With the end of the Gulf War and its aftermath, it became clear that the American administration would do something substantial for the interest of peace in the Middle East , in order to preserve its credibility after the split caused by the Arab parties that opposed the American position regarding the Gulf crisis.

After decades of American diplomatic efforts, the administration accelerated its moves to bring all parties of the Middle East conflict to sit at one table. The United States exerted big efforts in arranging the Madrid conference by finding means to insure participation by all parties or by mobilizing support from concerned international powers, particularly Russia and the European Community.

The United States has succeeded with this method to achieve four objectives altogether:

Neutralizing the Arab sides that opposed the American position against Iraq.

Giving the United States the chance to continue the punitive sanctions against Iraq including the prolonged blockade without Arab public or official reaction.

Confirming its political power and international hegemony as the only super power in the world.

Finding the possibility of realizing some detente in the Arab Israeli relations and achieving an interim agreement or peace treaties between Israel and the Arab parties.

The United States has completely achieved the first three objectives, but the fourth one, which was the prerequisite for the other three, has been partly achieved with the risk of not being achieved at all.

In order to secure some relaxation which may facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the peace process, the United States has to play a big role beyond the diplomatic field and the role of the neutral mediator. Without the full American partnership that allows to define the minimum conditions, the possibility of achieving peace will be doubtful.

A peace treaty between Israel and Syria and Lebanon may contain a part of the contact line between the adversaries. But the peace treaty with the Palestinians will remain the core of the peace process in the Middle East. This requires a decisive American role in this direction, especially when the United States has become an accepted partner by both sides, the Palestinians and Israelis.