Abdicating responsibility

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By Salama A Salama

The US administration is dealing with the Arab- Israeli conflict with the same, unilateral insouciance it has applied towards Iraq. International law, its commitment to UN resolutions, the roadmap, and the Quartet have all been torn up. The US has abandoned its half-hearted attempts to placate Arab regimes, leaving behind even the pretence of impartiality.

After years of allowing the US a blank cheque in matters concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict the Arabs are left with a few options. European opposition will make no difference and Arab reaction has been unconvincing. Arab countries have yet to criticise the US administration. President Bush, it might appear, hoodwinked everyone during his talks with Egyptian officials held hours before he met Sharon. The only objections we have voiced have been to blame Sharon for destroying any chance for peace. But whoever said that Sharon was keen on peace in the first place?

On returning to Israel, laden with the blessings and support of President Bush, Sharon acted swiftly. Without allowing anyone a chance to re-group Sharon struck, killing the successor of Sheikh Yassin. The message contained in that action was easy to read: Sharon seeks to sow fear in our midst. Yet the capitulators and opportunists continue to squabble over the crumbs left by an old and ineffective Palestinian leadership.

But no Arab leader can possibly claim ignorance of US intentions to carve a deal with Sharon, allow his demands and re-assure him with promises. It would have been more honourable, then, to have taken a firm stand ahead of the Bush- Sharon deal.

It should now be clear that the postponement of the Arab summit -- for the ridiculous reasons that were trailed at the time -- was an attempt to obstruct any Arab positions emerging that might impede US- Israeli designs. And Arab countries contributed, unwittingly or not, to the unravelling of events. It is a contribution that underlines the bankruptcy, the intellectual and political decay, that afflicts Arab ruling institutions. Now any summit, when it convenes, will be far more complex, difficult, and humiliating, than was necessary.

Arab regimes seem increasingly to have abdicated any responsibility. They no longer make decisions; decisions are made for them. Catastrophe is paraded in front of our eyes and we turn away. The only measures taken, when taken, are suggested by others. Nothing is our concern, nothing is within our power. Our reactions are calibrated to please Washington. Particularly galling are the increasing numbers of Arabs -- intellectuals, politicians, academicians -- happy to dance to the tunes of the White House and the US Zionist right.

America has assumed the right to decide the future of the Arab region, to re-draw and re-formulate the region without consultation. Washington is deciding what is good for Iraq, taming its Sunni and Shia opposition, exploiting its oil wealth, placing it under long-term US military supervision, and telling it how to relate to its Arab and non-Arab neighbours.

With Israel's help Washington is taking care of the Palestinian issue without the Palestinians getting involved. The only things that matter are US interests and US commitments to Israel. America is negotiating instead of the Palestinians, without listening to Arab countries, without heeding its close allies, without consulting with Europe.

America is deciding the types of Arab government and societies we should have, the type of economy we need, leaving little room for Arab regimes to act. The Spaniards have just shifted their policy in a radical manner. Are Arab policy-makers taking note?