Doaa El-Bey looks at Netanyahu's desire to shift the focus from two states to the Jewish state, and the violence permeating Egyptian society The results of the Obama-Netanyahu meeting were frustrating. In the meeting, the US president stuck to the two-state solution and called on Tel Aviv to stop building more settlements. Israeli Prime Minster Binyamin Netanyahu refrained from talking about the Palestinian state and demanded the Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state. Elias Harfoush wrote that although there were high hopes pinned on the meeting, it is logical that there are some obstacles before a two-state solution. First, the two sides look at the priorities differently. Obama regards the Palestinian issue and the US crisis with Iran as two separate entities, and that any Israeli flexibility regarding the first issue would help the US get the support it needs to resolve the second. But Netanyahu believes that Iranian intransigence concerning its nuclear programme would boost the stand of those who are against peace in the region including some Palestinians. The traditional mistrust of US seriousness to reach a fair settlement in the region is another obstacle. Although Obama proved he is serious in dealing with the Palestinians, there are reservations in his ability to work independently from Israeli interests. After all, his administration took decisions that proved these reservations, including maintaining sanctions against Syria and keeping Hamas and Hizbullah on the list of terrorist organisations, in addition to his stand on Iran. The US ability to press Israel is the third obstacle. Israel is not likely to accept any pressure from the US on the pretext that "we know your interests more than you do". In addition it is not likely that we see a severance in relations between the two states as both leaders are flexible enough not to reach that juncture. Thus to avoid any confrontation with Obama, Netanyahu would suggest forming a working team from both sides which can work together with moderate Arab states to reach a new "roadmap". He will also ask these states to establish diplomatic relations with Israel as that would facilitate progress in the peace process. "The Israeli blackmail of the US is on three fronts: Iran, establishing diplomatic ties with the Arab states and recognising Israel as a Jewish state. In the face of this blackmail one should question the effectiveness of the cards that Obama has and whether he wants to use them to impose the solution he wants on the Palestinians," Harfoush concluded in the London-based independent political daily Al-Hayat. Adli Sadeq wrote that the political Israeli elite want Obama to take a firm stand towards Netanyahu and stop him from procrastinating and engaging in endless negotiations in which peace is not one of the declared objectives. Jewish writers and commentators wish that Obama would pressure Netanyahu to benefit from the current Arab moderation to reach a historic peace. Sadeq quoted an Israeli writer who stated in Haaretz that he was bored of US leaders who encourage Israelis to adopt an extremist stand and decline to meet the simplest commitment towards a peaceful settlement. "The US president who is a dear friend of Israel is responsible to put pressure on the Jewish state which has become addicted to occupation. The true friend should help Israel get rid of this occupation, whereas the false friend supports its continuation," Sadeq wrote in the Palestinian political daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida . The results of the Kuwaiti elections which brought four women to parliament were regarded as a new phase in Kuwait's political and parliamentary future. Ahmed Bishara wrote that these elections lifted the Kuwaiti women to a new and important status that is linked to challenges and responsibilities no less important. Bishara said the victory came despite objections to women's political and social roles especially from political Islamists who refused to include women on their lists. These people intensively recruited women in voting for men, which shows their opportunist approach and how they perceive the role of women in the community. Bishara said some thought that it was the responsibility of the elected women MPs to make the changes that the voters wish to see and that is true to an extent. However, they should not be held responsible for the faults of the previous parliament. They should start playing a constructive role through discussion and effective contribution in specialised committees and submitting suggestions and drafts for laws. "Kuwaitis are optimistic about the presence of women in parliament which has witnessed conflict, tension and foul language in the last few years. We hope that women will contribute in regaining the respect of the parliament," Bishara wrote in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas. The United Arab Emirates daily Al-Bayan regarded the results of the elections as unprecedented in a Gulf state and indicated a great change in the criteria for choosing parliamentary members. Although the turnout was less than previous elections, it was the will to change that mattered most. These elections also came amid political storms due to the tense relationship between the government and the parliament that led to dissolving the parliament three times since 2006. In addition, the resignation of five governments and the repeated questioning of a number of ministers paralysed Kuwaiti political life and left it in a whirlpool of differences. However, "the outcome of the elections reflects a determination to leap out of the whirlpool. Leaving the status quo as it was could have caused more harm to the Kuwaiti democratic experience and national interests," the newspaper editorial read. Abdel-Rahman Al-Rashed regarded the outcome of the election as a popular corrective measure in which the Kuwaiti electorate declined to elect the symbols of anarchy. However, political tension would still overwhelm the Kuwaiti parliament until the legislative, executive and political leaders are convinced that correcting the regime is more important than votes. Correction, according to Al-Rashed, should take place on two levels: a draft amendment of the constitution should be introduced in order to outline the rights and duties in the relationship between parliament, the government and the community. The second is protecting the government from "blackmailing" parliament when the latter exaggerates the use of interpellations granted to it. Interpellations are a democratic right as long as they do not lead to dissolving the government or impede the national projects being carried out by the government. "Without organising the relationship between the government and parliament, differences will continue and probably grow. A constructive relationship cannot be forged without constitutional rules. And a constructive relationship does not mean that the MP should give up his right to question the government, but to organise it," Al-Rashed wrote in the London-based political daily Asharq Al-Awsat.
