In a sense it is gratifying that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert should have responded so rapidly to the Riyadh summit. Diplomatic relations with all Arab states in return for Israel’s returning to its pre-1967 borders is the essence of the summit’s offer and while responsive, Olmert evidently has some ideas of his own. Let us not, however, get excited about his apparent enthusiasm for the “land-for peace” proposal. There may yet be surprises in the Arab counterresponse but Olmert’s offer contains nothing substantially new. It looks like a propaganda ploy to mislead the world and, in particular, the American public into believing that Israel is working for peace when it is not. It is a ploy we have seen too many times before. Even so, let us not damn it out of hand — maybe, there is something here that can be built upon. Olmert may be edging toward a new compromise. If so, Arab governments must do all they can to develop a momentum and move him in the right direction.
The offer certainly needs close examination. After all, it followed a specific call from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel for Israel to respond constructively to the Riyadh initiative. The trouble is that closer examination is not encouraging. Does Olmert mean “all” Arab leaders in his invitation to talks? He specifically singled out Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, but what about others? Would the offer include President Assad of Syria whose Golan Heights the Israelis show no inclination of ever wanting to surrender? More to the point, would it include Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh? There is still no sign of that. Indeed, in inviting Arab leaders for talks, it looks as if Olmert is out to sideline the Palestinians to perpetuate what Israeli politicians have been doing for half a century — trying to achieve peace with Arab states while continuing to trample upon the Palestinians. It has not worked and it will not work in the future.
There are in addition other reasons for pessimism. Olmert has made it clear that he opposes certain points in the Riyadh offer, such as the right of Palestinians to return to Israel. Likewise a withdrawal from Arab Jerusalem is still seen as nonnegotiable by most Israelis. With some Palestinian voices now suggesting that the right of return to what Israel controlled pre-1967 is largely symbolic, there may be room for maneuvering there but there can be none on Palestinian claims to Jerusalem.
As to an actual summit, that is putting the cart well before the horse. There cannot be a grand summit until there is something to agree upon. At the moment, there is not, although some day, when the Israelis are prepared to compromise, the Arabs will have to sit down and talk to them. A grand summit at this point would merely provide a remarkable propaganda coup for the Israelis, especially if on their territory. It would be presented as normalization in itself. The Arabs are not now in the business of presenting the Israelis with ready-made propaganda victories.
