The Palestinians' biggest problem is the Palestinians - Boaz Bismuth

by Boaz Bismuth

Hat tip: Dr. Jean-Charles Bensoussan

Ramallah reportedly feels dejected because the U.S. is "entirely" on Israel's side, but the problem is not the U.S. -- the Americans are simply opting to work with the side that is showing willingness and displaying a desire to give rather than just take.

The winds of war blowing from North Korea aren't preventing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump from sending his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Representative for International Affairs Jason Greenblatt our way again. If he can't have peace in the Middle East, then at least let there be winds of peace. 

The Palestinian Authority is not thrilled, to say the least, with the imminent American shuttle diplomacy efforts. Israel Hayom correspondent Daniel Siryoti already reported last week on the desperation in Ramallah, where the Palestinians have concluded that the U.S. is "entirely" on Israel's side. This conclusion is a little odd considering that over the past few months, plenty of people have tried to create the impression that Washington is expected to exert enormous pressure on Jerusalem to make concessions. 

The Palestinians' biggest problem is the Palestinians themselves -- they always come up with one excuse or another (Israel, Washington, and then Israel again). Washington is really interested in making progress. Trump said so and he meant it. The Americans are opting to engage with the side that is showing willingness to work together, and, more importantly, displays a desire to give rather than just take. 

The old perspective tended to put the Palestinian issue at the center. The new perspective is showing us a different way – the Gulf states, Jordan and Egypt are displaying an air of indifference, each for its own reasons, in regard to the Palestinian issue. No one is being naive; no one expects to see a wave of joy in the city squares of Jiddah, Riyadh, or even Bahrain about a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

The shooting incident at the Israeli Embassy in Amman, Jordan, last month, proved just how much the Arab street is still motivated by that same old anti-Israel instinct. But something positive is happening off camera. The glass half full is the common interests shared by Israel and various Arab neighbors. The glass half empty is that it is "just" common interests. It will be very difficult to convince the Saudi royal family that it can talk to its subjects about peace with Israel. There's still a long way to go. 

But the real story here is the suspicion with which Washington and the Palestinian Authority regard each other. In Washington, despite the strong desire to see a peace deal, they understand that Ramallah can't deliver the goods. 

In Ramallah, they are convinced that the U.S. and Israel are working toward a regional move at the expense of the two-state solution. But it must be said that they came by their suspicions honestly. 

A new wind is blowing from Washington these days. Eight years with former President Barack Obama sent us into defense mode. Trump, however, could get us to recalculate our course. 

This is the time to move forward -- if not toward peace with the Palestinians, then at least toward peace with our own conscience and with the land of Israel.

Boaz Bismuth

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=44599&hp=1

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