Friends,
It seems like regional events are dominating the news cycle this week: Our PM Netanyahu flew secretly to Amman to meet Monday night with Jordan's King Abdullah.
Israel wants to signal to Jordan that we are concerned for their stability. We have consistently boosted their government and acted to protect the integrity of the Hashemite rule, in the name of peace and stability along our very extensive eastern border with Jordan. Now it seems that we want to reiterate this commitment, before the Americans return to this region with another proposal that is intended to promote peace talks here. This can be good, and refreshing, in two ways: One, that the process of moving towards peace is a regional effort, and not one with myopic vision of the Jews and Arabs living in the small sliver we call the land of Israel. The entire region has a say in potential stability and peace, and we hope that this US Administration not only recognizes this fact, but incorporates that into any strategy it lays out.
Second, we intend to retain direct ties with our neighbors. While it can be helpful to get an outside perspective, this is our backyard. It is our collective neck on the line, it is our security concern that leads us in our own policy formation. We appreciate ideas but will not be told what to do. We develop our own Middle-Eastern-style relationships with our neighboring countries, and we work to remain both realistic and optimistic when it comes to potential for advancing peace in the region. We do so at our own behest, not for any other interests. Our children's lives are on the line, on our borders and in our military, and we need no better imperative to achieve realistic goals.
