The Coming Middle East Crisis

Clearly, the benefits must be modified if we are to have any hope of an enduring settlement. An alternative to the two-state settlement is a regional approach historically opposed by Arab states but recently floated by Bahrain's foreign minister, Al Khalifa. He said it was time for the Middle East to develop "new regional frameworks to overcome our long-standing challenges." And he explicitly used words that implied Israeli inclusion.

Mutually attractive political, economic, and security terms would be required for both sides to move to an agreement. One economic benefit would be the inclusion of substantial financial support from the Arab Sunni oil-producing countries. That could make a dramatic difference in the Palestinian standard of living. If it were forthcoming, it would also provide political cover for the concessions the Palestinians (as well as the Israelis) will have to make. Alas, the destruction of trillions of dollars worldwide in the current financial crunch makes it harder for the international community to cover the costs of new early warning systems for Israel to compensate for deep withdrawals from the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, as well as to help Palestinian refugees establish permanent communities in the West Bank, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Ironically, it is the leadership of the Palestinians that is now more necessary to a settlement than the Israeli leadership, which has long accepted a two-state solution. The new administration in Washington will undoubtedly bring fresh thinking to this problem. It will be more than welcome.