The BBC’s Roger Hardy looks at the Arab Summit in Algiers:
At least as striking as what the Arab leaders will talk about is what they will not talk about.
Although there is an international effort under way to revive the Middle East peace process, the Arab leaders plan to do no more than reiterate the cautious peace plan they first announced three years ago.
They are unwilling to discuss democratic reform. And also absent from their deliberations will be the event which has plunged Syria and Lebanon into crisis – the assassination last month of a former Lebanese prime minister.
It’s scarcely surprising that ordinary Arabs have grown cynical about their leaders’ tendency either to be constantly at one another’s throats – or to utter long-winded platitudes about their common purpose.
Hardy concludes:
What unites Arabs now is something fuzzier – they tend to support the Palestinians, to dislike America, to watch al-Jazeera.
I wonder if even that is true anymore – or just a truism.
The lack of cooperation from Arab countries in the Palestinian dispute is apalling. Since Abu Mazen is displaying problems controlling the militant elements within the Palestinian independence movements, it is high time that Arab nations step up to the plate and contribute. Demands beyond vague lip-service condemning terrorist actions need to be issued and a joint Arab military solution should be presented. Arab governments, if truly interested in a peaceful solution need to stop funds to terrorist factions and issue firm support for disarmament.
The Palestinians do not possess the trained men or the political will to confront militants whose disarmament holds the key to mid-east peace. Therefore, an Arab coalition standing up for Palestinian self determination and peace with Israel is not only appropriate but critical. Security concerns need to be addressed by an Arab military presence until the Palestinians can muster their own defense force, free of radical entities.
Unfortunately we will probably only hear more about the plight of the Palestinian people, not constructive solutions.
The Arabs have always treated the Palestinians like rabble. The only thing the Pals seem to be good for as far as they are concerned is killing Jews.
Well, I’m not surprised. But I am heartened by the fact that a few thousand Iraqi college students demonstrated against Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism.
Seems to me they are the only Arabs ever to do this in an Arab country (or anywhere?).
You’ve got to start somewhere. The leaders aren’t going to do it. It will take time.
Man, the more I think about it, the more I realize what a burden lays on the Iraqi shoulders. And so far they’ve impressed the hell out of me.
Why does everybody assume that peace in Palestine is in the best interests of Arab countries? I have always assumed the opposite.
The sham of Arab solidarity also proves, more or less, that the United Nations cannot succeed as a collective security organization. If fifteen or so Arab dictatorships, largely unfettered by popular opinion and united by language, religion, stated foreign policy objectives, cannot agree on the most basic steps toward peace, then what hope can there be for the U.N.?
TigerHawk, I definitely agree with you. If peace was in the interest of Arab governments, contributions would have materialized decades ago. The status quo serves intended purposes.
Still, the US and Europe can change these attitudes through applying serious and viable pressure.
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