Bibi's back

By Salama A Salama

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If there is anything good about elections that sent Israel hurtling to the far right, it is this: the Arabs have no reason to quarrel anymore. You could almost feel it in the way inter-Arab relations are changing. You can sense it in the way the Palestinians are edging close to something akin to reconciliation. The Israelis are not doing us a favour by sending the likes of Benyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu a step away from the prime minister's office, but there is a silver lining. The call for Arab unity hasn't echoed as strongly for years.

The rise of the Israeli right wing in the recent elections has shaken the Arab world into action, and not a minute too soon. The renewed hold of Israel's right-wing parties on the Israeli psyche has a way of pressuring Israel's leftists into taking hard- line positions. But it also serves as a wake-up call to Palestinians and Arabs alike. No longer is the lip service of Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni held onto as a serious prospect. No longer are the musings of Israel's so-called moderates striking a chord with the Arab audience.

If you pay attention to what's been going on in the past few days you'll notice that the mutual accusations among Arab regimes have abated, and not just because of Israel's elections. Egypt has been working hard all the time. And it has managed to mend some of the rifts in the Palestinian ranks. Just as Netanyahu was coming close to leading the next government, either in coalition with Kadima or with other right-wing parties, a calming-down deal was being ironed out.

Hamas and Fatah may have not seen eye to eye on Egypt's calming-down initiative. But both were aware that Netanyahu's rise would terminate the peace promises on which Fatah staked its reputation. The power struggle that has ensued in Palestinian ranks suddenly became meaningless. Hence the two factions are more willing than anytime before to reconcile. And they will be having talks, starting 22 February, to explore possible cooperation. Although the calming-down deal between Hamas and Israel is getting most of the media attention for now, what is more important is the reconciliation among Palestinian factions.

Fatah and Hamas are talking once again and apparently willing to address such thorny issues as the holding of presidential and legislative elections and the formation of a national unity government. It is not helpful to take sides with either Fatah or Hamas for now. Actually, the damage of taking sides is considerable, judging by the current strain in Egyptian- Syrian relations. Still, during talks on a calming- down deal, Israel suddenly made the release of captured soldier Gilad Shalit a condition. This move, adding an extra burden on Egyptian mediators, was no doubt made by Olmert in an attempt to boost Livni's chances for becoming the next prime minister.

Turkey has come to the rescue during this whole ordeal. It has used its leverage to close the rift in Palestinian ranks, and President Hosni Mubarak's visit to Turkey was a sign of the willingness of the two countries to work together on such delicate matters.

There is a greater need now than ever to formulate a unified Arab position. When we speak in one voice, we will help the new US administration to formulate a clearer policy on the region. We don't want to be divided at a time when Netanyahu is edging closer to power. We have to stand united and deal with what comes, for the future is not exactly bright.