The fresh US proposal to attain “peace” between Israel and Palestine is the joke of the century. It is an open secret that it is due to the unconditional support of the United States; Israel has been able to beat all the odds since its creation or occupation of the holy land. People thinking that the US could play the role of an honest broker in the Mideast talks are living in a fool’s paradise. The US wants Palestinians to accept just crumbs in the name of an independent state. Time and again, Washington has betrayed the Arabs. The Arabs must face the truth that the US cannot be relied upon. It acts in its own interests. This has become all the more evident in the wake of the recent rapprochement between Tehran and Washington and the backing out on its promises on the Syrian issue. Muslims in general and Arabs in particular must wake up to the reality and join hands to resolve their issues themselves. They must stop relying on the West and the United Nations. The idea of a Gulf union and a Muslim union is very timely and should be taken seriously. A Gulf union can help pave the way for the formation of a Muslim union. Such alliances are the need of the hour. — Ibrahim Ali, Jeddah