SEEKING MIDDLE EAST PEACE

In: FP, Band 73, S. 3-21

Abstract

IN MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS 1989 WILL NOT BE LIKE 1981 FOR THE UNITED STATES AND ITS NEW PRESIDENT. THE U.S. WILL NOT HAVE THE RELATIVE LUXURY OF ABSTAINING FROM ARAB - ISRAELI PEACEMAKING THAT THE OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION HAD EIGHT YEARS AGO. AMERICA'S INFLUENCE IN ARAB - ISRAELI DIPLOMACY MUST NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED. FIVE INITIAL STEPS SHOULD BE ADOPTED AS GENERAL PRINCIPLES: THE U.S. PRESIDENT MUST DEVELOP A SECURE POLITICAL BASE AT HOME; THE U.S. MUST REITERATE THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF AN IMPOSED PEACE; THE U.S. MUST MAKE CLEAR THAT IT WILL CONTINUE HAVING THE PLEDGE IT GAVE TO ISRAEL IN SEPTEMBER 1975 CONCERNING THE ROLE OF THE PLO; ANY U.S. DIPLOMATIC EFFORT MUST BEGIN IN ISRAEL; AND, FINALLY, THE U.S. MUST ESTABLISH ITS CREDIBILITY WITH MODERATE ARAB LEADERS BEGINNING IN EGYPT, JORDAN, AND SAUDI ARABIA.