As if no-one knows what to do next, partners of the Middle East peace process have agreed to start or restart negotiating what they negotiated long ago. Or perhaps they fear answering the sensitive question of what might happen if the peace process falls. However, this question is only postponed for four months, as most probably this round will lead to nothing, if it does not fail during the four months. There is a supposition that this round will lead to direct negotiations to solve the chronic Middle East problem, though direct negotiations had failed before to achieve this aim. This suggests that the peace partners have agreed to present US President Barack Obama's administration with a gift that can be used internally in the US to compensate for the failed US policies in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is clear that the US wants Turkey to resume its sponsorship of the other indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel, although Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa said that previously we were deceived. However, the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers agreed to the four months of negotiations. Nevertheless, Israel has not stopped its aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque and has not stopped building settlements in the West Bank. Mossad, Israel's secret service, has continued its dirty assassination operations against the Palestinians. On the Palestinian side, the two main factions still fight each other over their respective authority before having a state. Most strange is that Nabil Shaath, the chief Palestinian negotiator, has applied for a good conduct certificate from the US administration, proudly declaring that the Americans have promised that they will announce the name of the partner that obstructs peace. If he thinks like this, it would be better that he did not negotiate as peace is achieved through balance of power not through having a good conduct degree with an A-plus level! Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian Speaker of Parliament Fathi Sorour warned Israel against the eruption of religious war, if it continued its irresponsible aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque. Does Israel know the meaning of a religious war? It means simply that young people from all Muslim countries would be willing to die for Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is not extremism this time but faith. These young people would never believe again in peace with the Jewish state. Is Israel ready to confront the millions of Muslim youth? Negotiations about negotiations just postpone problems and cause situations to deteriorate. Israel will continue to stir up problems in order to ruin negotiations. One wonders why the Arabs do not play the cards they hold and they have many. If the US is going to contain or to confront China, the Middle East will be too consequential for both powers. A top Chinese military general said that China would have the military power to stop American hegemony. If the Americans did not understand his statement let us tell Washington that we understood his statement. Obama began his legacy by trying to balance his steps in the Middle East. Then, his administration asked the Arabs to support Palestinians in restarting unconditional indirect negotiations. It would be much better if Arabs recognised the Palestinian Authority as a state by the end of these four months. As the two-state solution is dying in the intensive care in Washington, the one-state solution should be born to save peace. [email protected] Hany is an Egyptian writer, who regularly contributes to the Mail.
