The president of the United States has lately revealed his political position. In brief, he denies Arabs their rights. Worse still, he becomes the spokesman for a criminal like Ariel Sharon. He supports unabashedly the atrocities being inflicted by Israel on Palestinians. The US president is with Israel in having the Palestinian president under siege. The aim is to undermine legitimate resistance by Palestinians. To leave no one in any doubt, the US president describes the Palestinian factions as terrorist groups. How can call those who fight for their land terrorists?
The US administration has begun to reveal its attitude toward Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority. Halting Gen. Zinny’s mission to the Middle East and wholeheartedly supporting the siege of the Palestinian president makes things very clear. The US is also studying appropriate ‘punishments’ for Yasser Arafat. This will include freezing of bilateral contacts and closure of the Palestinian Authority’s office in Washington.
All this has enraged the Arab masses. The US, by its blind support for Israel, has lost its credibility as an honest broker.
Washington must realize that it isn’t the only player in the Palestinians-Israelis conflict. The parties involved have the right to act with a clear view of their strategic national interests.
If the US aims to punish Arafat, the Palestinians and to destroy resistance, the Arabs would demand that Israel and the US be punished politically and economically. The Arab states have the capability to do so. It has to be understood that the situation is serious enough. It is evident that the agenda of the upcoming Arab summit in Lebanon includes serious topics.
Given the current situation, the Arab masses believe the following measures should be taken to begin with:
1. Revival of Israeli boycott by all Arab countries.
2. Halting political and diplomatic relations with Israel by any Arab state that has such ties with Israel.
3. Reducing Arab political missions to the US to the lowest level possible.
4. Reducing daily oil production by Arab states by 10 to 25 percent. Other OPEC members must follow course.
5. Reducing trade with the Untied States and exploring alternative markets.
6. Formation of a high-ranking committee under the supervision of the Arab League that would pressure Iraq to comply with Security Council resolutions and to release Kuwaiti war prisoners. This is important in order to eliminate US excuses for attacking Iraq.
7. Formation of an Arab committee to handle negotiations with Israel on behalf of all Arab countries. The Palestinians should be the only state that can deal directly with Israel provided they coordinate their activity with such committee.
8. Arabs should be on alert at all times to monitor developments and take appropriate decisions if Washington doesn’t reconsider its position on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The Arab masses look at the current situation as the worst ever. Most believe that the next step would be a war that involves all parties without exception.
Thought the current situation indicates that we are at a dead-end, we still believe in the possibilities of peace. All we need is justice and the US will have to understand that there can be no peace in the region without a just settlement of the Palestinian issue.
If Israel is looking for security and stability, it should work for an independent Palestinian state. Once Palestinians have their own state, there would be no violence, Israel and the Palestinians can have bilateral relations and there would be no need for two armies to clash or for any kind of resistance.
