Israel’s two-state ploy aims to align it with Saudi-led camp
▻http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/israeli-security-officials-proposal-new-diplomatic-initiative-1854629
These officials understand that Israel’s status as a strong regional military power is well established. What remains unresolved, though, is the issue of its legitimacy and its acceptance by its neighbours. Israel is not integrated into the Middle East either politically, economically or culturally.
Launching a new peace reiterating a commitment to a two-state solution could, the officials believe, bring Israel closer to such unattained legitimacy. That is, at least within the regional, so-called “moderate” camp led by the Saudis and backed by the West to counter the hard-line camp led by #Iran.
This should position Israel on the axis of the good, potentially reshaping its image in the Arab world and, in the medium run, counting it as a stabilising, rather than disruptive player. All the more so, since Israel’s enemies in the region - Iran, #Hezbollah, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Palestinian #resistance movements led by Hamas - are, to a large extent, also the enemies of “moderate” Arab states and their international allies.
Playing the Sunni-Shia divide
The authors of the letter are also suggesting to use the sectarian Sunni/Shia aspect of the conflict now in full swing in the Middle East by allying Israel with the Saudi-led Sunni camp against the Iranian-led Shia camp.
While vehemently Jewish, the state’s calculus and emphasis, they indicate, should shift somewhat in realm of political, regional realism. After all, both Israel and the Saudi-led camp agree that Iran is a serious threat and oppose its recent nuclear deal with P5+1 countries. The letter also reveals Israeli security officials’ awareness of the currently bleak political situation following the Arab awakening.
#Palestine #Israel #Israël #Arabie_saoudite #axe_du_bien #axe_du_mal “#modérés” #mascarade