Rabin and Israel's National Security by Efraim Inbar

Author:Efraim Inbar [Inbar, Efraim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Strategy, Military, Political Science, History, Security (National & International)
ISBN: 9780801862175
Google: xPqrJoepJvQC
Goodreads: 3896439
Publisher: Woodrow Wilson Center Press
Published: 1999-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

10

Arab–Israeli coexistence

Causes, achievements and limitations

Many welcomed the May 1999 victory of Prime Minister Ehud Barak, in the hope that it would inject a long-awaited boost to the peace process. Indeed, the prevalent view among observers and policy-makers is that the peace process is back on track following the September 1999 Sharm al-Sheikh summit and the January 2000 renewal of the Israeli–Syrian talks, although they continue to regard the Arab–Israeli peace process as fragile, with lack of progress endangering regional stability. In March 2000 the mood was again one of concern. Such a view underestimates, on the one hand, the force of the regional processes that have pushed the Arab states away from the goal of destroying the Jewish state toward attempts at solving differences primarily by diplomatic means. On the other hand, it has unrealistic expectations for further progress in the peace process and belittles the inherent regional constraints on its development.

This chapter reviews first the main reasons for the entrenchment of Israel in the Middle East and for the shift toward its greater acceptance as a regular international player in regional politics. The second section argues that the peace process is quite resilient, and that it has successfully realized most of its potential. The third part clarifies the often forgotten limitations to the peace process which the strategic and cultural realities of the Middle East impose on Arab states’ relations with Israel. It concludes by offering a few policy-relevant observations, and especially advises against impatience and diplomatic hyperactivity.

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