widening and tearing apart the political and economic ties that bind the world's.
nations , because it's so fragile. The main question so often asked is, what are our.
interests and how do we pursue them, but it's still left unanswered and what has.
been said hasn't been convincing to many. In the Middle East, they argue that their.
interests are broadly engaged, for they wish to secure and durable the Arab and.
Israeli peace, maintain the security and well being of Israel, and prevent regional.
conflicts while at the same time supporting friendly nations. Many U.S.
Ambassador's feel that their work is made easier if there is an active influence and.
peace with strong U.S. involvement. The progress in the peace process strengthens.
governments in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and others which are friendly to the.
U.S. and it helps to isolate Iran and Iraq whose leaders are hostile. However, the.
absence of progress in the peace process increases tensions and spurs violence. A.
successful peace process enhances regional stability, removes a rallying point for.
fanaticism, and enhances prospects for political and economic development. With so.
many complex interests at stake, the United States can't step back from this difficult.
sector of the globe, because they have so much to lose if they do and gain if they.
don't.
There has been a long quest for peace between Israel and the Arab world.
since the Truman administration. The Israel and Egypt peace brokered at Camp.
David by President Carter, but after that, progress was limited. Israel and the Arabs.
shared profound animosity and a sense of vulnerability and both sides saw.
themselves as victims. Neither side wanted to contemplate compromise in order to.
obtain peace. For decades the Middle East threatened to make the United States.
apart of it's deadly wars. Until 1993, when Israel and the Palestinians signed the.
Declaration of Principles on the White House lawn, the bridge to make peace hadn't.
