The Riyadh summit, an end to all previous summits [Archives:2007/1039/Opinion]

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Maqaleh
While heading for the Arab Summit in Riyadh, did Arab leaders perceive in advance that the current Arab crisis makes participation in this summit different from participation at any previous summits, particularly those that contributed to fragmenting the Arab states? These summits, which exacerbated the Arab situation, began in Cairo in 1990, then in Lebanon in 2002 and another one in late 2006.

It's very important and essential that Arab leaders understand the current situation and learn that the time has passed when attending summits was merely for a picnic, along with the failed resolutions reached at such previous summits. The time of Arab conspiracies against each other also has ended.

We want to remind those interested that some wise leaders advised the Arabs against holding summits and replacing them with extraordinary meetings for some Arab leaders with clear consciences to discuss the nation's situation during the current phase.

Only those with clear consciences can suggest possible solutions to end the scenes of bloodshed and intimidations not limited to Palestine, Iraq, Algeria, Somalia, Sudan and Lebanon, which have become commonplace in the Arab world. Arab faces daily are stained with blood, their dreams thwarted and their dignity insulted.

In the same context, the time of summits of denouncement and condemnation also has ended, along with summits of self-initiative while efforts at peace and negotiation turned out to be exerted by one side, the Arabs, while the other side, Israel, does nothing.

Arab world issues don't welcome negotiation and therefore, refuse those who show leniency toward Arab enemies and acknowledge Zionism's right to dominate the Arab region, force Palestinians from their homes and destroy Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In the meantime, the press in the U.S., Europe and other parts of the world question: What caused Arab leaders to fear the current U.S. administration, which is completely defeated? Moreover, what made Arab leaders insist on rescuing such a foolish administration, which has failed to score even a slim victory in Afghanistan and is drowning in a swamp of blood in Iraq? It also has failed in its invasion of strife-torn Somalia, but under cover of Ethiopian troops.

Every Arab citizen hoped various questions would top the Riyadh summit's agenda in order to restore some misled minds to the right path and make every Arab ruler believe that relying on his people is the only real way to deliverance.

The fact that 300 million Arabs are offering concessions to the strange settlers, whose number doesn't exceed 5 million, has aroused curiosity and surprise in various parts of the globe, particularly in Western communities – Arab leaders offering concessions to a Zionist entity with a different culture and language.

Irrespective of international support and aid the Zionists receive, it's impossible for them to resist true Arab solidarity, if such exists, while Lebanon really holds authentic information about this fact.

We shouldn't forget that the Zionist entity has been appealing to the world to persuade Arabs to accept its presence in the land, occupied since 1948. However, this was before the Arabs' fall and disintegration.

These days, Arabs are appealing to the world to persuade the Zionists to accept coexistence or allow them to live as neighbors in peace. This is a black shame on Arab leaders, their summits and their concessions.

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Maqaleh is Yemen's prominent poet and intellectual. He is the director of the Yemeni Center for Studies.

Source: Al-Thawrah daily
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