After spearheading the disintegration of Libya and proving particularly ineffectual in Syria, France will now take a swing at kick starting peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. No one, mind you, invited France to mediate between Jerusalem and Ramallah, but the country is still living in its own inglorious past -- as a global empire with influence in parts of the Middle East -- and is convinced it is still a leading power on the international stage whose opinions matter. In the actual Middle East, however, no one gives France a second thought and no one is taking its peace initiative seriously. First of all, this government's days are numbered, and after the next elections a new president with completely different policies will enter the Elysee Palace. Second, and even more important, in less than a week's time the rug will be pulled out from under the French initiative when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office. Beyond these reasons, though, no one takes France seriously because for decades now France has been playing make believe. It believes it is a vital, leading global player; it believes it holds sway in the region, while its actual weight ranges from slim to none. France's failures are most glaring in Lebanon and Syria, two countries that fell under its dominion following World War I. But its commitment to these countries, specifically to the Christian minority living here, was always just on paper. In Lebanon, the French abandoned the Christians; and in Syria, France has done nothing but observe the bloody civil war from the side. That no one is taking the Paris conference seriously or pinning any hopes on it should come as no surprise. The apathy and total lack of interest, however, is not simply the fault of the host country, rather lies in the fact that no one in the Arab world cares or has the time to deal with the Palestinian issue. Everyone, of course, shares in the desire to prevent a new wave of violence from erupting in the territories, but there is quite a bit of distance between that sentiment and being willing to prioritize the Palestinian cause over the pressing problems these countries are facing. Egypt is mired in severe economic problems and is struggling to cope with the rising tide of homegrown Islamic terrorism inspired by ISIS. The Saudis are busy trying to stunt Iran's expansionist ambitions, while Jordan is straining under the weight of millions of refugees from Syria and Iraq. The Paris summit, therefore, is not a Franco-Arab venture where France will propose a peace plan -- such as the Arab Peace Initiative -- which countries in the region will have a particular interest in or need. It is interesting to note the apathy even in Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' close circle, because of the sense that the summit is motivated by domestic French considerations or perhaps even the Obama administration -- rather than a serious attempt to advance any Palestinian interests if at all. Therefore, despite the French flurry of activity, no one in the region is particularly enthused. Even in France the event is unimportant. The gaze of the entire Middle East will instead be focused on the real event, this Friday in Washington, when Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
