Listen to the people

By Ammar Ali Hassan

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The recent Arab summit in Riyadh wasn't an average summit, for it came at a critical moment in the region. The future has never been so murky, nor has the region been ever closer to the brink of disaster. We may talk all we want about the Arab regional system and what it could do. But the sad fact is that we're just wasting our breath.

Arab nations have the right to worry, for their leaders haven't showed much initiative so far, nor have they exhibited an aptitude for independent decision-making. Our leaders have failed to defend us against foreign plots, and they have failed to come up with new ideas. We know that the region is being reshaped by foreign powers. We know that further rounds of military conflict may be around the corner. And we know that we have to find our own voice, and yet we're taking too long to put two and two together.

We cannot keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best because the best is not going to happen. Others are trying to shape our future and we cannot keep on humouring them. We cannot keep on being moderate when told to and refrain from being extremist out of fear of censure. We cannot go on believing the US seriously wants to resolve the Palestinian issue just because it is making the right noises. And we cannot go on placating Israel just because it is no longer slamming the Arab peace initiative. We need to make up our mind. We need to listen to our people.

This week's Soapbox speaker is director of the Middle East Research and Studies Centre, Cairo.