Jamal Khashoggi, deputy editor of Saudi Arabia’s Arab News, writes that: "The best solution from the Arab point of view is for a completely new type of peace process to be launched in the Middle East; a peace process that would free them from American pressure and from the efforts of trying to defend a PA that is under occupation; an operation that is not based on the Oslo, Hebron, Sharm el-Sheikh, or Wye River Plantation agreements and their commitments to the security of Israel. Arabs have realized through bitter experience that giving such commitments is embarrassing in the extreme, since no one can prevent a people under occupation from fighting back. The only way a new type of peace process can be introduced, however, is by abandoning the PA and leaving it to wither away. Most Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo last week would likely have agreed to this. Let’s put this issue to a vote. Are there any supporters besides Syria and Lebanon?"
Ummm. Yes, probably so. Arafat's proven himself to be a mediocrity, not militant enough for one side, too corrupt for his own people to tolerate, and too dishonest in his negotiations to please the other side. The only factor in his favor is the known devil versus unknown, which translates into nothing but inertia. A push from the Arab side would probably see him living in Monte Carlo while the balance of power readjusts. |