A spark of hope for Arab unity

Amidst the gloom created by the seemingly interminable bloodshed from terrorism and wars in the Arab world, there is a spark of hope that things are about to change. This is the direct result of the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to iron out the differences between Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The king is using his considerable weight as a unifying influence to provide political, economic and security direction for a region that sorely needs it. It is abundantly clear to Arab leaders now that they have to take action and put aside what are in essence minor quarrels, to fill this void. Failure would result in others doing so.
These actions must be based on the hard political realities on the ground, which includes the shifting regional interests of the world’s most powerful nations. Politics is all about building systems to serve the interests of the state and positively influence people.
The king had started the ball rolling by bringing Qatar back into the GCC fold at a critical Riyadh summit recently. This was a decisive move. Had it gone wrong, the GCC would have been left floundering, resulting in a major setback for Arab unity as a whole.
It is a measure of the political maturity of Arab leaders that the rapprochement succeeded. The region has had enough of the immaturity and self-serving decision-making of leaders in the past, and the political discourse that played on the emotions of people, which led to significant human casualties and economic losses. Arabs everywhere have recognized the smoke and mirrors games of these leaders, including the fake wars they have embarked on that have brought nothing but misery.
It is in this context that the Saudi initiative for Egyptian-Gulf integration has taken on increasing strategic importance, particularly now that the world’s major powers have left us to solve the region’s chronic problems on our own. It is imperative for Arabs to build a system that establishes the basis for solidarity and consolidation.
Achieving this requires an effort from all sectors of society. Those working in the media must start getting to grips with this larger picture, and eschew sensationalism that seeks to turn insignificant regional disputes into major crises.
Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, chief of the Royal Court, and envoy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has urged the media to start reconciling its position with current political requirements. Qatar has already complied, signaling its commitment to the reconciliation project by shutting down Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr.
What is now awaited is an Egypt-Gulf summit to finally end this dispute and open the doors to a fully fledged strategic partnership. Time is not in our favor in a region in such a constant state of flux. However, there is greater hope than ever for Arabs to become active participants in deciding their own fate in the region and world.
This initiative also has to take into account the role of other important players in the region, including Iran and Turkey. It is possible to reach a political understanding and build relations that help everyone. This can only be effective if Arabs are strong, and embrace a moderate and realistic approach. Important moderate countries, such as Jordan and Morocco, can provide added strength to this endeavor.
Arabs must seize the day because the conditions have been created for successful integration and unity. There must be no illusions about what will be required for success. There is a long and hard road ahead.