This is with reference to the article by Abdulateef Al-Mulhim “Arab unity: It is now or never” (March 26). The writer has echoed the sentiments of not only Arabs but also Muslims all across the world. He is lamenting the inaction of the Arab League but the truth is Muslims as a whole are doing nothing to uplift their status in the comity of nations. It is so unfortunate that despite being key economic and political players, the Arabs are lagging behind in terms of human development and social security.
It may sound clichéd but it is true the Arab world is at a crossroads. It is standing at an important juncture. With the discovery of shale gas reserves and oil other countries, the pressure has increased multifold. The Arab leaders must set aside their differences in the larger interest of the region and its inhabitants. The ongoing Arab Summit must come up with a solid strategy to counter Iranian influence in the region. Unity is the only way to do that. It is true that Iran-West détente will effect the political equation in the region but that should not deter Arab leaders to look for new alliances. However, without forging unity among their ranks, it would be difficult for them to act as one body. It is high time that Arabs bridged the gaps and closed their ranks and form a union on the lines of EU. It is not a difficult thing to do. Many would argue that the EU is facing issues and its member states are not happy with the alliance. The truth is an Arab union would be much natural thus reducing risks of discontent among members. Secondly, the Arab intelligentsia should study the EU carefully and instead of importing the idea, redesign the model according to their needs. The only thing is that they must act swiftly. They must understand that it is a race against time. — Lala, Jeddah
Arab union is a must
