The Arab summit recently held in Libya brought to light the trap in which the Arabs dwell today. We don't seem to find a proper method for confronting Israel. And our leaders are averse to exploring alternative methods for resolving the Arab-Israel conflict. The problem has been complicated by the substantial change in American-Israeli relations. We all know that Washington is trying to put pressure on Tel Aviv, but that pressure is not succeeding, and may never succeed. In a recent article, well- known US journalist Thomas Friedman argues that a major change in Israeli attitude may explain Binyamin Netanyahu's reluctance to comply with US demands. According to Friedman, Israel has moved from regarding peace as a necessity to regarding it as a hobby. In other words, Israel sees no urgent need for peace with the Palestinians. Friedman believes that the collapse of the Oslo process combined with Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon and Gaza have weakened peace groups in Israel. Besides, Israel has built an apartheid wall with the occupied territories and its high-tech industries are prospering regardless of what happens on the country's borders. All this makes the matter of peace with the Palestinians a secondary issue to most Israelis. Many believe that they can go on relying on their military and technological superiority and have no need for peace agreements with the Palestinians. Many Israelis, Friedman also says, believe that they really can have it all: a Jewish state, a democratic state, and a state controlling all the land of Palestine, including the West Bank, and peace. What else do they want? The Arabs don't seem to wrap their minds around such things. They don't seem to grasp the change in Israel's attitude. And they haven't thought of a way to tackle it. This is perhaps why they had trouble understanding Amr Moussa's suggestion of a regional league including Turkey and Iran. In order to avoid alienating Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Moussa said that before the league is formed, it should be preceded by an Arab-Iranian dialogue, one that allows the Arabs to set things right with Tehran. Stating the obvious, Moussa pointed out to Arab leaders that the West is talking to Iran despite all their differences. It was not the first time for Moussa to make this suggestion. In fact, the Arabs have no substantial reasons to be in conflict with Iran. Tehran is not threatening the High Dam with nuclear bombs, nor is it repressing the Palestinians and stealing their land and sacred sites. You'll always find people who oppose dialogue with Iran, pointing out that the latter occupies Arab islands and interferes in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq. Actually, the conflict over the three United Arab Emirates islands is a historical one and hasn't even spoiled ongoing relations between the two countries. Other countries have border problems too. Look at Russia and Japan, India and China, America and Canada. Still, all these countries talk and cooperate. Look even at us. We're still talking to Israel -- and at the highest levels -- even as the latter threatens our borders. Iran has interests in the Arab world, and we have interests in Iran and the Gulf. So it is in our interest to talk to Tehran and find a common ground on which we may cooperate. Unless we do that, Israel will remain the region's top power. Unless we do that, Arab countries will remain a pawn for the Americans and the Israelis -- both of them are intent on stripping Iran of its nuclear powers and weakening the Arabs. Until we do that, Israel will keep treating peace as a hobby.
