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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Interview Features Focus Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters The importance of democracy
The statements made by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, labelling Hizbullah's attacks on Israeli occupation troops in south Lebanon as terrorist acts were, to say the least, very discouraging. Not long ago, the United States was repeatedly isolated at the UN Security Council, voting alone against resolutions backing Palestinian and Arab rights. Europe, and especially France, were more understanding of the Arab view, and adopted a more balanced stand towards the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Jospin's statements during his visit to Israel reflected the myth that many European socialists continue to believe: that Israel is an oasis of democracy amidst a desert of tyranny. Israel's founding fathers encouraged the belief that Israel was a socialist utopia, and invited many Europeans to work on kibbutzim and participate in building "the socialist dream".
In a meeting with Israeli intellectuals, Jospin reportedly said: "For us, Israel is a democracy, especially in comparison to its neighbours." He added: "For this reason, I never adopted any stand against Israel, even in conditions when it might appear as the country in control or in occupation of others' land."
It is because of such views that many Arabs feel they will never convince Western public opinion that they are struggling for a just cause. Israel is an occupying force; the Arabs are the victims of its racist colonialist project. To create Israel, the Zionists massacred innocent civilians, and millions of Palestinians have spent the past 51 years exploited, crushed and humiliated by a brutal military system. Yet Mr Jospin and many other European and American officials still want to lecture the Arabs on the importance of democracy.
Most Arab commentators have linked Jospin's statements to the upcoming presidential elections in France. The French public must be told that such policies, however, can only harm France's interests in the region. More importantly, a biased policy towards Israel cannot bring peace; it can only fuel the current instability. Surely this cannot be Mr Jospin's aim.
