The Geneva Accord Problem

What is the Problem with all Arab-Israeli Peace Agreements?

All Arab-Israeli Peace Agreements, including the Geneva Accord, hammered out in the last century present different formulas for ways to achieve peace.

The problem with each of these formulas is that they are based on the mistaken idea that the Arab world is ready, or can be pushed into being ready, to stop trying to destroy Israel, according to Jerusalem Post columnist Saul Singer.

Singer points out that real peace between the United States and the Soviet Union did not depend on an agreement between them, but rather on the collapse of the Soviet Union. He states that peace between Israel and the Arab world, likewise, will depend on the transformation of the Arab world rather than on agreements with it in its current dictatorial state.

Obviously, transformation of the Arab world will take time. In the interim, Singer believes that peace can only be maintained by a Cold War-style form of deterrence.

The problem with the Geneva Accord, like Oslo and the other agreements that came before it, is that they signal that agreements can lead to peace and transformation is not necessary. Each time this happens, transformation is undermined, real peace is delayed, and more war is invited.

The truth is that real peace depends on regional change, which will take time. Patience, not false hope like that offered by the Geneva Accord, is needed. Singer concludes, "The peace plan industry should be matched by think tanks dedicated to bolstering deterrence and hastening transformation."

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Sources
Haaretz - The Geneva Accord - pure subversion, by Zalman Shoval
Israel Insider - Sharon: "Geneva Accord" is most historic, tragic mistake since Oslo, by Ellis Shuman
Jerusalem Post - Interesting Times - Beilin's retro chic, by Saul Singer
Miftah.org - The "Geneva Accord"


~ Lisa Katz

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