US borrows Livni's ideas

The United States has adopted some of former foreign minister Tzipi Livni's recommendations about enlisting the Arab world into the peace process and have incorporated them into its Middle East policy, American and Israeli officials have told Haaretz. Livni's recommendations, which she passed on to U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell during his visit to Israel a few days before she left her post, deal with enlisting the Arab world to take part in the peace process and to advance gradual normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel as part of a regional process. Copies of the document were sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, National Security Advisor James Jones and Quartet envoy Tony Blair. It outlines three measures Arab states could take to build Israeli confidence in the peace process.

The document suggests that Arab leaders, even those who do not have relations with Israel, express public support in the peace process and the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, without trying to dictate a hard line to the Palestinians. They should also provide the PA with political support and assistance in isolating Hamas.

Finally, they should start establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, such as reopening Israeli commercial or diplomatic missions in Arab states, holding open and covert meetings with Israeli leaders and holding official visits in Israel. Livni told Mitchell that the Palestinians cannot make certain gestures in exchange for Israel's, such as the release of prisoners or handing them security control over West Bank cities. "Arab states could provide such gestures," she said. Livni said that following the Annapolis conference, the Arab world did almost nothing to help the peace process, thus impairing the Israeli public's confidence in it. Livni raised her suggestions at talks over the past year with officials in Arab states, including states that do not have formal relations with Israel. "The public in the Arab states sees on Al Jazeera only Mahmoud Abbas meeting with Israeli leaders, so Abbas is seen as a collaborator. If you too start meeting us in public, the resistance to the peace process with Israel would subside and the radicals in your countries would weaken." Livni's document raised keen interest in the American administration. Senior American officials said the term "gradual normalization" between the Arab states and Israel is being used by senior White House and State Department officials. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel referred to these issues at this week's AIPAC conference when he said the Arab states would also have to contribute and advance normalisation with Israel in exchange for Israel's initiatives.