For the first time ever, Algerians and Moroccans are responding to calls for normalization, calls that proved to be stronger than all forms of resistance to this normalization. In truth, tendencies such as the latter were classed as the exception in relationships that were supposed to be at least normal, so long as their being special was not something easily within reach. And by contrast, things this time did not take the form of mediations, well-intentioned efforts or commitments to the requirements of good-neighborly relations. Instead, they came proportionate to the turmoil and upheavals currently being witnessed in the North African sphere. Sometimes, fear may dictate policies. Consider for example, how the two neighboring countries are closely following how regimes are being toppled and how chaos is prevailing, whenever a state, any state, loses its grip on the ground in parallel with complying with the desire for reforms and change. When considered alone, geography is contagious, but the effects grow even larger when faced with blocked horizons. Further, the same way the revolutions managed to shed light on the failure of political inheritance, the domination of the one party, and the bankruptcy of the iron first approach, these revolutions also put an end to the myth that countries are secluded and sheltered within their closed borders. What is unfortunate here, however, is that the idea of the Maghreb Union had been built atop the end of the Cold War, when deep transformations were blowing over the eastern bloc. Nonetheless, this idea failed in becoming a strategic framework that can preserve the region's equilibrium, and restore its standing when negotiating with European partners and the West in general, while reviving hope for younger generations. Here, it is deeply tormenting to measure the periods of setback of the Maghreb Union's march, relative to the ages of the angry youths who rebelled against the utter lack of hope. The Maghreb Union was beset by bad luck, but by also the even worse fact that the relations between the two poles that are most populous and most prone to have close ties, had been deeply struck. This is as a result of the regional conflict over the Sahara, and the profound Algerian-Moroccan disputes that reflected on all the other issues, starting with illegal immigration all the way to their differences over terrorism in the Sahel region south of the Sahara, and the effective closure of their land borders over a prolonged period of time. But what is most tragic is that the disputes between the two neighboring countries have had their toll on the prospects for the Maghreb Union as well, which was often put to work when those relations improved, and shelved when relations collapsed. Therefore, any initiative for rapprochement between the two countries, even if it is a slow-paced one, will indeed have an influence at the regional level. At present, it is not possible to address the fundamentals of the Maghreb framework, in light of the current situation in Tunisia and Libya. However, at least some of the losses - resulting from the failure to achieve bilateral normalization between Morocco and Algeria – must be contained. A glimmer of hope hence emerged against the backdrop of the start of a Moroccan-Algerian dialogue, over energy and electricity issues. This highlights the importance of the strategic project to export Algerian gas to Spain through the Moroccan territories. This is perhaps the sole project of an economic nature that has survived the crises often afflicting relations between the two countries. The fact that Spain is considered to be the third European partner has perhaps helped here. However, another important partner must be considered, and that is the Algerian and Moroccan peoples, who have both been tremendously harmed during the years of their countries' estrangement. For a while now, many voices have risen to say that the price of the failure of the Arab Maghreb will be paid for by all Maghreb regimes, and that it will take its toll on development plans and integrative economic success. No one was paying attention to those voices because seclusion and isolation had turned into a policy. So will the uprising of the people of the Maghreb have a positive effect that would push in the direction of revisiting the crisis at hand, which must now take a back seat? No recipe is more important or useful than that of economic integration and political coordination, which can turn into a real partnership. There might be differences in opinions regarding the type of solutions and approaches for many of the current crises. However, these differences will soon be made irrelevant by the march towards democracy, development, and change that is no longer knocking on doors, but is rather sweeping over the arenas and seeping through to people's minds. In addition, internal reforms, through their political and constitutional dimensions, are now strongly imposing themselves. Reconciliation among the different regimes and opening up to the interactions of the populaces among themselves, are both indispensable in order to strike a new deal, all under the slogan of both internal and external reconciliation.
