Only Nixon Could go to China: Can Hardliners in the Middle East Create Peace ?

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It's impossible to discuss Middle Eastern politics without the Arab/ Israeli conflict popping up.

 "Is peace possible?"

"Are you in favor of a one or a two state solution?"

"But who has a rightful claim to the land?"

These are among some of the questions that crop up during talks of the Arab Israeli conflict. Let's add another question:

Can Hardliners create peace?

Given the right wing nature of Israel's current coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu, this is a question that is highly relevant to the conflict. Previously, there were more "ideal" conditions yet progress was halted.

When Yitzhak Rabin was in office, there was genuine progress towards a peaceful resolution. He pulled the IDF from the heart of Lebanon and stationed them in security zones, was highly instrumental in the Oslo Accords for which he, Shimon Peres, and Yasser Arafat were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. Shortly after, in November of 1995, Rabin was assassinated by a right wing orthodox Israeli in what is now known as Rabin Square in Tel Aviv.

Rabin Square, Tel Aviv December 2012 by Jessica Lowenstein

When I was in Tel Aviv 17 years later, I spoke to my tour guide about the event. He said that progress hasn't been made, because all of the politicians fear being assassinated like Yitzhak Rabin was.

I think that if a hardliner were to put effort into the Middle East Peace process that could negate the fear of assassination because they would have more  respect from the right wing. However, there will always be radials, wether left or right wing.

One of the biggest problems with the peace process is that these claims  to the land are rooted not only in history but in religion also. It's not like when Nixon went to China for this reason.

Non state actors in the area are becoming more and more of a factor in the peace process. There cannot be a peace process without the involvement of Hamas, and possibly Hezbollah. Israel will be hesitant to acknowledge these groups because mere acknowledgment gives them a certain power. In order for there to be a sustainable peaceful resolution, these two groups will have to be addressed as well, regardless of who represents the Palestinian and Israeli people.

Ethnic Groups by State in the Tigris and Euphrates Valley and Anatolia

Individuals of Influence: Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi

Mohammed Reza Shah Time Magazine Cover
Source: Time Magazine

Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi was the shah of Iran from 1941-1971 when the Iranian Revolution overthrew his government. He came to power after Britain and Russia invaded Iran post during World War II and forced his father, Reza Shah, to abdicate.  Mohammed Reza Shah began rule of Iran at the tender age of 22. During his early years of rule Iran experiences its most democratic point in history.  

As the shah consolidated power, he wanted Iran to be the big player in the Middle East region. Due to global factors such as the demand for oil, and the Cold War Iran is an important piece on the world chest board for the west. The U.S. viewed Iran as essential to blocking the spread of communism due to her location. In the early 1970's when a Marxist group came to power in South Yemen and influenced an uprising in Dhofar, Oman Mohammed Reza Shah sent British mercenaries, weapons and his own soldiers to help put down the insurgency.

Mohammed Reza Shah was pro-Western and this is reflected in Iran's foreign policy The U.S. used soft power in the form of foreign aid to get Iran to sign the Baghdad Pact in 1955. As part of the U.S.'s new human right's initiatives under President Carter the government also pressured the Shah into making reforms in Iran. The U.S. considered him a necessary ally but was also wary of some of his riskier practices such as in 1969 when the Shah decides to challenge the border of  the Shatt al-Arab by sending an Iranian Naval ship up the river with the intention to declare war should Iraq open fire.

Dates and historical information taken from Professor Commins' Modern Iran Class, Dickinson College Fall 2014