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US Secretary of State John Kerry’s failed bids to bring peace in Gaza coupled with the waning influence of the United States in global affairs seem to be hampering a ceasefire bid in Gaza, but the US still remains the single global power capable of mediating a peace deal right now.
According to analysts, an unfortunate power vacuum in the Arab world caused mainly due to internal political upheavals in Egypt has made a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel that much harder. Experts say that such a ceasefire is still days away as neither party is ready to bend. Late on Monday, Gaza was struck by renewed Israeli fire as the Palestinian death toll in the past three weeks soared above 1,100.
On Monday, Kerry was hit by bitter contempt from the Israeli press, only a few hours after he had returned from his week-long trip to the Middle East. During the trip, Kerry based his activity in Cairo, and had only the one-off 12-hour ceasefire to show for his efforts.
Kerry and his team insist that they are still working hard to negotiate a truce, but, as the US Secretary of State put it himself, his attempts have been hampered by “misunderstandings” which seem to have reduced the odds of a seven-day truce. Focus now seems to be on a more modest 24-hour ceasefire; such a truce would allow time for a more permanent deal and supply medicine to Gaza.
Former US diplomat Aaron David Miller said, “I think we have days more of this. Barring some kind of fundamental shift, neither side has the desire or capacity to stand down”.
The US has pushed back against Israeli press that have labeled Kerry a “bull in a china shop” and an “amateur who thinks he can solve the world’s problems with his presence alone”.
Deputy national security advisor Tony Blinken weighed in on the situation, saying, “Let me say this about Secretary Kerry. Israel has no better friend, no stronger defender. No one has done more to help Israel achieve a secure and lasting peace”.
US foreign policy in the Middle East also seems to have played a serious role in the situation, with many experts believing that Washington has been moving away from any serious peace-making efforts.
Aaron David Miller, Middle East analyst and member of US Advisory Council of Israel Policy Forum, said, “The last time we had an effective policy in this region, where we were admired, feared and respected was Bush 41 and James Baker, and that’s a long time ago.But if the Israelis want to achieve what they say they want to achieve, which is demilitarization, guess what? There’s only one power, as was the case in the US-Russian chemical weapons agreement in Syria… capable of putting its arms around it.Not only do we still have influence with the Israelis when we choose to use it, but we also have considerable assets in the region”.
