ABSTRACT
Research on confidence building measures already has shown the value of secret as well as quiet versus public diplomacy. Diplomacy away from public scrutiny is given heightened importance when domestic political considerations affect the freedom of political leaders to make decisions and, in turn, complicate the relationship to external actors. The peace process in the Middle East is a complex forum of bilateral talks between pairs of actors, a series of multilateral talks with heavy external participation. From the Arab point of view recognizing Israel and enhancing its legitimacy by putting an end to the boycott and establishing diplomatic relations with it is very much a matter of substance, and in fact the most important political asset that the Arabs control in the conflict. The Arab League requested the placement of United Nations troops as guarantors of Palestinian security, as well as a delay in any further sessions of the American-led bilateral and multilateral talks until this issue was resolved.
