Sisi’s historic initiative

Sisi’s historic initiative

Dr. Jassim Taqui

In a landmark initiative, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi surprised all by offering his services to bring together the Palestinians and Israel to establish durable peace on the basis of two sovereign states. Sisi also disclosed that he was willing to mediate a reconciliation between rival Palestinian factions , showing solidarity with the Palestinian people. He also promised “warm peace” with Israel once the Palestinian state is established.

Addressing Israeli leadership, Sisi appealed to Israel to respond to o his genuine initiative since he is determined to exert all efforts to bring a just and a lasting peace in the Middle East.

The good news is that all Palestinian factions welcomed the initiative. Most importantly, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who earlier opposed  French President Francois Hollande’s International Conference welcomed Sisi’s remarks, stating, “ Israel is willing to participate alongside Egypt and other Arab states in advancing diplomatic process and stability in the region.”

The initiative is most probably based on the 2002 Arab peace offer which promised collective Arab recognition of Israel provided it surrendered all Arab land seized in the 1967 war.

Ostensibly, there is apprehension that failure of negotiations between Palestinians and Israel might bring ISIS to West Bank and even to Israel. Hence, all regional and international powers are now more inclined to support Sisi’s initiative.

Full credits to President Sisi and his vision of peace and stability. He is leading Egypt, and indeed the Arab world, to bridge the psychological phobia and to cross from despair to hope.

Arabs and Israelis have fought many wars that produced nothing except wide-ranging death and destruction. It is about time to co-exist peacefully. Peace, would bring stability and ultimately prosperity to the devastated nations of the Middle East.