A Book "Review: The 'New Middle East' by Shimon Peres (Part One)

Article Title: A Book "Review: The 'New Middle East' by Shimon Peres (Part One)
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Key Words: Shimon Peres, Middle East, Israel, books, politics, world, peace, possibilities for peace
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This article may be published with acknowledgment to Element Books Ltd .Thank you. All my other articles may be freely published electronically or in print.
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THE NEW MIDDLE EAST by Shimon Peres with Arye Naor Published in Great Britain by Element Books Ltd 1993

Submitter's Note:
I am currently reading and researching a fascinating book, 'THE NEW MIDDLE EAST' by former Israeli Prime Minister and current President, Shimon Peres (with Arye Naor), especially in the light of current world events. So am sharing some thoughts and ideas of Mr Peres directly sourced from this book (the first three chapters). In "my little way" I'm sharing in the "spirit of just trying to plant tiny seeds, ideas of hope and peace in a current 'hot-spot' of the world, a tinderbox." Hopefully! Whether you agree with the words of Mr Peres written in 1993 or not, I hope you may find these points and notes as revealing and illuminating as I do in attempting to understand this highly complex and volatile region.

'just an ordinary person and writer trying to do something' ("rather impulsively and passionately") through the power of words and using the amazing technology of the 'net'.
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A BOOK "REVIEW: 'THE NEW MIDDLE EAST' by Shimon Peres (with Arye Nao) - PART ONE

THE DAWN OF PEACE

"What is needed is a "Conceptual Revolution", a re-evaluation of thinking. Peace will only come about as a result of compromise.

We must open our eyes to a new reality, a quantum leap in thinking... and perhaps turn the tide of history. We had to open our eyes to a new reality, to drive away the shadows of the past. But how?

Though we may learn the lessons of history, it is difficult to correct our mistakes. We cannot build a future on the ruins of an old order. We cannot allow the past to shape immutable concepts, that negate our ability to build new roads.

The bilateral negotiations represented hope and focused on reconciliation of past differences: borders, territories, water and land rights, security measures. Don't let outside countries undermine negotiations. Firstly, we had to get "DOP" = a declaration of principles. Focus on the old views of each side with the aim of settling any differences based on them. Multilateral negotiations looked to the future, seeking to establish a foundation for a new regional framework. Five working groups were set up to cover the following categories: economics, water, refugees, arms control and ecology. Then various steering committees were established to maintain contact among the working groups, especially between meetings. It was an original and constructive approach in the need to reach a declaration of principles ("DOP"). * There is NO substitute for negotiation. Arafat would not allow his delegates to retreat from the talks. He also understood that any agreement reached without him would undermine his power and the organisation he headed

Arafat used the declaration of principles to gain the upper hand in the power struggle with his adversaries. Absolute secrecy was a necessity.

But how can we come to an agreement on bilateral recognition, when Hamas denies our very existence?

The dynamics of the negotiations had made them rethink the utility of teror. They too had problems, and they too had to find a happy medium between their goals and their ability to achieve them.

Unlike the West bank, Gaza is not peppered with Israeli settlements. What good is control, if we cannot improve their conditions?

We have to find the spark to ignite the talks, maintain the energy and find a creative solution.

The positions have been clarified. Trust has been generated.

A breakthrough is desperately needed. One that can create a new momentum. We admire a clear vision, a clear vision to the future, we admire your ability to grasp the new in this world... and your genuine ideas that aim at the creation of a new Middle East. We share that with you, in the process of creating a better future for ALL. We are ready to do that, to put our hands in yours to build a stable and flourishing future for your and our future generations.

Sincerely ...

*

It was also necessary to clarify the prospects of overall peace in the Middle East, not merely peace between any two of its parties. The Palestinian delegation had demanded that all new Israeli settlements in the teritories be stopped. The PLO was obligated to settle future differences by political negotiation, instead of by violence.

I kept in mind the wise advice of Winston Churchill:
'It is better to jump across an abyss with one step rather than two.'

'With the power of power, or with the power of wisdom? Wisdom is better than power. If we all act wisely, the PLO will become a partner in peace instead of an obstacle to it.'

I have always believed that political victories not accompanied by economic benefit stand on very shaky ground. We need to look forward, to construct a framework that holds a potential for happiness for all peoples in the region. It is time to form a new agenda, a stepping-stone from which to leap, higher and further than ever before.

The world has changed... and this change compels us to replace our outdated concepts with an approach tailored to the new reality.

There IS an alternative approach: bilateral and multi-lateral pacts - treaties that cover whole regions. The key to maintaining a safe regional system lies in politics and economics (ie. competitive trade relations, open borders and reliance on science and technology).

Politics should pave the way from pure military strategy to an enriched political and economic repertoire. Leaders need to foster a peaceful environment that creates wealth and goodwill. The scale has tipped in the direction of economics, rather than military might. Economic challenge brings new opportunities created by human intellectual advances. "The ball is in our court." *

Our enemies are immersed in religious fundamentalism. Today we are witnessing a renaissance of Islamism, now characterised by opposition to Western values and culture, a retreat from modernism and a call for the use of force to establish an autocratic, suppresive Islamic republic... as a ounter to Western ideology (nationality, socialism, liberalism, economic development, democracy).

The world is at a historic crossroads: one path leads to modernization, individual rights, seperation of church and state, democracy, prosperity; the other leads to messianism, extremism, servitude, totalarianism, irrationality, poverty.

Economic and social development are the criteria for successful democratization of the Middle East. It's success will open up limitless opportunities in the region. Democratization will put an end to the danger to regional and world peace. But for the democratic process to take hold, we must first overcome poverty and ignorance - the cradle of fundamentalism.

Low income (and GDP), high unemployment, overpopulation and limited production. Diminishing water sources. all give rise to fanaticism, fundamentalism and false messianism The higher the standard of living rises, the lower the level of violence will fall.

The solution to breaking this vicious cycle is clear: crush the barriers of hatred. Decide like Egypt and Israel did years ago: NO MORE WAR, no more bloodshed. Instead of visions of blood and tears, there will rise visions of happiness and beauty, life and peace. We are at a histioric crossroads. Do we choose the path of the tongues of fire, billowing smoke, and rivers of blood, or of blooming deserts, restored wastelands, progress, growth, justice and freedom?

David Ben-Gurion once said that 'all experts are experts on what already was'. We need experts on what WILL BE."

The words of Shimon Peres* (in 1993!) Sadly, things have got a lot worse in the Middle East since those "hope filled" days of 1993. The dream was not fulfilled, the vision had not become a reality... because there was not the moral WILL by all parties!

* Shimon Peres is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as Prime Minister of Israel and once as Acting Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years. Peres was elected to the Knesset in November 1959 and, except for a three-month-long hiatus in early 2006, served continuously until 2007, when he became President. He is also a former winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 * info from Wikipaedia)

(Shared by craig "writing for peace"*)

* or at least a more peaceful world

"Let us not negotiate out of fear, but let us not fear to negotiate."
- John F Kennedy

"There can be no peace without reconciliation and there can be no reconciliation. without justice."
- Corazin Aquino (former Prime Minister of the Phillipines)

"Wars are poor chisels for carving out a peaceful tomorrow."
- Martin Luther King, Jnr

"Peace is the greatest weapon for development, that any people can have."
- Nelson Mandela

PS:
"Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."
- inspirational words from John F Kennedy on the occasion of his inaugeration as President

"Let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Let us look at distant horizons together in a spirit of acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation and peace. Let our leaders look at the future with a vision - to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become."

"When people's hearts are filled with love, the world is overflowing with hope"
- craig

"Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tide and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." - Teilhard De Chardin