What the summit could do [Archives:2006/908/Opinion]
Prof. Abdulaziz al-Tarb
The Arab summit is not a magic stick and thus there must be a preparation of its resolutions beforehand. So what is wanted from the summit?
It is said it would consider and study the present situation, that is described as dangerous. Let us consider what elements are of the dangerous situation.
It is agreed that considering the aggravation of terrorist acts has the absolute priority and the growing terror is meant to be that which is connected to movements who has dedicated themselves to defend Islam, as they say. However, in the concept of Israel, and those backing it up, terror includes the Palestinian resistance and the ongoing resistance in Iraq, according to the forces allied to Israel.
Upon this understanding, the summit is required to take urgent measures and present long-term solutions enabling to stop all sorts of “terrorist campaigns”. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the remedy varies according to the nature of the acts described as terrorist, in other words the rightful and the illegal.
With regard to the Palestinian resistance, that is out of the Palestinian authority control, our states are not capable of helping to stop it without obtaining a commitment from Israel and guaranteed by states having close relations with Israel stipulating acceptance of the establishment of a Palestinian state in covering the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and its capital in the eastern part of Al-Quds (Jerusalem). Without that, the Palestinian authority would not be able to convince the Palestinian factions to stop their fighting and neither the Palestinian authority nor the Arab states could impose obedience on those factions by means of oppression, which would inevitably lead to civil war.
Is this what the Israeli government wants?
Regarding the resistance in Iraq, it is out of wisdom to stop accusing the neighbors of inflaming the fire of sedition in this country. More than 90% of resistance in Iraq is composed of Iraqi forces that are anti-occupation and opposing the sectarian and ethnic rifts, which the occupation has opened the way for them. Therefore, there must be a radical reconsideration of the Iraqi situation. This could not be possible but with having the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in finding solutions within a future perspective, restoring a united Iraq, and spare the region territorial divisions and sectarian loyalties and its being subject to foreign wagering.
The terror, described as Islamic, there must be an arbitration of the reason in exploring the causes of its aggravation, regardless of encouragement it used to receive at a certain period. These Islamic “Mujahidine” currents have their power through dependence on what they receive of support or applause from Islamic circles. Since these stances remain as they are, the “Islamic terror” invests them to be active and seek protection with those supporters. There must be an endeavor to separate between the terrorists and the environment convenient for their activity. Such an end could not be attained but by getting rid of the pretexts that make them find support from large Islamic groups. The pretexts that serve this kind of terror are specifically embodied by the large-scale campaign witnessed in the European and particularly the American arena against Islam as a religion, civilization and countries and communities.
The West has to be aware of the dangers of this raging hostile climate in press and political speeches. If this continues in such a rate, it would almost lead to enkindle a war of civilizations in the world. To ward of the fall into this deep abyss it is inevitable to ponder taking wise arrangements to salvage the international peace.
This necessary change would have a strong impact if the upcoming United Nations session is devoted to consider it provided that it would be attended by heads of states and active organizations and to issue a resolute indication for stopping all that would produce accusation or enmity towards the Islamic nation. Reduction of foreign military presence in the Middle East, serious support for the internationally-recognized Palestinian right that would not expose Israel's security to any danger, holding an international symposium to tackle the Chechen issue, holding a conference grouping the ASEAN, the Arab League and the Islamic conference to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of Kashmir and to take necessary peaceful and security arrangements to put an end to terrorist bases in Afghanistan and Pakistan, would help achieve the change. Removal and ending those terrorist base also political and economic requirements.
On the other hand, the Islamic countries are called for modernizing their development reality economically and culturally as well as politically. The best groundwork and start for this effort was what the Tunis Arab summit had called for. This was supported by the Algiers summit focusing on civilized actions, developmental efforts and reconciliatory endeavors taking into consideration requisites of the age in organizing our society. This is to be accomplished in the manner leading to revive our society's genuiness represented in a system of values and principles on whose collection the modernity is based. In other words, reason and opinion, action and self-reliance are required. There should be the building of various types of organizations on justice, adoption of social justice among all segments and active and practical solidarity among the societies of the nation. We should follow our predecessors who built the Arab Islamic civilization with hard work and ability to derive the core from previous civilizations as well as open-mindedness towards whatever could be useful the renascence of our society. Undoubtedly, the most important and greatest principles of our civilization are the stabilization of harmony between peoples and establishment of peace among nations for the sake of dissemination of justice, fraternity and prosperity.
Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Tarb is an economist and a professor in Political Science and an expert in administrative development. He is head of a number of professional associations, such as the Arab Group for Investment and Development.
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[archive-e:908-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-01-02-p:opinion]
