7 -13 December 2000
Issue No.511
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 7 -13 December 2000 Issue No.511 |
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Delivering on promises
By Dina EzzatMembers of the Arab summit's follow-up committee are planning to meet in Syria on Sunday to check on implementation of the resolutions of the Arab summit held in Cairo last October. The foreign ministers of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco and Bahrain will hold talks on 10 and 11 December in Damascus to decide also on possible political and economic moves on the regional and international levels.
The Palestinian delegation is expected to present a set of demands to the gathering that will include the need of the Palestinian people for international protection against Israeli aggression, which has claimed over 300 lives and left thousands wounded since the beginning of the Intifada on 28 September. The Palestinian delegation is also to submit a document summing up the Palestinian Authority's concerns over the Israeli-imposed restrictions on trade between the authority territories and the outside world. These concerns are slated to be channelled through the Arab League to the World Trade Organisation. Moreover, the meeting will be offered a Palestinian review of the progress of economic aid to the Palestinian Authority.
The Damascus meeting will be the follow-up committee's third since the Arab summit on 21 October. The first get-together was held in November in the Qatari capital, Doha, on the fringe of the summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. The second was held in Cairo on Sunday at the level of the permanent representatives to the Arab League, with the participation of Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel-Meguid and Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa.
In a joint press conference after the meeting, both Abdel-Meguid and Moussa underlined their concern over the gravity of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Moussa warned that if Israel fails not only to adjust, but reverse its policies, then it is only likely that tension will increase. He added that more conflict and further Palestinian casualties will necessitate a meeting of countries party to the Fourth Geneva Convention to discuss extending protection to the occupied territories in accordance with international law.
The Arab summit has issued a resolution calling on Arab countries to exert all possible efforts to help provide international protection for the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. Israel has been adamantly opposed to the presence of international peace-keeping forces.
Palestinians' worry over the lack of protection in the occupied territories is mounting. Despite a recent report issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights giving a detailed description of the "excessive use of force" by the Israeli army against the Palestinian people, the commencement of work by an international inquiry committee is still being delayed.
Related stories:
Blowing in the wind
Waning expectations
The other casualty
Underlining 'a clear message' 30 Nov. - 6 Dec. 2000
Barak's last throw of the dice 30 Nov. - 6 Dec. 2000
No holds barred 23 - 29 November 2000
The cost of weakness 16 - 22 November 2000
Crushing the Intifada -- phase two 16 - 22 November 2000
See Intifada in focus 26 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2000
Intifada special 19 - 25 October 2000
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