BBC News:
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on Arab nations to reach out to Israel."
Hahahaha. That made my week.
Apparently "The Arab states must be reaching out to Israel... to show Israel that they accept its place in the Middle East," she said.
Isn't she cute? So now, apparently, it's the Arabs' turn to bring the flowers. Sure, because, when Israel said that it might consider looking at an Arab Initiative that was offered in 2002 - after 5 years of completely ignoring what is by for the most generous offer ever put on the table of the ME Conflict, apparently that was their way of 'ouverture'.
And now, since it's an equitable game, players take turns at being nice; and now to be nice, Arab nations need to show the love. :)
The best comment I read was Rami Khouri in the Daily Star: "Does Rice take us in the Arab world for robotic idiots - simply another generation of hapless Arabs who have no options and must go along docilely with every American-Israeli initiative, no matter how insulting, insincere or desperate it may be? This initiative is all three."
Okay. Enough irony. Seriously, 2 comments:
a) isn't that typical? The Arab country(ies) make a final offer. And by final, it means that this is the lowest point they can reach. The response they get is: "well, you've come this far, now you can make some more concessions, right? Come on, boys, you can do it!"
I mean, seriously, if we were in Mandell's negotiations class, Arab countries would flunk miserably, and Israel would score an A. They're playing really by the book - and they're very good at it.
But the problem is that, this is the real world. And there's a limit at which you can push your counterpart. Israel seems to consider that we're not at it yet -- i think we don't even know where our break point is. But one thing is sure: we're already past it. Beware, this can get ugly.
b) I've got nothing against 'reaching out to Israel'. Quite on the contrary. I think it makes sense for a number of reasons - economically, for one. And I'm sick and tired of this ongoing, exhausting war. Would wish for nothing more than peace, and yes, even with the cheesy photos across the border, etc.
Plus, It's not like we haven't done it in 1979! Only then, there was a deal; there were concessions on both sides, a peace treaty, a return of occupied land.
What I think is sad in this whole piece of news, is the way it's being done. You can't coerce love :)
And in this case, well, what will Arab countries get in exchange for showin' some lovin'? Let's get real. If you want a deal, you need to put something on the table. It is ridiculous to conceive that Arab countries will bend over just because they're being asked to.
These days are over, baby ;)
PS: I know some of my friends and schoolmates are reading this post (and actually doubling the traffic on my website, hehehe...) :) We should talk about that, I'd love to hear your opinion! Lunch some time? But not Sodexho, please!! :)
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on Arab nations to reach out to Israel."
Hahahaha. That made my week.
Apparently "The Arab states must be reaching out to Israel... to show Israel that they accept its place in the Middle East," she said.
Isn't she cute? So now, apparently, it's the Arabs' turn to bring the flowers. Sure, because, when Israel said that it might consider looking at an Arab Initiative that was offered in 2002 - after 5 years of completely ignoring what is by for the most generous offer ever put on the table of the ME Conflict, apparently that was their way of 'ouverture'.
And now, since it's an equitable game, players take turns at being nice; and now to be nice, Arab nations need to show the love. :)
The best comment I read was Rami Khouri in the Daily Star: "Does Rice take us in the Arab world for robotic idiots - simply another generation of hapless Arabs who have no options and must go along docilely with every American-Israeli initiative, no matter how insulting, insincere or desperate it may be? This initiative is all three."
Okay. Enough irony. Seriously, 2 comments:
a) isn't that typical? The Arab country(ies) make a final offer. And by final, it means that this is the lowest point they can reach. The response they get is: "well, you've come this far, now you can make some more concessions, right? Come on, boys, you can do it!"
I mean, seriously, if we were in Mandell's negotiations class, Arab countries would flunk miserably, and Israel would score an A. They're playing really by the book - and they're very good at it.
But the problem is that, this is the real world. And there's a limit at which you can push your counterpart. Israel seems to consider that we're not at it yet -- i think we don't even know where our break point is. But one thing is sure: we're already past it. Beware, this can get ugly.
b) I've got nothing against 'reaching out to Israel'. Quite on the contrary. I think it makes sense for a number of reasons - economically, for one. And I'm sick and tired of this ongoing, exhausting war. Would wish for nothing more than peace, and yes, even with the cheesy photos across the border, etc.
Plus, It's not like we haven't done it in 1979! Only then, there was a deal; there were concessions on both sides, a peace treaty, a return of occupied land.
What I think is sad in this whole piece of news, is the way it's being done. You can't coerce love :)
And in this case, well, what will Arab countries get in exchange for showin' some lovin'? Let's get real. If you want a deal, you need to put something on the table. It is ridiculous to conceive that Arab countries will bend over just because they're being asked to.
These days are over, baby ;)
PS: I know some of my friends and schoolmates are reading this post (and actually doubling the traffic on my website, hehehe...) :) We should talk about that, I'd love to hear your opinion! Lunch some time? But not Sodexho, please!! :)
1 comment:
It is funny that you posted this news. This is going to be the topic of my Senior Seminar next Tuesday...I will tell you how it went. Nevertheless, I also laughed when I read the headline...Condi can be funny sometimes.
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