Columnists
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
New alliance emerging in the Middle East
Israeli sources anticipated such a proposal. They said that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was not ignorant to this idea. While officially struggling to join the European Union, Turkey has begun to accept the possibility that its European dreams are unlikely to materialize. At the same time, Turkey's hopes for a mediating role in peace talks between Israel and Syria, are also beginning to fade. Israel now insists on direct negotiations with Damascus.
Assad's visit to Tehran was a kind of a slap in the face to President Barack Obama. Assad is the only Arab (or foreign) head of state to congratulate Ahmadinejad in person in Tehran.
In anticipation of Obama's major foreign policy speech at the UN General Assembly in New York in mid-September, Assad decided to keep all his foreign policy options open. Hence, and contrary to his "neutral" stance in the Lebanese parliamentary elections in early June, Assad is now very much, and discreetly, involved in the coalition-making efforts in Beirut. Syria is supporting its traditional allies -- Hezbollah and General Michel Aoun's party -- with the aim of giving them a practical veto-power over all future government decisions.
Such a position takes Lebanon back to the status-quo-ante situation and openly contradicts Obama's ideas for solving the Lebanese crisis. These Syrian moves are interpreted in Israel as a preparation for Obama's future UN policy speech, which would imply an effort to reduce Iran's influence in the region.
Thus, the talks about a quadripartite alliance between Syria, Iran, Turkey and Iraq, are aimed to pre-empt such an outcome. The four countries already co-operate in various fields, especially since the U.S. invasion of Iraq. All four have common interests in suppressing Kurdish national aspirations. All four also suspect that an American withdrawal from Iraq would exclude withdrawal from Iraqi Kurdistan.
This is a red flag for Iran that could find itself squeezed between the American troops in Kurdistan and Afghanistan.
This is also a red flag for Turkey and Iraq, which fear that under the umbrella of the American troops, the Iraqi Kurds would incorporate the oil-rich Kirkouk into their province.
Finally, a quadripartite alliance would also be a red flag for Saudi Arabia and Egypt, whose ability to help solve the Lebanese and Palestinian crises would be considerably weakened.
Indeed, and despite intense Egyptian efforts, the reconciliation talks in Cairo between the pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian Hamas and the pro-western Fatah, have been again postponed until after the month of Ramadan, which began Saturday.
Obama, however, appears determined to announce his Middle East peace plan next month in New York in the presence of both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas.
Netanyahu left Monday for official visits to Germany and Great Britain. While in London, Netanyahu is expected to meet with the U.S. envoy, George Mitchell, and will hear from him about Obama's peace ideas, as conveyed last week to Egypt's President Mubarak.
Realizing the wider regional implications, Israel appears ready to co-operate with Obama's vision for Middle East peace.
Sam Segev is the Free Press Middle East correspondent, based in Tel Aviv.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 25, 2009 A11
- Rate this

-
-
We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.
You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.
Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.
Post Your Comment
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
-
Faith Enduring
A look at Manitoba’s Ukrainian community through their churches
-
The Forgotten Disease
The fight to eradicate tuberculosis is far from over.
-
Flu Fight
News about the world's battle against the H1N1 flu pandemic
-
Follow the Way!
Join United Way on its journey toward lasting change and better lives.
-
Winnipeg road closures
Check if your commute is affected
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins
-
Blogs to Watch
We pick our favourite local blogs for you to follow
-
Breaking News Widget
Create and embed a Winnipeg Free Press breaking news widget on your site or blog
- Back to Top
- Return to Columnists
Advertisement
Most Popular
- Sod turned at IKEA site today
- Horror at the movies? That's the snack booth
- Manitoba man killed in crash in Nebraska
- Jury finds man guilty in execution-style slaying
- Rush hour crash closes Wilkes
- Southern chiefs blast Hydro
- Police looking for missing girls
- Find lukewarm lovers who fit your style
- Activists protest delay over Kapyong housing
- Will you get the H1N1 flu vaccine?
- Southern chiefs blast Hydro
- Sod turned at IKEA site today
- Find lukewarm lovers who fit your style
- Activists protest delay over Kapyong housing
- Horror at the movies? That's the snack booth
- Province takes aim at stubble fires
- Addicts out in cold: workers
- Rush hour crash closes Wilkes
- Ignatieff, McFadyen do the shuffle dance
- Bombers board huddles, lets Kelly ride
- Sod turned at IKEA site today
- Horror at the movies? That's the snack booth
- Southern chiefs blast Hydro
- Health Canada warns vets and pet owners about drug used to treat diabetes
- Activists protest delay over Kapyong housing
- Mortgage rates likely to rise soon
- Children helping children is charity's goal
- Asthma appears to be significant risk factor in kids for severe H1N1: study
- Addicts out in cold: workers
- Scientist fears shutting down of field station
Ads by Google


PREVIOUS

1 Comments
Posted by: steve
September 1, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Wouldn't it be positive step if Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran formed a peaceful, stable alliance in order to further their mutual interests?
Mr. Segev and his right wing Israeli friends prefer disunity and discord among their neighbours.
Such an alliance could help Obama put pressure on the Israelis to leave the occupied territories and this could lead to peace and stability for all of the countries in the region.