novel experiences than about border disputes. In the role of occupiers, Israelis have developed an arbitrary sense of entitlement to all the land they invade or control. Faith-based politics offers Tel- Aviv the sweet rationalization needed in writing history. But, as a germ, bias lives across borders: Palestinians still claim “Historic Palestine”.

Regressive politics of Arab leaders unwittingly serves, rather than curbs, Israel’s hegemonic interests. An example: The Arab world has taken a long time to realize that Israel, with its immense creative human resources, could possibly participate in the rebuilding of the region. But, sadly, this Arab opinion shift has emerged out of questionable motives.

Now that some Sunni Arab states are weaker than ever, they are covertly seeking Israel’s partnership, not for cooperative regional renewal, but for defense against an imaginary “enemy”, namely Shiite Iran.

Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat shake hands at 1993 White House peace signing with President Clinton. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat shake hands at 1993 White House peace signing with President Clinton. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The chances of achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians are near zero in today’s cold war politics. The resolution of this conflict requires the willingness of the US to pressure Israel to end its 1967 occupation and Saudi Arabia to end its diplomatic campaign against Iran. Reciprocally peace requires the willingness of Russia to pressure Iran to end its aggressive military adventures in the Middle East. Without normalizing relations between Iran and Israel, on one hand, and between Iran and the Sunni Arab world on another, it is impossible to, first, create a regional climate of peace and, second, to challenge Palestinians to integrate their resistance to occupation with democratic state building.

Regardless of external pressures, Israel might be motivated to end the occupation when it is fully accepted by its neighbors and supported by a sound international framework of security. The Saudi Peace Initiative of 2002, which offers Israel “normalization” of diplomatic relations in exchange of ending the occupation, has lost its appeal after the Saudis turned their full attention from Palestine’s demise to Iran’s “threats”.

This Initiative also lacks specifics on provision of solid measures to structure enforcement of peace terms.

To settle this century old conflict, a two-phase political transition may be needed. A long process of transition would have to start by a deliberate act to end the Israeli 1967 occupation accompanied by a region-wide program of normalization of diplomatic relations, with no state excluded. This sounds like a tall order.

That said, it may be prudent to speculate that Israel, Iran and Saudi Arabia may one day come to discover the benefits of regional cooperation as they face a harrowing common crisis, possibly an approaching war humiliating all its major actors. It might take a serious war of no winners to radically change allies or to bring about fresh ideas for peace. With domestic troubles growing on all fronts, the emergence of new leadership in Tel Aviv, Tehran or Riyadh may either help or hinder regional peace efforts.

Third Melbourne protest for the Palestinians of Gaza against the brutal attack by Israel - 18 Jan 2009 Organisers estimated 12,000 people marched in the Melbourne Protest against Israel's attack on the Palestinian Gaza territory. View the slideshow or see the photo set. View 2 videos: We are all Palestinians and Micheal Leunig on Gaza and the morality of the heart on Takver's Youtube channel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Third Melbourne protest for the Palestinians of Gaza against the brutal attack by Israel – 18 Jan 2009 Organisers estimated 12,000 people marched in the Melbourne Protest against Israel’s attack on the Palestinian Gaza territory. View the slideshow or see the photo set. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Back to our hypothetical peace plan, assuming that Israel would at some point in the future accept to end the occupation, conditional to a sound regional plan. The plan is “hypothetical” since there is ample contrary evidence that some Israeli leaders are dead serious on annexing the West Bank.

Ending the occupation would have to occur in stages. One could imagine a twenty to a thirty year plan in two phases: The first phase would be a legal transition from a 1967 occupation regime to a single state with equal rights for Palestinians and Jews. After an interim stage of, say, twenty years phase two would emerge: either as a bi – national confederation, or as two separate states- one for Israel and the other for Palestine. Political transition would take place with regional support on many levels:

  • Resumption of diplomacy between Saudi Arabia and Iran
  • Normalization between Israel and the Arab world
  • A regional peace force to guarantee enforcement of a phased, long-term peace plan
  • Bold social engineering: A region-wide program of economic empowerment, a climate of cultural and interfaith tolerance, and an environment of social freedoms and human rights.
  • A Regional industrial program reinforced by provisions of massive resources from the international community

Israel does not need a new humiliating war to end the occupation. The experience of the last three decades has shown that it is no longer possible for Israel to rely on military superiority to contain domestic or geopolitical threats. The demographic hour of truth has already come to the Holy Land. Currently, between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, there are as many Jewish Israelis as there are Palestinians Arabs.

The latter group is of three categories: Palestinian (formally labeled “Arab”) Israeli citizens, West Bank and East Jerusalem residents under occupation and a Gaza Strip overcrowded population living under Hamas’s autocratic self rule, made much worse by a tight siege – imposed by Israel on one side and Egypt on another. The occupation is heading toward an apartheid regime.

Serious cultural and political factors underlie widening political distance between the two people, but this distance is man-made and amenable to change with insightful planning. Israelis have a western life style and is more European than Middle Eastern. Palestinians are Levantine Arabs, a mixture of secular Muslims and Christians, including a conservative Islamist minority. Ironically, Palestinians are socially closer to Israelis than the rest of the Arabs. For one thing, they have extensive exposure to Jewish life; many speak Hebrew. Regrettably, the Israelis ignore this cultural feature in Palestinians. Under peace conditions the Palestinians could become the natural cultural mediators between Israel and the Arab world.

None of the current modalities of immediate ending of the conflict is any longer workable. The instant two-state solution, based on the 1967 border paradigm, is no longer realistic. Israel has gone too far in settlement building, eroding the space for an integral Palestinian state. A spontaneous one-state solution is also not easily imaginable. In a forced one state solution, the Jewish population would feel marginal after a single generation. Finally, the status quo is unsustainable. A war breaks out every few years.

Mideast peace can only take place in a context of regional, comprehensive social engineering. This social engineering would have to be programmed over decades, not a span of a few years. Peace will require arranging border security, installing radically new educational goals, introducing a radical industrial program, and enforcing religious freedom for all five states that are impacted directly by the conflict, namely, Israel, Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

Israel will have to stop settlement building; Palestinians will have to focus on civil state building. Israel needs to treat all Palestinians under its political control as normal residents with equal rights and privileges.

It is not yet clear what political model the two communities would choose subsequent to a lengthy experimental period of sharing a single state. As stability and quality of life improve for all, people will then be able to discern what they want for their future.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ghassan Rubeiz
Ghassan Rubeiz
Blogger, writer at The Arab Daily News online
Dr. Ghassan Rubeiz is an Arab-American writer, journalist and commentator on issues of development, peace and justice. He is the former Middle East Secretary of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches. Reach him at rubeizg@gmail.com.
Ghassan Rubeiz
Latest posts by Ghassan Rubeiz (see all)
  • Palestinians stand firm on their land - July 9, 2023
  • Could a new Washington -Tehran nuclear deal facilitate presidential elections in Lebanon? - June 16, 2023
  • Lebanese parliament afraid to vote for next president - June 1, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Ghassan Rubeiz, Gulf States, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism Tags:Arab, Arab World, conflict, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Palestinians, peace, regional peace, violence

Post navigation

Previous Post: Jordanian hate speech law could further stifle press freedoms
Next Post: Remembering Billy Graham and Christian Arabs

Related Posts

  • The French Malaise: French politics surprises Abdennour Toumi
  • Residents prepare for the demolition and evacuation of Umm al-Hiran on 22 November 2016. (Photo by Mati Milstein)
    Israel wipes out non-Jewish village, replaces with Jewish only plans Arab World
  • Dubai Fireworks display. Courtesy Emaar Properties
    Dubai New Years fireworks display dazzles Arab World
  • Saudi Arabia Ushers in a Year of Entertainment in 2019 Arab World
  • Spielberg’s “The Post” and This American and Israel’s Nuclear Whistleblower VANUNU Mordechai Arab World
  • Terrorist Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad, who have used chemical weapons and violence to destroy any Syrian civilian who challenges his atrocities. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    State Department release Joint Statement on crisis in Syria by government leaders  Arab News

More Related Articles

Loyola University discriminates against non-Jews who tried to sign up for Birthright Israel program American Arabs
Stuffed Grape Leaves. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Absolute best Facebook Page on Middle East food American Arabs
Aziz Shihab, long time Arab American journalist and author. A memorial to a great Arab American Journalist, Aziz Shihab American Arabs
Gulf States among worst places for workers rights Arab World
Breaking out of the stagnant Palestinian-Israeli status quo Arab World
Guidelines for Foreign Nationals arriving in Israel by Airline flights Israel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Windows at many American Arab owned stores were broken the day after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 14 Americans who "looked' Middle Eastern were murdered in the six months after the terrorism by Americans, most of whom were never prosecuted. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims
    September 11, 2023
  • Magdi A. Mofadal is the ambassador of Sudan to Austria
    Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan
    August 28, 2023
  • Arab Americans and other minorities will suffer if automakers eliminate AM radio
    August 28, 2023
  • Magdi A. Mofadal is the ambassador of Sudan to Austria
    Reviving the Bread-basket Strategy: The Backbone of Sudan’s Recovery
    August 10, 2023
  • grab634.jpg
  • Ziyad-300x300FIndStore.jpg
  • NEWS
  • Bavaria non-Alcoholic
    Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award
    September 22, 2023
  • ADALAH confronts racist laws
    Civil Society Organizations to the Israeli Supreme Court: Cancel the Racist Admissions Committees Law
    September 22, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist
    September 19, 2023
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees
    September 18, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist
    September 19, 2023
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees
    September 18, 2023
  • MBC launches new satellite channel focused on Saudi Culture
    Saudis launch new Satellite TV channel dedicated to Saudi Culture
    August 18, 2023
  • Abed Ayoub ADC National Director (Aug. 2022)
    ADC launches Arab American Business Advisory Council
    July 14, 2023

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Events

  • Amer Zahr's 1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival returns in 2023
    Amer Zahr's 1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival returns in 2023
    16 Sep 23
  • Light in Gaza: Born of Fire Upcoming Book Tour Dates for Portland & Washington State
    Light in Gaza: Born of Fire Upcoming Book Tour Dates for Portland & Washington State
    30 Sep 23
  • US Council of Muslim Organizations to hold 10th anniversary Fundraiser
    US Council of Muslim Organizations to hold 10th anniversary Fundraiser
    15 Oct 23
    Oak Brook
  • Arab American Democratic Club to host 40th Anniversary celebration Nov. 1
    Arab American Democratic Club to host 40th Anniversary celebration Nov. 1
    1 Nov 23
    Bolingbrook

POPULAR POSTS

  • AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) is pleased to announce its ... posted on September 18, 2023
  • Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims ... posted on September 11, 2023
  • Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan By Magdi A. Mofadal Sudan’s partners are sounding the alarm over the deteriorating ... posted on August 28, 2023
  • Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Salem Furrha and his eight children @theFurrhaFamily on TikTok and Instagram represent ... posted on February 6, 2021
  • CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) ... posted on September 19, 2023
  • Flooding slams Wayne County in Detroit Michigan: Dingell releases statement of support Flooding slams Wayne County in Detroit Michigan: Dingell releases statement of support Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) released the following statement ... posted on August 27, 2023

Recent Posts

  • Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award
  • Civil Society Organizations to the Israeli Supreme Court: Cancel the Racist Admissions Committees Law
  • CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist
  • AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees
  • Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Glory to God int he Lowest by Author Rev. Donald Wagner
    Book Review: Glory to God in the Lowest: journeys to an unholy land
    February 18, 2023
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed at The Comedy Bar in Chicago June 9 - 11, 2023
    Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar
    June 9, 2023
  • Ziyad Food item
    Essential recipes and ingredients during Ramadan 
    April 4, 2023
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme