JEDDAH, 21 January — Former US President Bill Clinton yesterday made an impassioned plea to both Palestinians and Israelis to step back from the brink and work together for peace. He also called on Saudi Arabia to take the world lead in developing alternate energy technology. It could create millions of job, he said.
Delivering a keynote address on day two of the Jeddah Economic Forum, the former US president was in relatively optimistic mood, despite the current situation. He predicted that there would be a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank and two capitals, in Jerusalem and Al-Quds, in one city. He insisted, however, that Arabs had to say that Israel had a right to exist as a state "for ever". But "only if there is justice for the Palestinians". The Israelis had to be "liberated from terror" and the Palestinians "from bondage", he insisted.
This was the first time that an American leader has made such a linkage.
In a wide-ranging speech, Clinton also talked about the need to re-evaluate attitudes in the light of the Sept. 11 attacks on the US. Clinton said both Israelis and Palestinians had to compromise. "Compromise is essential; it’s honorable and not shameful," he added. But he demanded an end to the recent Palestinian attacks. "Violence must end, terror must stop and the bombings must cease in order to return to negotiations." There must be no more attacks on "pizza parlors, discotheques and bar mitzvahs" — a reference to recent Palestinian attacks.
Despite the violence, he was convinced that terrorism would not prevail. He was encouraged by people in the region speaking out against terrorism. "We see people speaking out against terror...this must also extend to the education system. School curricula should end ‘indoctrination’ within the education system. You’ve to help us," Clinton said in what sounded often an emotional speech. The US administration, he added, should "do a better job and listen to Muslims...who thought that before Sept. 11 the US was insensitive to their needs, hostile to their values, beliefs and economic interests."
Clinton said what happened on Sept. 11 reflected the "dark side of the age of interdependence." The attacks also showed that wealthy countries must do more to help developing and poor states overcome the negative aspects of globalization. In fact wealthy countries must do more and spread the benefits to the poor. "It requires all of us to build a common global consciousness ... common humanity matters more," he added.
Referring to the historic and far-reaching Saudi-US relations, he said the defense of the Kingdom was of vital importance to international relations and the US. "Globalization has also brought us closer together, but it has also made us more vulnerable."
The Western and Asian leaders must therefore address education and poverty throughout the world to ensure a firm and fruitful relationship "without the possibility for hatred, for a world where its citizens can disagree, but in the spirit of fraternity, so they can disagree without violence."
