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Al-Ahram Weekly 13 - 19 April 2000 Issue No. 477 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 13 - 19 April 2000 Issue No. 477
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters That was the deal
If the United States is to perform its role as an honest broker in the Middle East peace process, it cannot simply be a messenger for Israeli views. The problem is more serious when the world's sole superpower uses its influence to force the Arab side to accept Israel's demands, instead of working on a just settlement that would meet the legitimate demands of both sides. The Arabs want the return of their occupied land, a demand backed by many United Nations Security Council resolutions. Israel, meanwhile, claims that security is its main concern. That is exactly what the Arab side has been offering since the Madrid Middle East Peace Conference in 1991: security and peace, in return for land.
The US protagonists who are calling upon the White House to put more pressure on the Arabs are disregarding the fact that the Arabs have already done more than enough to confirm their commitment to peace as a strategic option. No Arab government at this stage is calling for a war against Israel or providing support to groups who believe that Israel should not exist in the first place. Even Syria, which is accused of adopting a hard line in talks with Israel, started discussing means of normalising ties with the former enemy in Washington. This is a step which should have been encouraged and understood for what it is, because it means that the country which spearheaded the Arab nationalist cause is now seeking a just and comprehensive end to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
But the problem, as expressed by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat during his visit to Cairo on Sunday, lies with the current Israeli prime minister, who talks peace while working hand in hand with extremist Jewish settlers to achieve the goals declared by the early Zionist pioneers. Ehud Barak has ordered the construction of thousands of houses in illegal Jewish settlements on the West Bank, exceeding by far the "achievements" of Binyamin Netanyahu, the man the whole world saw correctly as an extremist right-wing leader.
Barak will be fooling himself and his people if he thinks he can get peace exclusively on his terms, without recognising that the Arabs did not enter the peace process to make unacceptable concessions. If he continues to live a lie, Israel will be the main loser, and will continue to live in fear and isolation.
