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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 9 -15 November 2000 Issue No.507 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 9 -15 November 2000 Issue No.507
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Happy guessing
Sir- A thorough scanning of articles on the Arab summit elicits a sense of circumlocution -- it happened, nothing much was decided, and? No one has stated the obvious: the summit was a failure. Not only a failure: the beginning of a drawn-out future disaster. Israel was criticised, a few verbal slaps on the wrist were doled out, some minimal steps to cut ties were taken -- but the obvious, much stronger action that could have been possible was studiously avoided.What practical steps could have been taken that would not entail massive cost and dislocation? The first could have been the total suspension -- not breaking -- of all ties with Israel with the public understanding that the suspension would stay in place until a just, reasonable and quick political resolution came about -- including the creation of a viable and independent state of Palestine formed from the "West Bank" and "Gaza Strip."
The second could have been the symbolic, but very real, suspension of oil shipments for one day to the US, as a warning that the patience of Arabs is not limitless, and that yes, the Arab side is not completely helpless before the American military machine. But Saudi Arabia threw that away before the summit.
The third could have been the recalling of Arab ambassadors from Washington for the classical "consultations" -- their return being left in limbo to await events.
Instead, what came forth was a mild "riposte" that in practical effect was not only meaningless over the longer haul, but widely seen throughout the world as a sign of almost terminal weakness, and interpreted by citizens of the Arab countries as a message of appeasement and bowing to American pressure.
Over the longer term, this apparent siding with the American military colossus is unsustainable if there is to be any hope of democratic development in the Arab world. Fortunately for the leaders of this region, they run authoritarian regimes capable of suppressing any dissent. So bowing to American dictates has an exceedingly heavy internal price -- the denial of democratic development in the Arab world.
The summit cobbled together an agreement that contained all the worst features: no realistic political or military assistance to the Palestinians to gain their independent state; a public display of deference before American power; and the growing necessity for even more internal repression as the various Arab regimes become even more alienated from the citizens they are supposed to lead. A Faustian bargain whose long-term implications can only be guessed at. But they won't be happy ones.
Hendrik Weiler
HeliopolisHeart burn
Sir- Last year when NATO was bombing Yugoslavia Javier Solana, in his capacity as secretary-general of NATO, visited the Kosovo refugees and proclaimed: "My heart burns when I see you all and that is why we are fighting for you." CNN repeatedly flashed footage of Solana saying these words.But this time Javier Solana visited the Middle East in his capacity as "foreign policy czar" (according to Newsweek) of the European Union for peace-making. Apparently Solana has left his heart behind on this trip to Middle East, since he has nothing to say about the cold-blooded killing of Palestinians, mostly children, by Israeli soldiers.
This exposes the hypocrisy of defenders of human rights.
E A Vidyasekera
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