Briefs

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Seif in the limelight

The WEF meetings by the Dead Sea shore this week proved yet another opportunity for Seif Al-Islam, son of the Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafi, to attract the attention of international dignitaries and paparazzi.

Seif Al-Islam is widely viewed in diplomatic quarters as a highly influential figure. He influences the decision-making process of Libya and many in the Muslim world. He is believed to be encouraging his father to consider direct dialogue with Israel.

Libya has no problem dealing with Israel since Libya views itself as an African, as opposed to an Arab country, Seif Al-Islam told participants at the WEF. While denying that any political or economic relationship is considered any time soon between his country and Israel, the son of the Libyan Leader stressed that the "Libyans do not need to be more Palestinian than the Palestinians themselves." Libya is "thousands of miles away from Israel and we need not pursue a confrontation with them".

Seif Al-Islam argued that the Darfur conflict is a higher priority for him than the Middle East conflict.

Half in jest, Seif Al-Islam, who keeps his hands busy with all sorts of Libyan foreign policy issues, compared himself to Jordanian militant Abu Musaab Al-Zarqawi who is fighting US occupation in Iraq. "I am very dynamic like Al-Zarqawi, moving from one place to the other without being caught," he said. Seif Al- Islam stressed that he is not being groomed to succeed his father.

A new canal

On the fringe of the WEF meetings this week, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority formalised a deal to initiate feasibility studies to dig a canal linking the Dead Sea with the Red Sea. The project -- known as the "Two Seas Canal" -- is effectively an Israeli proposal that has been in and out of the drawers of regional officials.

Egypt has voiced concern over the environmental impact of the project suggesting that it might inflict ecological balance of the Red Sea.

To contain Egyptian apprehension, both the Palestinian and Jordanian sides stressed that the $15 million feasibility study, which may take two to three years, is not a declaration of implementation. "We are just looking into the feasibility of the project," said Palestinian Planning Minister Ghassan Al-Khatib.

Getting WEF to Sharm

At the end of the WEF meetings this week at the Dead Sea resort, it was officially declared that the meetings that have been held in Jordan for the past three years will take place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh next year.