Analysis
World Affairs: A Gaza Postmortem, by Shany Mor
Category:
[ssba]
“Who’s up who’s down? At the end of a full week of fighting, both Israel and Hamas appear eager for a cease-fire, a clear indication that both belligerents are actually quite satisfied with the political accomplishments they have made in the fighting and that neither sees much to gain from continuing. For now. If all goes according to plan, Israel will get a respite from the incessant rocket fire on its southern towns and villages, and Hamas will get further de facto recognition of its regime in Gaza and an opening to the world via Egyptian border. Here’s an interim assessment for all relevant actors in the region.
Saudi Arabia, reliable American ally, anchor of the moderate Arab regimes, has been completely absent from the scene from the outbreak of hostilities right until the cease-fire. The 88-year-old king, who was out of commission due to back surgery this week, has outlived a succession of crown princes. Back pain kept the Saudi foreign minister away from the parade of Arab foreign ministers that descended upon Cairo this week to show solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. A mute gerontocracy, flatfooted by the dramatic shifts in the region since 9/11 and seemingly confused or indifferent to the Arab Spring, the Saudis have become the Arab Mr. Jones of Bob Dylan’s “Ballad of a Thin Man.” They weren’t just missing this week. Worse than that: no one noticed.”