Israelis Reach Out to Arab NationsThat Share Fear of Ascendant Iran

[question everything]

Israelis Reach Out to Arab NationsThat Share Fear of Ascendant Iran

The Wall Street Journal
By KARBY LEGGETT and MARCUS W. BRAUCHLI
October 3, 2006; Page A1

JERUSALEM -- Israel's summer war against Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants has redoubled its concerns about the threat from Iran, leading Israeli officials to reach out to Arab governments that share their concern about Tehran's growing influence in the region. Leaders across the political spectrum here now agree that Israel must find ways to work with other Middle Eastern states, even if that means dealing with governments that have been hostile to Israel in the past. Asked in an interview last week if Saudi Arabia, a longtime backer of groups that have fought Israel, would be considered a moderate Arab nation Israel could potentially work with, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni replied bluntly: "Yes."

(snip)

The concern about Iran comes as the international community tries to persuade Tehran to suspend a nuclear program the U.S. believes is aimed at building a weapon. Iran says the program is purely peaceful. Tehran defied one United Nations resolution that had called on it to suspend by the end of August any activities that could produce a nuclear weapon, and the U.S. and Europe are weighing further steps. Israel's worries about Iran are compounded by comments from Iranian leaders, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, suggesting a desire to see Israel eliminated as a state. "History has taught us to listen to this kind of talk," said the foreign minister, Ms. Livni, alluding to the Holocaust.

(snip)

The assessment that Iran is a regional threat and could one day be a nuclear rival unnerves other countries in the region, Israeli officials and politicians say. That has led them to decide they should attempt a new embrace not only of Egypt and Jordan -- which already have formal relations with Israel -- but also Arab countries with which it has had few to no dealings. Israel's outreach to moderate Arab states gained some momentum last month when, during a United Nations meeting in New York, Israeli officials held some private meetings with officials from Persian Gulf countries regarding Iran, officials here said. Israeli officials declined to name which countries' representatives they met with, saying the matter is too politically sensitive. Beyond Egypt, Jordan and Mauritania, Israel has no official relations with any Arab League countries.

This process could gain further momentum this week, when Ms. Rice arrives in the Middle East for a new round of diplomacy. In Egypt, where she is scheduled to arrive today, Ms. Rice plans to meet with foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Discussions are expected to focus on the Israeli-Palestinian issue and how to possibly restart talks for a political settlement, though the question of Iran and its nuclear program also is likely to be addressed. Like Israel, the U.S. is interested in building a broad regional coalition against Iran.

(snip)

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115984120864280816.html (subscription)

[Kagemusha]

1. Israel's lucky the neighbors it's reaching out to aren't democracies.

If they were, Israel's effort would have about the same chance as a snowflake in the Negev. In summer.

[question everything]

2. This is what policies are all about

You are dealing with what you have, not with what you wish you had.

[Kagemusha]

3. Well I'm saying Israel better wish those countries stay oppressive.

If they get any more democracy they'll all look like S. Lebanon to Israel.

[question everything]

6. Yes, I know what you are saying, except that the irony that Israel

is the only true democracy in that region - as determined by free elections and free press - seems to have escaped you.

[Kagemusha]

8. Lebanon was the next closest and look where that got it.

Not many ironies escape me but, I see so many of them in life, I try not to clutter my posts with each and every one I notice.

Anyway, bottom line time: if Israel gets anywhere with this, maybe that's good. I just wonder, because while the governments are receptive, their populations are notably NOT receptive, and their governments' street cred will continue to suffer the more they're seen as Israeli lapdogs.

[last1standing]

4. This looks like good news to me.

Isreal, instead of trying to bomb another country into submission, is working with her neighbors to prevent further instability. How can that be a bad thing? I'm all for the peaceful resolutions and if the countries of the middle east can form a NATO type alliance, that's all to the good.

Am I missing something here?

[question everything]

5. No, you are not

and Israel failure to eliminate Iran supported Heabollah is a major incentive to follow this route. As with any conflict - between nations and individuals - finding a common area rather than concentrating on issues of contention is a good first step to co-exist.

[GiveUsHope]

7. Aren't they just the nicest coalition builders

>_>