Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has assumed the title of monarch with great dignity, wisdom and magnanimity. Like his predecessors, he has started his reign with the pardoning of a number of detainees. The king’s pardons, however, carry strong political messages, addressed to Saudis, to Arabs, and to the world at large.
King Abdullah included in his pardon four Saudis, and two Libyans suspected of attempting to assassinate him when he was crown prince. The message is very clear. To the Arabs, and in particular to the Libyans, he is saying: “Let us put yesterday’s differences behind us and face today’s more pressing issues in unity and understanding.” To Saudis the message is: “Let us engage in constructive and open dialogue to resolve our problems and to chart our country’s future.” To extremists and dissenters of all colors he is saying: “We accept constructive dissent, but we will not accept violence, intolerance or dissension.”
This is an exceptionally bold and politically astute message on the part of the new king. Through one simple act of mercy and compassion, he has addressed multiple audiences and laid out with clarity the path that he intends Saudi Arabia to follow over the coming months and years. If this is anything to go by, King Abdullah’s rule will be marked by significant reform, substantive dialogue, a great clarity of message and of intentions, and the striving for sincere national and Arab unity.
In the past, the Arab arena has been marked by many vows of unity, but seldom has it been attained. By showing Col. Qaddafi — I would prefer one day to address him as President Qaddafi; it sounds more presidential — and other Arab countries that he is ready to pardon an attempt on his life, the king is sending a strong signal that he wants to put the Arab arguments and divisions of the past behind him. Considering current circumstances, it is crucial for Arabs to show some unity, especially if they are to play a positive role in resolving the Iraqi, the Palestinian, and indeed their own, situations.
The king is trying to heal old wounds and to prepare a new chapter in Arab unity and cooperation. It is not so much a united Arab nation as a coordinated and resourceful Arab policy that he is seeking to boost. The threat of Western military action and of a widening terrorist insurgency still hangs over the Middle East like an overused Damocles’ sword. That is why King Abdullah is indicating today to fellow-Arabs that they can no longer afford to harbor old wounds and divisions. Only united and coordinated Arab policies will stand a chance of resolving present issues.
With regard to domestic reform, the detention of four Saudis since last March has attracted much international criticism and attention. Their pardon was aimed as much at the domestic audience as it was at the international community. The king’s intention was clearly to show that he is seriously committed to the strengthening of a national dialogue, and to implementing social and political reforms. He is demonstrating that what some people may call dissent can have its place in a constructive national dialogue. Above all though, he is displaying his attachment to national unity and diversity.
All this indicates that swift action is to be expected in matters of reform and the implementation of the essential recommendations that emerged from the four rounds of national dialogue held in Saudi Arabia over the past two years.
King Abdullah is telling Saudis that he means business and that they will soon be seeing rapid changes in their political, social and economic lives. Improving jobs, making Saudi Arabia’s workforce more competitive, reforming the educational system, opening Saudi Arabia to foreign investment, and extending equal rights to citizens will no doubt be at the top of the agenda.
Again, King Abdullah is emphasizing by his pardoning of the four Saudi detainees that past wrongs and differences must be left behind, and that all energies should be focused on the far more crucial challenges which lie ahead for Saudi Arabia. Reform, of course, has already been initiated, and it will continue to be led in a progressive, measured and consensual manner. The king’s initial signals however indicate that it will happen somewhat faster than many of us expected.
This is a most impressive and commendable start for him — all the more so because it comes at such a crucial time in Saudi Arabia’s history. His actions combine the right amounts of authority, wisdom, compassion and understanding, and will surely provide Saudi Arabia with a promising start in the consolidation of the Saudi society, the implementation of wise and effective domestic reforms, the search for a unity of Arab policy, and the resolution of conflicts which have plagued the Middle East for too long. If King Abdullah’s daring 2002 Arab-Israeli peace initiative were also to be revived, we may be living in a region of unexpected peace and immense potential in just a few years’ time.
