6bf0a1823f688210VgnVCM200000e66411acRCRDapproved/thenational/Articles/Migration/2009-Q1A glimpse at Mr Obama's plan for peace5bf0a1823f688210VgnVCM200000e66411ac____In Barack Obama's inaugural address, he promised a new dialogue with Islamic nations on issues affecting the wider Middle East. Chief among the concerns in this region is restarting the stagnant Israeli-Palestinian peace process.<p>In Barack Obama's inaugural address, he promised a new dialogue with Islamic nations on issues affecting the wider Middle East. Chief among the concerns in this region is restarting the stagnant Israeli-Palestinian peace process. While Mr Obama has promised to address the "Muslim world" from a Muslim country in this first 100 days of office, the new US President addressed the Middle East for the first time in an interview with Al Arabiya on Monday. It was the first opportunity for the region to glimpse Mr Obama's plan for achieving peace and Palestinian statehood. What he said was revealing.</p> <p>From his interview, it appears that Mr Obama is genuine about pursuing a peace settlement in Israel-Palestine. While he repeated the familiar rhetoric of past US presidents that, "Israel will not stop being a strong ally of the United States", and parroted the oft-condemned belief that "Israel's security is paramount", Mr Obama did have some refreshing proposals. The decision to make regional assistance in brokering a deal between Israelis and Palestinians a key aspect of his proposed plan for peace is unprecedented.</p> <p>The most thoughtful and comprehensive framework for such engagement lies in the Arab Peace Initiative, and Mr Obama will probably seek to bolster those countries supportive of the deal. Accordingly, much will be made of Mr Obama's choice of Al Arabiya over the more widely watched Al Jazeera network. The fact that Al Jazeera has a decidedly less pro-United States editorial stance than Al Arabiya probably figured into Mr Obama's decision, yet there are possible political considerations behind the choice as well. That the latter is a Saudi channel, based in the UAE, and the former is a Qatari network will no doubt factor into the analysis of his decision.</p> <p>The emergency summit held in Doha concerning the recent Israeli attack on Gaza concluded with a recommendation that Arab countries suspend any ties with Israel and that the Arab Peace Initiative be discarded. This obviously runs contrary to Mr Obama's wish to engage the region in the peace process. In his interview, Mr Obama expressed his admiration for the initiative, stating that it took "great courage" to advocate such a deal when the Arab street, at the moment, appears so virulently against any dialogue with Israel. But even the author of the Arab Peace Initiative, Saudi Arabia, has warned that their patience is running thin, so it is encouraging to see the proposal lauded by the US. Hopefully, Mr Obama will honour his stated intention to seek regional co-operation on Israel-Palestine.</p> <p>In the meantime, the new Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, will arrive in Israel in the midst of an apparent violation of the ceasefire by Palestinian militants. A roadside bomb killed at least one Israeli soldier, and the ensuing firefight left at least one Palestinian dead. Israel has promised to respond, making the need to strengthen the ceasefire all the more urgent. This effort will be the first opportunity for the Obama administration to engage the region in the peace process. Hamas will require that the borders with Gaza be opened, Israel will need assurances that the rockets will stop and that the smuggling tunnels will be closed. Both of their demands will only succeed with regional co-operation. The bulk of the responsibility will fall on Egypt, but equal parts economic and political assistance from this region will ensure that the measures are successful.</p> 84YYOPINION2009012800000020090128000000100ARhttp://adedit.ad.atl.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/OPINION/521898179552189817920090128100000000