A new opportunity for peace in Mideast

By Nizar Abdel-Kader

Asharq Al-Awsat

London Based, Saudi Paper of Record

November 30, 2002

The Arab peace initiative, which was adopted by the Beirut Arab Summit on March 28, 2002, expressed for the first time a unanimous Arab will to achieve peace with security for all the states in the Middle East. It was intended to generate a new atmosphere by shifting the focus from military confrontation back to the political stage. However, it was misunderstood by the Israeli government and the Israeli public, and the new political dynamics expected by the Arab leaders did not appear. Now, all parties must work to regain the momentum that was lost.

The Arab peace initiative was based on Crown Prince Abdullah’s proposal that in return for Israel’s complete withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories, the attainment of a just solution for the problem of the Palestinian refugees, and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Arab states would consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over and sign a treaty with Israel establishing normal relations.

The Beirut Declaration states in Paragraph 5 that the initiative “calls upon the government of Israel and all Israelis to accept this initiative in order to safeguard the prospects for peace and to stop the further shedding of blood, enabling the Arab countries and Israel to live in peace as good neighbors and to provide future generations with security, stability and prosperity.”

The welcome for the Arab peace initiative that was expressed initially by the international community — including the United States — faded away within a few weeks. George W. Bush neglected to make any reference in his peace vision to the Arab peace initiative, apparently losing the interest he had originally shown during the visit of the Crown Prince to Crawford, Texas, and leaving deep disappointment on the Arab side.

The promise of the initiative must not be allowed to dissipate. The Israeli people must be made to realize that the Arab initiative represents a serious attempt by the Arab leaders to influence a change in the direction of the current situation from an open conflict to a political process in which violence — and the radicals inciting violence — are pushed aside. The Israelis should understand that, if they were not able in the past to achieve their security with Arafat and the Palestinian Authority, the Arab leaders have decided to come center stage to provide them this new opportunity.

Saudi Foreign Affairs Saud Al Faisal said it clearly at a press conference following the meeting: “If Israel demands security and aspires to peace, this is the path to security. This requires her to withdraw and give the Palestinians all their legitimate rights and demands. If she does, the Arab states will respond by ending the state of war and signing a peace treaty and establishing normal relations.”

It is now apparent that at the time the Beirut Declaration was made, the violence and counterviolence were at a peak and the Bush administration was still short of a vision on how to launch a serious effort to achieve a cease-fire and to renew the peace process. However, polls find that majorities on both sides — Israelis and Palestinians — share the conviction that a solution cannot be reached through violent means, but through negotiations, which again opens the way for diplomacy rather than war.

The diplomatic efforts of the Arab follow-up committee should be revived and should be aimed in two directions: First, in the direction of the United States, which holds the key to the peace process and on which the Israeli position mainly depends; and, second, in the direction of Israel, targeting both the Sharon government and the Israeli people. This campaign should emphasize the following points:

First, peace is not a matter of concern to the Palestinians and the Israelis only, but is also a vital matter to all the Arab peoples.

Second, the Arab initiative represents a vision of the future rather than a dwelling on the past. It offers peace, security , stability and prosperity for future generations.

Third, the initiative opens the door for total reconciliation between Arabs and Jews, and for the establishment of normal relations between Israel and the Arab states.

Fourth, the initiative is a genuine call for peace. It is a concept and not a peace plan, but it states the will, the principles and the major objectives for peace and leaves to third parties the task of coming up with an initial framework and calendar for the peace process.

Fifth, the initiative presents a flexible, realistic, and political approach to the concerns expressed by all the parties — Israel, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon— leaving the necessary space and flexibility to resolve their differences on all major issues such as Jerusalem, borders, and the right of return.

Sixth, the initiative facilitates the process for any new international forum to discuss peace by calling for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, reaffirmed by the Madrid conference of 1991, and the land-for-peace principle, as well as the principles laid down by President Bush’s speech of April 4 and his “vision for peace” announced in June.

The campaign to give the initiative the momentum it merits should start now. The Arab states’ diplomacy, using the media — including satellite television-and the Egyptian/Jordanian/Moroccan diplomatic and international channels — should target not only the Israeli government but also Israeli political players such as Labor, left-wing parties, and the Peace Now movement, as well as the Arab peoples and the Jewish communities around the world supporting Israel. In addition, the Arab governments should use their influence to convince the Palestinians to give up suicide bombing and reduce the level of violence against civilians to enhance this diplomatic process.

Emphasis should be placed on the fact that the Beirut Declaration is not a simple communiqué issued by an Arab forum. It is a genuine offer for final settlement and reconciliation. It carries great political value in its wording, presenting all the assurances for security and normal relations. It was proposed by Saudi Arabia, “The Guardian of the Holy Shrines of Islam,” and unanimously approved by the Arab summit. The Arabs have made their choice for peace; it is up to the Israelis to make theirs.

The international community must come forward and play a responsible and constructive role. (CGNews)