KC, I second SR's comment on the effect of 18 months of suicide bombing on a population. I would also add that the Saudi 'initiative' was not aimed at Israel, so why expect Israel to drop everything and respond?
The Saudis did not speak to a single Israeli diplomat. No Saudi offered to come to Israel, as Sadat did in 1978. The Saudis didn't make one gesture that suggested they might actually be willing to call Israel by its right name or accept its existence. The Saudis couldn't even be bothered to change their tone and tell their papers to stop publishing blood libels and other anti-Semitic filth for a few days. In fact, the whole initiative was aimed at the US as a desperately needed change of subject.
The fine print of 'offer' was less than inspiring as well. It said that if Israel pulls back to the June 1967 lines, then the Saudis (and some others of the Arab League) will offer, not normalization, not full recognition, but something else, I forget the exact term, was it 'normalized relations'? Nothing that couldn't be withdrawn in a flash, that is, unlike the actual Israeli pullbacks, which would have left a triumphant Arafat and Hamas proclaiming 'On to Victory!' in the West Bank and Gaza.
Mr. Lavie may be amazed that the Israelis didn't chase after this mirage like Charlie Brown kicking the football once again, but I'm not. Nor I think are the vast majority of Israelis. |
