“Diplomacy is important and has a vital role to play [in solving Israeli-Arab conflict], but its function must be different than Oslo process and Road Map suggest,” Gingrich argued in summer edition of Middle East Quarterly.

“The focus on Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy cannot work when one side has a leadership that does not deliver on its word.”

The 2008 presidential hopeful noted that “in order for diplomacy to work, negotiators must be honest brokers willing to keep commitments,” an area in which Gingrich noted Palestinian Authority leadership was lacking.

“Diplomacy should not be used as political checkmate while one side keeps its word, and other side willfully disregards its promises to gain political advantage,” he wrote.

Gingrich called Road Map, which was largely formulated by Bush Administration, a “product of a period of failure now past,” and urged Washington, “It is time to move on.”

But one of greatest advantages is that it will encourage intra-regional trade and allow CARICOM states to negotiate as a single entity. This will afford them a better opportunity to influence policies concerning global trade. Perhaps region may soon be a force to reckon with in next round of World Trade negotiations.