Saudi Arabia has been facing threats to its own security and interests in the West since the Sept. 11 attacks. Western observers and Israelis believed that on his recent visit to the US, Crown Prince Abdullah would devote most of his time to improving his country’s relations with the US. The relations have been under unprecedented strain in the past several months. Contrary to observers’ expectations, Prince Abdullah chose to act as the Palestinians’ advocate. He did so because he knows the resolution of the Palestinian crisis is in the best interests of all people, particularly the Palestinians who normally get nothing but empty promises from their fellow Arabs. Some Arab countries apparently don’t realize this and are betraying their own brothers these days. Instead of joining hands to confront the challenges to the survival of the Palestinians, these countries are wasting their time on trivial matters. Or have they chosen the most unfavorable occasion to settle old scores?
It is deeply saddening to note that newspapers and voices which are ostensibly Yasser Arafat’s staunch supporters continue their attack on Saudi Arabia which has imperiled its own interests by opposing the United States and provoking the pro-Israeli lobby. The Zionist lobby has marked Saudi Arabia as the greatest threat to Israel’s security. The lobby also believes that Saudi Arabia has challenged the Zionists at their greatest centers of influence — Washington and New York.
The treacherous move from Arab countries came while they should have been supporting each other. Why should some quarters publish scandalous reports about the Palestinian Authority while the Kingdom is striving hard to bring about peace in the region? Nobody claims that the PA is above corruption but the unfortunate part is that the sleazy reports were published at the most inappropriate time. Such reports will only harm Palestinian interests.
I wonder why others don’t appreciate a country such as Saudi Arabia that forgoes its own national interests to protect other people. The Saudi government could have, like several other Arab countries, organized mammoth rallies with its top leaders leading demonstrations and shouting slogans of solidarity with the Palestinians. The Kingdom could also have lined up an array of leading media personalities on its TV, radio and in its newspapers. All such displays would undoubtedly be enough to cool down the emotions of an angry public but would in no way help end the miseries of the unfortunate Palestinians. But those who are making sincere efforts to end the Palestinian crisis have been rewarded with stab in the back. This in spite of the fact that countries such as Saudi Arabia endanger their interests by inviting the enmity of power centers in New York and Washington.
It is not difficult to dig up shameful deeds by Arab regimes, including the PA. The house of the PA is extremely weak at this moment and it cannot withstand the slightest blow. But, then, what will happen to the millions of Palestinians who have no part in the crimes committed by political and media opportunists? In fact, Saudi Arabia entered a dangerous terrain when it chose to confront powerful US lobbies. They will never remain idle if their interests are in danger, as Netanyahu said. The former Israeli prime minister leads a massive Israeli campaign in the US. All these powers will struggle to give Israel a free hand to continue the destruction of Palestine with the support of the US. Israel will thus be able to complete the second phase of its demolition project in Gaza and its dream of obliterating every trace of Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
