Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Changing realities: An opportunity for Israel and its neighbors
Published in Daily News Egypt on 15 - 05 - 2011

LONDON/GENEVA: The uprisings in the Middle East are plunging the region into uncharted territory. But, as international and other regional powers scramble to adjust to the changing realities, they are also an opportunity for Israel and Arab countries to forge mutually beneficial economic ties and to coalesce around common regional interests.
The Arab uprisings are redefining regional relationships at a speed far greater than regional players are used to. For example, pre-uprising relations between Israel and Egypt are now being re-assessed by the Egyptians. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center showed that 54 percent of Egyptians want to annul the peace treaty with Israel. If this happens, Israel looks set to lose its preferential rates for gas, of which Egypt supplies 40 percent. And other Arab states are also likely to re-evaluate their relations with Israel.
In the current situation, Israel has two options. It can either accept increasing isolation in the region, or seize the situation as an opportunity during a time when geopolitical interests are being re-aligned and alliances redrawn. So too the Arabs: they can become even more reliant on foreign assistance, or recognize that at their doorstep is a neighbor who can help them achieve a greater degree of self-reliance.
Israel and the Arab states now share the need to ensure that the region can withstand the changes brought about by the uprisings, and the need to recognize the opportunities that these changing realities could give rise to.
The biggest stumbling block is, of course, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the importance of which must not be underestimated. Given that the widespread anti-Israeli sentiments within the Arab world are primarily linked to the conflict with the Palestinians, cooperating with the Israelis will be a very difficult task to sell to the Arab street.
But the changing political realities now offer a momentum that if harnessed could propel Palestinian and Israeli leaders towards more action-oriented approaches. The Palestinians could potentially become the biggest beneficiaries of this collaboration. They hold the key to Israel's integration in the Arab world and should use this not only as a bargaining chip, but as a way to look beyond the conflict.
The Gulf states are generally viewed positively by Palestinians since they have not played the same role in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict as other Arab states have. This relationship can become an opportunity for Palestinians to play a key role as bridge-builders in strengthening economic relations between Israel and the Gulf states.
The potential benefits to the Gulf are significant. The likely permanent damage to the Bahrain financial sector as a result of the uprising there is forcing banks to relocate to Dubai for now, but potentially out of the region altogether. If this happens, Gulf states will need to intensify their economic diversification efforts. There is a real appetite in the Gulf to become home to a cutting-edge technology industry, but they show only modest gains so far.
Israel can help the Gulf make this shift, and it too has much to gain from such a relationship. Israel has been unable to sustain a corporate culture and capital to enable its high tech start-ups to develop into successful international industry leaders. After a few years, Israeli start-ups tend to migrate to the West. But the Gulf can ensure that these start-ups do not leave the brand new Middle East for the West. The capital — and to some extent, the nascent but growing corporate culture — already exists in the Gulf.
This collaboration could also lead to the creation of more jobs, of which the region is in dire need. Failure can mean further brain drain, rising socio-economic tensions and risks of further instability.
The changing reality is challenging the Middle East to look beyond "business as usual," and challenging Israel to integrate rather than alienate itself from the new realities.
There is incentive, motivation and a responsibility for Middle Eastern countries to collaborate more closely for the prosperity of the region's future. One just needs to change the lens and view the region in a different light — which includes the full participation of all its neighbors.
Ghanem Nuseibeh is a Britain-based Palestinian consultant and Founder of Cornerstone Global Associates Ltd. Naava Mashiah is an Israeli consultant based in Switzerland, CEO of M.E. Links, Senior Consultant at ISHRA and Editor of MEDABIZ economic news. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).


Clic here to read the story from its source.