The US administration is trying its utmost in the last few months of US President George W. Bush's term in office to save its New Middle East project, according to its concept of democracy.
Several initiatives have been launched to find solutions to chronic problems in the region in a short span of time, to enhance security and peace as well as the American domination of the region. These initiatives indicate remarkable shifts in the stances and policies of many sides towards strategic and important issues in the region.
Seven key proposals were announced during Bush's last two Middle Eastern and European tours.
The first was Israel's offer to return the Golan Heights to Syria, through a round of indirect negotiations between the two parties with a Turkish mediator. The second was Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's announcement that the country is planning to open an embassy in Beirut, after the formation of the national unity government in Lebanon according to the Doha Agreement. This move is considered the first in the history of the Syrian-Lebanese relations, since Syria never recognised Lebanon as an independent state.
Third is the move to turn a new page in the Syrian-French relations through an initiative by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The relations between the two countries were strained after the issuance of Security Council Resolution 1559 to force Syria out of Lebanon with the support of the US and France.
The fourth point is the growing French pressure on Israel to make more concessions for the Palestinian side, stop building colonies in the West Bank, and to consider occupied Jerusalem the capital of both the Israeli and Palestinian states.
Sarkozy made these remarks in a speech at the Israeli Knesset during his visit to Israel last week.
Fifth is the US support for Lebanon's right to regain the occupied Sheba'a Farms from Israel, and the promise given by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Lebanese President Michel Sulaiman to make that happen. The sixth point is the UN's demand of Israel's withdrawal from Sheba'a Farms and announcing it a Lebanese territory, not Syrian as claimed by Israel.
Recognition
Finally, members of the US Congress have adopted a proposed non-abiding resolution that compels the Iraqi government to recognise Israel and normalise its ties with it.
The countries involved in these discussions are Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Iraq with limited Turkish participation and a more active French role.
France gained a bigger part after it became the closest ally to the United States in its views on the Middle East, especially Iran's nuclear programme. This shift in France's policy came after Sarkozy, who shows keen interest in involving France in Middle Eastern issues, took office.
The main purpose of this plot is isolating Iran, weakening its influence and undermining its ambitions to become a superpower in the region, which coincide with increasing sanctions and escalating threats against the Islamic Republic.
The time may be ripe to implement this design although with exceptional efforts. Israel has finally acknowledged its limits as a state with certain borders that has no right to expand at the expense of its neighbours. The building of the apartheid wall by Israel is evidence of Israel's realisation that it has borders, which must be protected. It is more willing than ever to trade off its short and long-term security by neutralising its next-door enemies and weakening other foes.
Israel is required to abandon the Golan Heights and Sheba'a Farms, which are not its territories, and show more flexibility in its talks with Palestinians against its security, which cannot be guaranteed any other way.
Israel's security is based on four main points, the first of which is a peace accord followed by normalisation of ties with Syria.
The second point is placing Hezbollah in confrontation with the Lebanese state, which will allow the country to disarm Hezbollah, with logistic support from the US and France.
Since the occupation of Sheba'a Farms is the sole legitimate excuse used by Hezbollah before the Lebanese public opinion to carry on its resistance against Israel and keep its arms, Israel's withdrawal from Sheba'a Farms will leave no excuse for Hezbollah to keep its arms, and the Lebanese themselves will disarm the party.
Isolating and weakening Hamas by reaching a final settlement agreement with the PNA is the third pillar of Israeli security.
Iraq's recognition of Israel and normalisation of ties between the two countries under American pressure is the first step of breaking Israel's regional isolation, and will result in normalising its ties with other Arab countries and establishing economic relations with them, of which Israel is the main winner.
Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.
