A Nuclear Iran: The only way to make Israel serious about Middle East peace?

What is more important? Is it Middle East peace or ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons? One is something that everyone wants and the other is what no one wants, so what is more important should be very clear.

However, it appears that Israeli intransigence is leading the world towards what no one wants, an Iranian nuclear bomb; which ironically might be the only thing that could give the world what everyone wants; Middle East peace.

Israel announced the construction of new settlements in East Jerusalem during US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel. If this is not a slap in the face of the USA, the biggest supporter of Israel, financially, politically and militarily, then what is? If this is the response Israel is showing towards US efforts to resume talks with the Palestinians, is there any hope for talks, leave alone a settlement of the Middle East conflict?

These are the questions on everyone’s mind today, or should be; especially in the minds of those Israeli’s who wish to have peace in their region. An Israeli student made a very pertinent statement to Vice President Biden when he addressed the Tel Aviv University on Thursday. He said that a majority of Israeli’s wanted peace with the Palestinians and were opposed to settlement building in East Jerusalem but the majority view was being hijacked by powerful minority groups with strong links to friends and finances abroad. The student’s statement seemed to indicate that even the US President and the US government were hostage to these minority groups with influential friends in high places.

The inevitable alternative to peace, as a consequence of Israeli intransigence will be an unstable future for present and future generations of Israeli’s, besides a life of misery for Palestinians. Israeli’s will continue to live amongst regular rocket fire, kidnappings, suicide bombings, small scale military incursions, resulting in their fortifying their country with more walls, barbed wire and many other security measures. Israeli’s who venture out of their cocoon will not be safe either as militants from enemy country’s who surround them will be waiting to demonstrate their anger by hurting them and even killing them.

If this is the life Israeli’s wish for themselves and their children, they could continue to thumb their noses to the UN, the USA, Arab countries and the rest of the world, continue with building settlements in East Jerusalem, and not negotiate a settlement with the Palestinians and other nations like Syria with whom there is an ongoing state of war.

If the power of the Israeli minority that the Tel Aviv university student referred to prevails and the status quo continues, it is unlikely that neither Israeli’s nor Palestinians will see the emergence of two States that the USA is advocating, nor will they see peace.

It appears that this impasse can only be broken by a balancing of power in the region, not a conventional military balancing of power, as it will be almost impossible to match Israel’s conventional military might and capability. The only way Israel and its powerful minority interests could be made to listen would be through the emergence of another power hostile to Israel, in this case Iran, acquiring a tool that only Israel has in the region; the dreaded nuclear bomb. By holding that as a bargaining tool to bring Israel to the negotiating table, the world maybe able to enforce a moratorium on housing constructions in East Jerusalem and force Israel to the negotiating table based on terms acceptable to the Palestinians as well.

Ironically, the Nation that the Western world is trying to consign to Pariah status could very likely be country that in fact might bring peace to the Middle East.

This development, the emergence of Iran as a Nation that possesses the nuclear bomb is unwelcome and dangerous, and it should not be encouraged. However, unfortunately and sadly, this development might have its own silver lining, a kind of black or reverse logic if one may call it that, in that it might force Israel to negotiate a just settlement with Palestine and Syria.

What is more important? Is it Middle East peace or ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons? One is something that everyone wants and the other is what no one wants, so what is more important should be very clear. However, it appears that Israeli intransigence is leading the world towards what no one wants, an Iranian nuclear bomb; which ironically might be the only thing that could give the world what everyone wants; Middle East peace

This ironical and ridiculous situation need not arise if Israel could only be more accommodating and in the first instance enforce their own moratorium on settlement building in East Jerusalem, the most contentious issue that is holding up talks between Israeli and Palestine leaders.

This would lead to the resumption of negotiations with the Palestinians, and hopefully a lasting Middle East settlement. No doubt this will not be possible unless the Palestinians as well the Israeli’s as well as other key countries like Syria and Iran also compromise on their positions for the bigger goal of peace in the region.

But no one will get to this stage unless they commence negotiations. A two State solution based on Israel’s right to exist, and a deal on land that Israel has acquired and occupied by force, and an eventual agreement on East Jerusalem are corner stones for working out a solution, and where compromises from all sides will be required to achieve the elusive settlement.

If a majority of Israeli’s wants peace, it is a great pity that a minority is holding out against it.

- Asian Tribune -