Europeans See Opening to Replace US as Mideast Peace Brokers

Middle East observers often remark at the undisguised desire of the European nations to become more significant players in the Mideast peace process. Until now it has been a futile aspiration. But since the Palestinian Authority has initiated a boycott against American involvement in the search for peace, some pundits see a potential role for the Europeans – a potential development that does not play well in the Jewish state. And just as the Trump Administration’s recently unveiled peace plan has united the various Palestinian factions – albeit negatively – it is seemingly doing the same thing to European states, virtually all of them opposing the plan. Israel has launched a diplomatic initiative urging inveterate region-watchers to back the plan as Israeli voters appear to be moving steadily toward support for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in the country’s upcoming national election. The incumbent retains a strong and growing lead among voters in the all-important category of the candidate people feel is the most appropriate to lead the nation.