Brian Katulis and David Avital must believe these Middle East peace talks have a shot at getting off the ground, because they go ahead and offer some practical advice for Team Obama.
The White House would do well also to include groups who have a direct stake in the outcome: Israeli and Palestinian religious leaders, local businessman and youth leaders.
This could signal to both publics that the White House recognizes those who will be affected and appreciates the difficulty ahead — as well as the opportunity that success could present.
Even more, it would further the message of the White House’s “bottom-up-top-down” strategy for achieving a two-state solution.
Sending in religious leaders strikes me as a particularly good idea. Here’s an example of why that is, from Shibley Telhami’s recent article in Foreign Policy.
A few months ago, I appeared on a popular Egyptian television talk show — al-Qahira al-Youm – that addressed front-page stories in the press. One of the questions I was asked surprised me. The Egyptian press had apparently translated a Washington Post article about President Barack Obama’s private spiritual life and his regular consultation with Christian ministers. Seemingly alarmed, the host asked me to provide comment. Immediately, I saw where the question was headed. During the George W. Bush’s presidency, there was considerable focus, at home and abroad, on Bush’s Christian faith and the role of evangelicals in U.S. foreign policy. This played squarely into the hands of those Muslims who preferred to frame foreign-policy issues as a struggle between Islam and the “crusaders,” and Obama seemed to provide a fresh start. But could Obama be instead a closet evangelical Christian?
Telhami’s piece is a fascinating take on how Arab and Israeli public opinion works, especially towards the office and personality of the American president. His bottom line: Obama can’t please both sides at once. So, don’t. Just get to work on a final status peace deal and worry about everything else later.
With another upbeat take, Israel’s ambassador in Washington echoes his boss here, saying essentially that a real peace deal is do-able. But Michael Oren’s statement that “We’re not quitters,” (my emphasis) could just as easily be read as a challenge to the Palestinians. They are threatening to leave the talks if Israel refuses to keep a lid on settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem after the ten month partial building freeze ends on September 26th.
Finally, a much more detailed suggested reading list on the upcoming peace talks here.
