Dear Friends of Israel,

   Israel had long refused to submit a proposal for the future location of the border between the Palestinians and Israel. It insisted that this had to be a part of direct negotiations. In 2008, the Palestinians presented a detailed plan that included land exchange proposals during the negotiations in Annapolis under the Bush administration. Then, the Israeli government stated that it would present its conception of the future border demarcation.

What has changed since then? The United States is no longer the sole mediator, but is now part of the so-called Quartet: the European Union, Russia, the UN and the US. An Israeli government spokesman stated that their proposal for a future border does not mean that they are willing to participate in indirect negotiations, but is merely a concession to the Quartet, to help get the direct negotiations moving again.

The United States is imperceptibly turning over its leadership role as mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to others. A reporter called it “leading from behind.” That’s like conducting from behind the orchestra, much like the Libyan model. It means that others will be delegated to perform tasks that would likely be stigmatized by the world's majority, if the US were to do it themselves.

The recipe is simple: the Europeans and some Arab states perform the delicate tasks to carry out US-backed policies. Why do it alone, and then pay a heavy price for it? Let others bear some of the burden, while discreetly taking the lead. Can that tactic, which worked in Libya, also succeed with Israel and the Palestinians?

Since the US is no longer the sole mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but now the EU, Russia and the United Nations as well, the matter will surely gain weight and impetus. That will make it more difficult for the two warring parties not to comply with demands for serious negotiations or to continue advancing irrelevant excuses.

These developments reveal that the creation of a Palestinian state is moving relentlessly forward through quiet diplomacy, despite the supposed stagnation. The active roles that are now being taken by previously unengaged partners, who would have preferred to remain uninvolved, are sure to provide a new and serious dynamic to the process.

Something significant happened at the end of October in Jerusalem. Tony Blair, as envoy of the Quartet, along with David Hale of the US, Helga Schmid of the EU, and Sergey Vershinin of Russia held separate meetings to try to bring the two parties back to the negotiating table. The significance of the event was not that they succeeded, but that it was no longer just the US, rather the entire Quartet that wanted to bring the two sides together.

Tony Blair then said in an interview that the US did not retract from the process, but instead wanted the other partners to play an active role. However, this raises the question, is this another example of "leading from behind?”

One thing seems clear in all these events: the issue is getting serious. In spite of all the worrisome events of this world, we may confidently look up to Him, whose coming was once proclaimed by a chorus of angels with the words, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.”

With this peace, the Shalom from God, I hereby send you greetings for the holiday and the beginning of the New Year

 Fredi Winkler