User:Kharbaan Ghaltaan/sandbox7

Saddam Hussein's Israel Peace Proposal was a diplomatic initiative introduced by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein during a turbulent period in the Middle East. In August 1990, in the wake of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Saddam surprised the international community by expressing willingness to establish peace and recognize Israel's right to exist. This unexpected move brought hope for progress in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Saddam's proposal, transmitted through Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), emphasized the implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. It called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories, the creation of a Palestinian state, and the establishment of peaceful relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors. This marked a significant departure from Saddam's previous hostile stance towards Israel.

Yasser Arafat played a crucial role as the intermediary, delivering Saddam's proposal to the White House and other key parties involved in the peace process. Arafat saw an opportunity to regain credibility among Palestinians by aligning himself with Saddam's peace offer. He hoped to leverage the perceived influence of the Iraqi leader to advance Palestinian interests and seek a resolution to the conflict.

Background
Saddam Hussein, the former President of Iraq, had a complex relationship with Israel and the Palestinian cause. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saddam Hussein made a surprising peace proposal for Israel, which aimed to garner support within the Arab world and rally against the international coalition that had formed against Iraq.

The peace proposal, commonly referred to as the "Saddam Plan," was announced in April 1990. Saddam offered to withdraw Iraqi forces from Kuwait, which they had occupied, in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories. The conditions included the complete Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, thereby allowing for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Saddam's peace proposal was seen as a strategic move to gain regional support and weaken the coalition against Iraq. By presenting himself as a champion for the Palestinian cause, he aimed to portray Israel as the aggressor and position himself as a leader rallying against Israeli occupation. Saddam Hussein had long presented himself as a supporter of the Palestinian cause. During his presidency, Iraq provided financial aid to Palestinian organizations and voiced strong condemnation of Israeli occupation and aggression. He sought to present himself as a leader who would stand up against Israeli oppression and work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

However, it is important to note that Saddam's support for Palestine was not solely motivated by genuine concern for the Palestinian people. It was also driven by his political ambitions and the desire to strengthen his own position within the Arab world. In terms of past relations with Israel, Iraq and Israel had a history of conflict and tension. Prior to Saddam Hussein's rise to power, Iraq and Israel were involved in several military conflicts. During the 1980s, Iraq under Saddam Hussein was engaged in the Iran-Iraq War and perceived Israel as a common enemy along with Iran.

Although there were no formal diplomatic relations between Iraq and Israel, there were reports of clandestine contacts and intelligence cooperation between the two countries at certain points in history. However, these reports remain largely speculative, and the extent of any actual cooperation is difficult to ascertain.

Peace plan
In the aftermath of Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, he sent a message to the White House through Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat, offering to make peace in the Middle East and recognize Israel's right to exist. However, skepticism prevailed within the White House, particularly among President Bush and his administration, who doubted the credibility of Saddam's promises. The message served as an attempt by Saddam to engage in diplomacy and present himself as a potential leader for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Yasser Arafat, who had aligned himself with Saddam, found himself in a precarious situation. While his association with Saddam helped restore his reputation among Palestinians who saw Saddam as a strong Arab leader against Israel, Arafat faced severe consequences internationally. The Western countries distanced themselves from him, and wealthy Arab oil-producing nations cut off substantial financial aid to the PLO. Arafat's decision to align with Saddam stemmed from his frustration with the United States and Israel. He had initially pinned his hopes on dialogue with the United States and U.S. pressure on Israel, but he eventually lost faith in the effectiveness of this approach. Although Arafat had taken significant steps, such as renouncing terrorism and recognizing Israel's right to exist in 1988, he was not allowed to meet with top U.S. officials. Instead, representatives from the PLO were required to meet with the U.S. ambassador in Tunisia.

The negotiations between the PLO and Israel faced numerous obstacles, with Israel showing little willingness to compromise. Palestinians became increasingly disillusioned with Arafat's approach, and the situation worsened when a renegade PLO member launched an unsuccessful terrorist attack on an Israeli beach. Arafat refrained from condemning the raid, fearing it would make him appear subservient to the United States. Consequently, the United States terminated the dialogue with Arafat, causing a significant blow to his aspirations. Arafat, facing declining popularity, made the strategic decision to relocate his headquarters to Iraq and form an alliance with Saddam Hussein. Though taken by surprise by Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, Arafat continued to support him and even advised him on Iraq's response to the buildup of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. Classified U.S. reports indicate that Arafat influenced Saddam's proposal, urging him to condition his withdrawal from Kuwait on the withdrawal of other Middle Eastern nations from territories they occupied by force.

On August 12, Saddam offered to withdraw his forces from Kuwait upon resolution of "all issues of occupation." He stipulated that Israel should unconditionally withdraw from the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights as the initial step. In a secret part of his proposal, Saddam stated his willingness to recognize Israel's right to exist. The message, initially handwritten and sent from Tunis, was subsequently refined by Arab sources in Washington before reaching the White House. Saddam's proposal invoked the implementation of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions pertaining to the Middle East, which included Israel's withdrawal from occupied territories and recognition of Israel as a legitimate, sovereign country.

The message emphasized the opportunity to establish peace and called for a two-state resolution and a comprehensive Middle East solution as the means to achieve stability and safeguard international interests in the region. It also warned that failure to pursue peace could lead to the perception that the United States aimed to occupy Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Saddam's proposal challenged the U.S. administration to decide whether it sought friendship and mutual respect with the Arab nations or war. Although doubts persisted regarding Saddam's motives, Arafat's role as the messenger carried a clearer signal. Arafat aimed to rebuild his credibility with the White House, presenting himself as a peacemaker rather than an ally of the belligerent Saddam.