The war in Gaza has demonstrated the futility of the prevailing Middle East paradigm: a cycle of violence and retaliation begetting more violence and more bloodshed. Setting aside the debate – was the recent Israeli action justified or unjustified, proportionate or disproportionate, humane or inhumane, no one – on either side of the conflict – could credibly suggest that the prospects for peace have now been enhanced. In fact, we know with near certainty that the opposite is true.
The Gaza incursion has only set the stage for the next round of bloodshed. And we can be sure, that as the bullets and bombs rain down, bitter accusations and self-righteous justifications will fly from the Palestinians and Israelis alike, both sides equally convinced of the morality of their conduct, and the depravity of their opponents. And so it goes. We’ve seen it before; we’ve heard it all before.
Enough.
The transformative power of the Obama Presidency provides what could be a once in a generation opportunity to settle the Israeli-Palestinian issue. History will not judge kindly if we squander the opportunity. No more road maps, step-by-step solutions, or last-minute efforts by legacy-conscious American Presidents. This time, from the very onset, Middle East peace must be among the highest priorities of the new administration. President Obama’s decision to give his first official television interview to an Arab station, and the announcement that he will deliver an address in an Islamic-world capital in his administration’s first hundred days, are encouraging indications of a desire to seriously engage the region.
The American commitment to forge peace in the Middle East does not flow only from altruism. America’s self interests, including national security, is impacted mightily – for better or for worse – by what happens in this combustible part of the world. Left alone radical thinking can take root on the “Arab street thanks in large part to the prevailing perception that the US tilts unfairly towards Israel on the Palestinian issue, and provides the weapons of war that are killing women and children. Irrespective of whether this is accurate or fair, the inescapable reality is that these perceptions have provided radical terrorist organizations with a highly receptive environment in which to peddle their message of violence and hate, and have created a ready-made pool of potential terrorists.
On top of this, progressive forward-thinking Arab regimes, strategic and economic partners to the US, are under growing pressure from an increasingly outraged populace, inflamed by the ongoing cycle of violence. If you think today’s Middle East is complex and dangerous, try to envision the landscape if one or more of the current moderate Arab regimes were replaced by radical political elements. These groups are gathering strength across the region, gaining additional adherents; each day we allow the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to rage on.
A just and sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would deal a devastating blow to the ideological appeal of violent radical organizations. The establishment of an economically viable Palestinian state, combined with a region-wide commitment to education reform and job creation would give young Arabs a new vision of life, something actually worth living, rather than a token to be sacrificed in a never ending struggle. Peace in the Middle East would strengthen the moderate Arab political, intellectual and business leaders, which are the greatest hope for moving the region forward on reform and raising the quality of life for all citizens.
I had the privilege of being in Washington during the historic Obama inauguration. As I walked the streets of the American capital I could sense the positive energy, the can-do attitude, joy and optimism on every face. We’re now living through a rare human experience when our hearts and spirits soar. As I savored this uniquely American occasion, I was transported to a similar moment, decades earlier, on the frenetic streets of my far away home, Cairo.
The year was 1977. President Anwar Sadat had just arrived back in Egypt from his peace mission to Israel. It was a day like no other. As the Boeing 707 rolled to a gentle stop, and President Sadat descended the gangway, there were two cars awaiting him on the tarmac. One was an enclosed bulletproof limousine, the other an open-air convertible. While the Presidential secret service detail led the President to the enclosed limousine, Sadat resolutely chose the convertible. The triumph of the moment was unmistakable. Sadat rode home through a throng of 6 million cheering, crying, smiling, happy Egyptians who had lined the streets. In that trip Sadat changed the Arab world’s idea of what was possible and many felt that Peace was born.
By thinking the impossible, leaders can turn dreams into reality. President Obama’s upcoming address in the Islamic-world could be a masterstroke of historic proportions. It will boldly signal the start of a new and hopeful chapter in US-Middle East relations, and an unprecedented impetus to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
President Obama’s remarkable and inspiring ascent was fueled by a daring ability to dream the impossible – or as he has phrase it – by “the audacity of hope. Nowhere in the world is an audacious hope more needed than in the Middle East.
The time for peace is now. President Obama, come to Cairo, and let us begin
Shafik Gabris the Cairo-based Chairman and Managing Director of ARTOC, Chairman of Egypt s International Economic Forum, cofounder and first Egyptian President of the American Chamber of commerce in Egypt.
