15 - 21 March 2001
Issue No.525
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 15 - 21 March 2001 Issue No.525 |
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Grasping the possible
Ibrahim Nafie hopes for an Arab League summit governed by a new spirit of political realism
Once again the Arab world finds itself at a crossroads that demands crucial collective decisions, that requires that chronically elusive thing, Arab solidarity. If anything, such solidarity is needed more urgently than ever.
Israel's brutal suppression of the Al-Aqsa Intifada that erupted last September triggered intense outrage in Arab public opinion and placed Arab leaders under enormous pressure to take definitive action. The outcome of the elections in Israel has exacerbated the situation. Some Arab analysts speculate that the new Israeli government will drive the region back to a state of war, all are apprehensive that its actions will imperil the peace process, raising the spectre of armed tensions that could ricochet beyond the borders of those immediately involved.
There is no doubt that resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict is the Arabs foremost challenge. The primacy of this issue does not only stem from the fact that it has governed regional developments over the past five decades, but also because it is inextricably intertwined with a number of other issues. Foremost among these is the situation in Iraq -- itself a multi-faceted question with profound implications for inter-Arab relations. There are also a number of urgent economic issues of common concern that demand our attention, but are at risk of being sidelined, as has happened so frequently in the past, because of the urgency of the political issues.
Yet now the Arabs have a major opportunity to set their affairs in order and in the course of doing so, become more capable of confronting the challenges before them. The Arab League summit, scheduled to convene in Amman on 27 March, should usher in a new phase of joint Arab action. That Amr Moussa will become the Secretary-General of the Arab League encourages this hope in view of the unanimous support he enjoys among its member nations. In addition, the very practical work done by some subsidiary Arab organisations, such as the Council for Arab Economic Unity, offers some concrete foundations for Arab solidarity within this framework.
Of course, before we give full rein to the optimistic prospects offered by this forum for the routinely scheduled exchange of ideas, the rebuilding of mutual confidence and the implementation of definitive action, it is important to address certain procedural considerations. All too often in the past, Arab institutions have failed to rise to the tasks before them, falling prey to those inter-Arab dynamics that have in the past impeded concerted action. As the first annual Arab summit is to set the pace for subsequent summits, it is all the more imperative that participants avoid the pitfalls of the past and commit themselves to a new code of conduct for this forum.
Above all, the notion of boycotting the summit should be stricken from the dictionary of Arab rhetoric. We can no longer afford to hide our heads in the sand. So many summits in the past were impaired in advance by bids to use the threat of non-participation to set the agenda or even determine the outcome of the summits. In all events, apart from some discord over the participation of Iraq and barring any last minute surprises, no such problems should dog the forthcoming summit in Amman.
This summit has some 24 points on its agenda, among which are the question of peace and the Intifada, the sanctions on Iraq and various economic issues. It is hoped that the conference will be able to cover all items, according each the weight it merits. However, here, too, the participants must adopt a new attitude. The agenda was devised with an eye on major issues of mutual concern, and no item should be deemed unworthy of such a forum because it deals with such a mundane concern as economics, for example. In addition, in spite of the compelling nature of some of the issues, participants are enjoined to curb their propensity for declamation and rhetorical one-upmanship.
If the annual Arab League summit is to serve as an effective on-going venue for communication and collective action for both the short and the long term, Arabs must come to terms with the need to meet regularly, discuss rationally and take decisions in an orderly fashion, regardless of differences.
In addition, resolutions adopted by Arab summits should be realistic and feasible. "Forceful" resolutions may suit some participants. But, in an organisation representing 22 nations with a certain margin of disparity in interests, political outlook and foreign affiliation, it is essential to observe the needs of all members through intensive consultations and thorough preparation. Moreover, resolutions should be designed to meet specific, accomplishable targets, within a set time frame. With the eyes of the Arab public on them, it would be wise for participants to remember that modest resolutions that can be seen through are better than momentous resolutions that stir cheers but ultimately prove hollow.
The forthcoming conference in Amman will not have an easy task before it, in view of the charged regional climate. With regard to the focal Palestine issue it is difficult to determine what resolutions the summit will adopt. The Israeli government's continued repression of the Palestinian people, the inclination of Sharon to jettison the progress that had been accomplished in the peace process and the provocative statements issued by members of his government would inherently propel summit members towards as tough a stance as possible. Mitigating excess in this direction, however, is the belief held by several Arab governments that we must do our utmost not to close the doors on a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and avoid giving Israel a pretext for doing so. However, before rushing to decisions, summit participants will do well to remember that most of the resolutions adopted by the last Cairo Summit could not be implemented. The reasons for this are complex and not all blame can be apportioned to the Arabs. Nevertheless it should serve as an object lesson that should inspire a greater commitment to a new concept of Arab political realism. If the forthcoming Arab League summit can translate this spirit into practice it will have set the compass for truly constructive Arab solidarity.
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