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What appeared not to have been possible for decades may now be within reach if everything goes in accordance to proposals that are currently being formulated by the various Arab States including
While the basic principles of the proposals appear to be fairly simple, the actual implementation and ultimate acceptance of an Arab-Israeli peace deal are extremely complicated, requiring skilful diplomacy and persistence by all concerned including the external Arab League and EU analysts that are currently involved in the process.
As mentioned, the basic principles of the proposals are fairly simply.
They involve an Israeli withdraw from Arab territory that was captured during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war along what is known as the 'green line'.
It would involve the return of the
It would involve the establishment of
It would involve the establishment of an independent
In return, Arab nations would fully recognise
While the Arab proposals are detailed and progressive,
Independent mediators would have to be appointed to supervise and structure any peace negotiations, such mediators highly likely to come from the EU, not from the
The reasons for the proposals being put forward at this time are multiple.
For the Arab countries the possibilities of destabilisation of their nations due to the Iraqi civil war are real. Arab countries are concerned by a possible radicalisation of the region, a radicalisation largely boosted by the
All Arab nations, but especially those bordering
For
With worldwide support of
While, in the past,
The Israeli tactics deployed in
In order to prosper,
No doubt, opponents to any peace negotiations will be trying their hardest to either derail or destroy the process.
From the Arab side, radicals and fundamentalists will attempt to derail a peace deal while on the Israeli side, a different lot of radicals and fundamentalists will no doubt try to do the same.
While many finer details of a possible Arab-Israeli peace deal still need to be worked on the initial signs look, at least, hopeful.
I really hope that the various factions and groups within the countries involved keep their shirts on and their weapons firmly locked up during this process, as the alternatives to an Israeli-Arab peace deal would be extremely damaging for all concerned and not a pretty sight.
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