DUBAI, 15 December 2004 — Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri yesterday blasted the West for its approach to the Palestinian problem and affirmed that comprehensive peace in the Middle East hinges on Israeli withdrawal from Syrian and Lebanese territories.
Addressing the Arab Strategy Forum under way here, Hariri ridiculed what he described as efforts by Western powers to link statehood for Palestinians with “good behavior.”
“A Palestinian state should not be a prize for good behavior,” Hariri told the conference. “A state is not a piece of chocolate or the promise to take a child to picnic if he behaves well. Arabs are ready for a just peace. I hear that the US and Europe are convinced of a Palestinian state. But Palestinians should have a country today and not tomorrow.”
Even if the Palestinian problem was addressed, he said, Israel would have to withdraw its army from Lebanese and Syrian territories in order to achieve comprehensive and just peace in the region.
Speaking on the theme of “Arab World in 2020,” Hariri said that he is provisionally optimistic.
The world has to exert efforts and end the Arab-Israeli conflict. “We have to achieve just peace. We have to end Israeli occupation. This is a focal point that will define our future,” said Hariri.
He said the Palestinian people have a right to live in peace and security in their own homeland. “There should be confidence building measures. These cannot be built in one day or two or in one year or ten.”
The interim Oslo agreement signed between the Palestinians and Israel in 1993 is no longer relevant, he said.
“Today’s (internationally backed) roadmap for peace is based on the same principle and that is what is taking us to a dead end,” he said. “There is increasing violence and counter violence. If there is serious political will to achieve a Palestinian state, any delay will give both parties the opportunity to delay peace further,” Hariri said.
Turing to Iraq, Hariri said elections planned to be held there next month are an opportunity for unity among Iraqis.
