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.