For several years, the Palestinian Authority president has been working to arrange an international conference—dominated by European countries—that would set the terms for the creation of a Palestinian state. More recently, the suggestion that the Arab states be involved in brokering a deal between Israel and the Palestinians has been gaining traction with the governments of both Israel and the U.S. Khaled Abu Toameh argues that Abbas will never go along with it:
Palestinians simply do not trust their Arab brothers. The Palestinians consider most of the Arab leaders and regimes as “puppets” in the hands of the U.S. and its “Zionist” allies. . . . They would rather have France, Sweden, Norway, and Belgium oversee a peace process with Israel than any of the Arab countries. . . .
[Furthermore], it is not even clear that any Arab states, especially Israel’s neighbors, are keen on a “regional solution.” The Jordanians, for example, are worried that a “regional solution” would promote the idea of replacing the Hashemite kingdom with a Palestinian state. . . . The Egyptians, for their part, are worried that a “regional approach” would mean giving up land from Sinai to the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip—a highly unpopular idea in Egypt. The Egyptians have good reason to be worried: some Arab leaders and countries have expressed interest in this idea. . . .
Israel as a Jewish state is anathema to Palestinian aspirations. No Arab leader in the world can persuade the Palestinians to give up the “right of return” for Palestinian refugees or accept a solution that allows Israel to retain control over certain parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Any Arab or Palestinian leader who promotes such compromise is taking his life in his hands. And Palestinian history will record him as a “traitor” who sold out to the Jews and surrendered to American and Israeli pressure. . . .
Here is what Palestinians really want: to use the Europeans to impose a “solution” on Israel. That is why Abbas sticks to the idea of an international conference like a dog that holds for dear life onto his bone.
Read more on Gatestone: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9983/regional-peace-process