Knock, Knock, Israel

Hurrah! Egypt and Jordan have taken up an initiative by the Saudi government, initially introduced in 1992, to make an offer of high-level diplomatic negotiations with Israel.

Shockingly, none of the motivation for the renaissance of the plan seems to be coming from the US. Since we're the pros on regional diplomacy...

The Arab countries have huge ambitions: ultimately, they want Israel to agree to revert to her pre-1967 boundaries. Good luck.

Don't they know yet that part of the national identity of Israel is formed on the basis of suffering at the hands of her oppressive, barbarian neighbors? The flip side being that God (aka the United Nations Partition Plan) has put Israel in the midst of these heathens to convert them to ... Western ideology? Not so clear on that, really.

What always strikes me as funny about the Israel-Arab tension is that the ideology is strikingly similar. Both cultures trend towards absolutism and rigidity, and this is supported by the foundation of their religious underpinnings. So it makes sense that Egypt and Jordan (arguably the most Westernized, least ideologically fundamental of the Arab countries) would be the ones to knock on Israel's door.

My advice: Don't get the US involved. Our penchant for war and unilateral decision-making is doom for this process.

But listen, Arab countries, don't get SO determined to get that land back that you prevent the Israelis from making other concessions. Losing face is the number one killer of international relations.

But the real deal is: Get the fuck over yourselves already! Is a constant state of war really better than a slightly smaller country? Or, for the Arabs, accepting a nation into your midst that will likely disagree with your interests on all points (even if it is just to be contrary)?