The Middle East throws up some pretty cuckoo stories. But when I read this morning that Israel is trying to export cars to Iraq, I knew that I was in immediate need of an extra coffee before proceeding.

I have since cross referenced the facts on the internet, and have found an Arab source confirming the item. 

The Israeli Ministry of Transportation has approved a new plan to export tens of thousands of used cars from Israel to Jordan and Iraq in order to reduce the size of the used car market in the country. Sources within the Israeli Ministry of Transportation conveyed on Sunday the goal is to sell more than 50,000 used car in Jordan and Iraq, which constitutes some 10 percent of the Israeli used car market.

Apparently, one of the main beneficiaries of the plan will be car hire companies, who are renowned for having problems selling off old cars. Lobbying groups at work behind the scenes?

Maybe, but there is a great deal of irony in the potential of this commercial act. Israel selling cars to the Arabs. Who would have thought it?

There again, 2010 will be noted for the year when Israel seems to have discovered significant quantities of oil. The Middle East has turned on its head.

Next you might get Palestinians and Israelis learning not to be afraid of each other. Is that one step too far to comprehend?