ARAB COUNTRIES SAY NO TO NORMALIZATION

Jonathan Spyer at the Gloria Center writes about how the Arab/Islamic states in the mideast are typically shunning normalization of their relations with Israel. Among the details given here, he says:

The rejection of this idea derives from two elements. Firstly, the near-universal, though rarely expressed, belief that the current attempt to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is doomed to failure. Secondly, the distinct lack of urgency felt in Arab capitals regarding this issue.

Regarding the first issue, the factors that caused the failure of the peace process in the 1990s have not disappeared. They are waiting to trip up any negotiation should final-status talks begin.

The demand that Palestinian refugees and their descendants be permitted to make their homes in Israel, the demand for exclusive Muslim sovereignty over the holy places in Jerusalem, the refusal to countenance recognition of Israel as a Jewish state - all these remain part of the non-negotiable core position of the Palestinian national movement. Indeed, in so far as the situation on the ground has changed since 2000, it is for the worse.

The split in the Palestinian national movement between nationalist Fatah and Islamist Hamas increasingly has the look of permanency about it. And since militancy against Israel remains the currency of legitimacy in Palestinian politics, the effect of this is to induce the ageing Fatah movement to dress itself up in radical array once again.

Yes, that militancy is lurking ominously around the corner. And sooner or later, I suspect it's going to manifest itself in one of the ugliest ways possible. Nor will the neighboring Arab countries have any true objections to it; they'll even bankroll it given the chance.