Unfortunately what we see today is the real picture of Arab politics. The only winners are the demagogues and those who wail and appeal to emotion rather than to reason.

During last month’s Arab summit in Jordan following the submission of the paper dealing with the Iraqi-Kuwaiti problem, I met an official delegate who surprised me by revealing some new details.

I asked him what the Gulf governments would tell their people if unprecedented concessions were given to the Iraqi regime. He replied: “I think the people understand our position and the circumstances in the region. We will convince them later about what is announced.” I asked him how the Arab in the street would know that these concessions had been made for the sake of common Arab interests since the main problem in the Arab world is that virtually all information is distorted and even falsified and, consequently, discounted by the majority normal Arabs.

A day after our conversation, my fears were seen to be justified. Iraq rejected the concessions offered to it by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and even twisted them in statements and press conferences at which it sought to present a picture different from what was written about and documented in the conference and heard by those taking part. What happened then? The Gulf delegates withdrew quietly, leaving the floor to the demagogues who made false financial donations and empty threats against Israel.

Very few people realized what really happened in Amman and even fewer of those were aware of the amount of absurdity and pointless activity that took place during the summit. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, in response to Arab mediation, gave away almost everything in order to solve the problem. They dropped their support for the continuation of sanctions against Iraq; they withdrew their backing for military strikes and agreed to join efforts aimed at lifting the air embargo and allowing air traffic into Iraq.

In their new position, the two countries were backed by 14 Arab countries which agreed to a draft resolution that for the first time since the end of the Gulf war contains historical concessions from Gulf states. The problem with Gulf politicians is that they are too polite and restrained, unlike the representatives of the Iraqi regime. They did not resort to shouting and accusing others as the Iraqis normally do when they wish to make a point or attract the attention of the media. Perhaps Iraq’s announcement that it would donate one billion euros — approximately $800 million — to support the Palestinian Intifada is a striking example of the kind of deception harmful to the Arabs.

This deception is normally greeted with silence because most Arabs, from fear of Iraqi screams and shouts, find themselves obliged to bow their heads. An example of what I am talking about was evident in one of the conference sessions. Following the announcement by the Iraqis of their alleged 1 billion euro donation to the Palestinians, not a single representative of the countries attending the conference applauded the move. On the other hand, when the United Arab Emirates announced it would donate $50 million to help remove land mines in southern Lebanon, the room shook with applause. Everyone knew the Iraqi statement was empty rhetoric. When the session ended, a Palestinian delegate hurried to catch one of the Gulf delegations and tell them: “We are ready to give you for nothing Iraq’s one million euros if you will pay us only $40 million instead.”