Race for peace and prosperity

To those who follow the Middle East peace efforts, it may be upsetting to see the prospect for peace in the region move up and down like a see-saw. This is particularly so in the Israel- Palestine and Israel-Syria cases. The good thing is that the leaders are committed to peace. The Israel-Palestine path, disrupted a few times due to violence, has seen progress. A central issue now is whether Israel will pave the way quickly for a Palestinian national election. The longer it takes, the more bloodshed both sides will see.

The Israel-Syria path is like a staring contest. Israel seems to be trying to blackmail Syria into making concessions on the Golan Heights by saying an agreement with Syria did not seem to be likely before its general election in November next year. In short, Syria was told it would be more difficult to negotiate for peace with Likud Party in case the governing Labor Party loses in the election. Clearly Damsyik does not want to be hurried into a compromise. However, Israel and the Arab states realize they are not just negotiating for peace, but also the prosperity of their peoples in the face of competition from emerging economies.

-- Berita Harian, Kuala Lumpur