22 - 28 November 2001
Issue No.561
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 22 - 28 November 2001 Issue No.561 |
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'A step in the right direction'
Cairo sees promise in Colin Powell's vision of Middle East peace, even as it continues its efforts to revive the stagnant process
Egyptian officials, reports Soha Abdelaty, view Colin Powell's Monday speech as a first step in a long, but potentially promising, road involving the United States's active re-engagement in Middle East peacemaking. "It is clear that the US administration did not come forward with what we could call a complete vision to deal with the issue," President Hosni Mubarak's political adviser, Osama El-Baz, said on Tuesday. "What Powell said does contain some new elements, and we believe it is a step in the right direction. We hope that this is just the beginning," El-Baz continued.
President Mubarak meets with EU delegates on Saturday
Powell declared support for a Palestinian state, but urged Yasser Arafat to crack down on Palestinian militants. The secretary of state also asked Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territory through implementing UN Security Council resolution 242 of 1967.
Powell ignored the issue of the seven-day cease-fire period, demanded by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, an Israeli prerequisite before the implementation of the Mitchell recommendations can begin. "What we expect from Sharon and from the Israeli government is for them to stop making excuses for not implementing the Mitchell report and the Tenet plan, and not to give themselves the right to be a party and judge at the same time," said El-Baz. He continued that Israel cannot be "the side that asks for a seven-day calm period, and then gives itself the right to decide whether the Palestinians have breached this calm."
Powell's speech followed, or coincided with, regional tours by American and European visitors probing peace prospects for the region. Talks on Monday between President Hosni Mubarak and a US congressional delegation focused on the deteriorating conditions in the Palestinians territories. The delegation, headed by Darrell Issa -- a member of the House Committee on International Relations -- had visited Damascus and Beirut before arriving in Cairo, and then travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories to assess the chances of re- starting the peace process.
Speaking to reporters after the talks with Mubarak, Issa re-affirmed America's commitment to peacemaking, and said that Washington wants the parties to "get back to the negotiating process." He added that US President George W Bush's administration remained "engaged [because] we want to be helpful in this process." He said that even before the 11 September attacks against the US, Bush was committed to the creation of a Palestinian state. " [He] was preparing to deliver two states equal in rights," noted Issa, adding that despite some dissension in the US Congress against a more active American role in the peace process, "the vast majority in Congress are keeping an open mind and heart to the peace process."
Congressman John Cooksey questioned the assumption that the US was manoeuvring with the peacemaking efforts to keep alive its coalition against terror and gain support for the strikes against Afghanistan. "I believe we will become more involved in the peace process [because] a victory in Afghanistan is not a [victory] of our war against terrorism. It [the latter] is much more than that, and we need to be more patient," noted Cooksey. He believes that at present there is a "unique window of opportunity" for peace in the Middle East.
Issa thanked Egypt for its "help not only during this war against terror but also in so many crisis situations in the past." He said the Egyptian help was provided "sometimes behind the scenes, but we appreciate and recognise that help, and now we are in for a real test." Following talks with Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher on Sunday, Congressman Nick Rahall was apologetic about the recent American press campaign against Egypt, describing it as "unfair, unjustified criticism." He said the delegation will "try to present a balanced, objective view for our colleagues." He explained that the overall mission of the congressional delegation was to "take ideas and suggestions and feelings from the region back to our administration and our colleagues in Congress."
The Europeans also came to the region to gather ideas and assess the potential for the re-launching of peace talks. On the first leg of a six- stop tour, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana appeared optimistic about "positive news" in the peace process, saying that "the situation may be better" soon. Solana was in Egypt on Saturday as part of a top-level EU delegation. His renewed optimism was generated by signs of greater US engagement in peace efforts, evident through diplomatic contacts on the sidelines of the recent UN General Assembly session in New York and behind-the- scenes exchanges between Israelis and Palestinians.
The EU visitors met with President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday. The delegation, which was headed by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt -- whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU -- and included EU Commission head Romano Prodi and Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel - is the most senior European mission to the region since the outbreak of the Palestinian Intifada nearly 14 months ago. The delegation also visited the Palestinian territories, Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. At the beginning of the tour, Prodi said that the mission would "seek to defuse tensions as peace efforts gather pace."
Verhofstadt said that Mubarak and the EU shared the same views on the need for progress in the peace process because "there is an urgent need for stability." He added that a Palestinian state and Israeli security were necessities, and that the two sides must be pressured to "sit around the same table" to start talking.
Solana believes that the peace process does not need a new initiative but "a political will [which] may be coming." Verhofstadt agreed, adding that "all the plans are there, the Tenet agreement and the Mitchell report. Now we have to push both parties to start implementing these plans," Verhofstadt said.
The Mitchell plan calls for a cooling-off period, confidence-building measures -- including a freeze on construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip -- and, finally, the resumption of negotiations. The Tenet agreement sets out arrangements for a cease-fire and suggests comprehensive security measures between the two sides.
The Americans were singing the same tune. Congressman Issa said that what is needed is "not new plans, but new determinations" by both sides to make peace. He added that the US is "determined to re-engage all parties" and warned that "without cooperation it will not happen."
Issa urged the Palestinians and Israelis to relaunch peace talks soon, linking the stalemate in the peace process to terrorism. "We can only have peace by going back to the negotiating table," said Issa. "There is no way the status quo can work [because] it can only raise the spectre of even worse terrorism in the years ahead."
Fellow Congressman Brian Kerns said that he is "convinced that we cannot have an end to terrorism until we have peace in the Middle East. It is important to work together to help bring about peace."
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