Aug 20 2010
Are the Palestinians Being Pushed Into a Photo-op with the Israelis?
In a season when images represent the narrative, a political cartoon in a Jordanian newspaper captured the Palestinian and Arab mood as the US and its allies pile on the Palestinian leader Mahmood Abbas, pressing him to hold direct talks with Israel simply for the purpose of a photo opportunity. Emad Hajjaj captured the moment by repeating the Facebook image of the female Israeli soldier posing in front of a blindfolded and handcuffed Palestinians by making the old man none other than the Palestinian leader Abbas sitting across the negotiating table across from a smiling Israeli representative.
Americans and Israelis might believe that direct talks between Palestinian and Israeli leaders is the most obvious way to achieve peace in the Middle East conflict. But history has shown time and again that a high-profile peace process alone is no recipe for success. Continue Reading »