Theatre of the absurd
By
Magdi Mehanna
The word "absurd" refers to anything that is inexplicable and illogical, that wastes your time, makes your blood boil, and in the process gets you nowhere. The word aptly describes the Arab and international scene with regard to the roadmap -- or perhaps the total lack of a map to anywhere as far as the Palestinians and the Israelis are concerned.
US President George W Bush came up with the roadmap, saying it would lead to the creation of two states, one Israeli -- which already exists -- and the other Palestinian, to be created in 2005. Because we are such simple folks, or perhaps because we have little else to believe in, we believed in him. Unless we follow the roadmap, we thought, we could easily get lost. As it is getting lost is precisely what we are doing, map or no map.
Talks led to talks and meetings to further meetings. From Washington to Tel Aviv, from Cairo to Jericho, and from Amman to Riyadh, politicians shuttle -- as long as Sharon is in power there can be no peace. The Palestinian state does not have a starting chance unless Sharon is removed from the equation.
Meanwhile Tripoli got busy accusing Saudi Arabia of sponsoring terror; Sudanese peace talks are in a mess; Syria is facing more accusations and the Iraqis are embroiled in a debacle with no apparent end. It all sounds like the theatre of the absurd, and perhaps we should shop around for something else to watch -- if the US will let us, that is. Until then we are stuck with the same plot, and the same characters -- Sharon, Abu Mazen and the wounded Arafat -- in this farcical play.
This week's Soapbox speaker is former associate editor-in-chief of Al-Wafd.
