But today Israeli officials I have spoken to say they hope these new talks about the Arab initiative might help reinvigorate the long-stalled Arab-Israeli peace process.
This hands-off policy was supposed to have the extra virtue of allowing America to mend fences with its Arab allies and help rebuild support for the United Nations embargo on Iraq.
And they may even help another Arab-American: a forthcoming poll by John Zogby, James's brother, reckons one in six will plump for Ralph Nader.
The administration wanted the Saudis and other key Arab states at the conference to help the Palestinians and to show the Israelis that there is a prospect for a wider peace with the Arab world.
Under pressure from Mr Obama, who argued that progress on the Palestinian issue would help galvanise an Arab coalition to confront Iran, Mr Netanyahu has since adjusted his positions.
This is not to say that Arab governments have always failed to help resolve such problems, when they can do so discreetly.
To its south, officials say, Europe has leveraged its domestic buying power, trade policy and aid to offer help to post-Arab Spring countries like Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt.
The 26-member alliance also will look for links with the Arab nations of the Middle East to help stabilize the region.
We had a unique ability to stop that violence: an international mandate for action, a broad coalition prepared to join us, the support of Arab countries, and a plea for help from the Libyan people themselves.
The United States -- along with members of the European Union and the Arab League -- have offered other types of help, though, such as communications equipment and humanitarian aid.
Such things have a powerful impact in the tiny Gulf state, and may explain why Qatar is so far the only Arab country that looks likely to dispatch warplanes to help impose the no-fly zone.
Iran, mired in deficits, is in no position to help, compared to the still-flush Arab petro-monarchies.
America needs Turkish help as it maps the future of the Arab spring, most critically in Syria.
" She added that "the democratic process in Egypt should be propelled" by a movement to help it regain "its leadership in the Arab world and region.
Yes, it was an Arab uprising, but it could not have succeeded without outside help.
In a separate development on Monday, the chief of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, said UN efforts to help resolve the Syrian crisis had faltered.
BBC: Syria crisis: Suicide bomb 'kills dozens' in Hama province
The same U.S. military forces and programs that help protect Israel from Iranian missiles and Islamist terror groups also protect Arab oil-producing states.
FORBES: What Happens When America No Longer Needs Middle East Oil?
The hope among young Saudis he had talked to was that the purchase would help make Twitter "more accessible to Arabs" by involving an Arab in the ownership.
As the violence increased in Algeria, Fanon treated (mostly Arab) victims and (mostly French) perpetrators of torture who appealed to him for help.
"I think my understanding of the United States as a society, as a culture, as a government, as an interest -- the national interest of America, as well as my understanding of the Arab world and the Muslim world -- I think I can be a bridge that will help, " said Fadel Lamen, a seasoned professional who specializes in Middle East affairs.
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