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What General Petraeus Said about the Middle East

(GLORIA Center-IDC, Herzliya) Barry Rubin - General David Petraeus told Congress Tuesday: "A credible U.S. effort on Arab-Israeli issues that provides regional governments and populations a way to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the disputes would undercut Iran's policy of militant 'resistance,' which the Iranian regime and insurgent groups have been free to exploit." While to many Western observers such a reaction would seem logical, this is not what would happen. The Islamists would denounce the resulting Palestinian state as a Western lackey and redouble their efforts to sabotage any settlement. No matter how hard the U.S. tries, it will not satisfy those who profoundly mistrust America as inevitably infidel, imperialist, or both. But wait! Why should we assume that a "credible" effort means pressuring Israel for concessions? Actually, if there's going to be a credible effort, it requires pressuring the PA, which has been the main force opposing a serious peace process. Petraeus never said that it is Israel which is blocking such an effort. And it isn't Israel. Petraeus never said it was Israel's fault.
2010-03-18 09:56:49
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