By Elias Sahhab,
Translated from the Arabic for Axis of Logic by Adib S. Kawar (*Tlaxcala),
Revised by Paul Richard Harris
May 25, 2007, 11:15
AxisOfLogic
No doubt the Arab group of official regimes, which form the framework of the League of Arab States, has reached a state of old age, not to say senility. They are now standing where they are politically incompetent to speak on behalf of their people.
Arab regimes are not only incapable of fighting in defence of the basic rights of their people; they are incompetent of recognizing these rights, they have lost the power to represent them in a strong and logical manner, and have no ability to defend them, at least not by diplomatic, political, or internationally acceptable legitimate means.
In fact, the pattern Arab regimes have followed to tackle a political solution for the Arab/Israeli struggle is by trying to market an initiative which has been shelved for five years. This became an obvious failing when they did nothing to mobilize an executive force behind this initiative, except for crowing about their own “excellence in marketing”.
But although the decrepitude of the Arab regimes has shone through, another spotlight recently hit them which exposed this frightful political situation. That came in the form of statements on the subject issued by an unlikely source: the government of South Africa.
One of the ministers in the Government of South Africa declared, a few days ago, that the process followed by Israel against the 1948 Palestinians, and against the Palestinians occupied in 1967, can be compared to the old apartheid regime of South Africa. The South Africa regime at its worst confined itself to the seclusion of indigenous Africans from the white colonizers. But Israel does not limit itself to seclusion only; it resorts to collective punishment, collective murder, and the imposition of a collective economic, political, military, and starvation siege.
South Africa’s Minister of Intelligence, coincidentally a Jew, told the Jerusalem Post of the comparison between the basic rights of the indigenous population of Palestine, and the policies of the state of Israel was very familiar to South Africans.
Israel insists on meeting Palestinian resistance with terrorism, military and economic assaults against the Palestinians and the Minister said this should be curbed. While Israel has successfully defended their brutality in international circles, and in some of official Arab circles, the Minister told the Post that Israel’s annexation of occupied land, the building of the separation wall, expansion of settlements (colonies), and practice of collective punishment, makes it a ‘terrorist state’.
It Was Further Noted:
A resolution on the partition of Palestine gave Palestinian Arabs 44% of historical Palestine for their state; they have continuously given up more rights during their long struggle and now ‘demand’ less than half this area. Still, Israel continues to reject all Palestinian propositions, and insists on the annexation of more land.
As for the legal and political relations between the parties to the conflict, the South African minister clearly noted that the Palestinian Arabs are the victims. Israel is the aggressor, and the occupier.
As for solution initiatives, the minister stated that despite repeated concessions from the Palestinians, Israel does not show a willingness to negotiate; it continuously makes one demand after another.
As for the positions currently held by the parties in the conflict, the minister pointed out that Hamas is making a turn towards leniency; Israel moves toward more extremism and inflexibility.
As for the constructive basics of the solution, the minister said it is required of Israel to take a series of steps to end the conflict, such as: ending the occupation; demolishing the security wall; removing its colonies; and liberating all Palestinian Arab prisoners.
There is, in this courageous and straightforward declaration by the South African official, a wave of political vitality that is not duplicated by the official Arab regimes. There is no comparable movement or political proposition, even within the Palestinian Authority, who should be most concerned about the rights and interests of the Palestinian people.
On this basis, we suggest the Arab League should look southward. If it is impossible to invite South Africa to join the League (because of geography and other differences), let them be an honorary or observing member. At the very least, invite the South African Jewish minister of intelligence to work as a political and legal consultant for the League of Arab States. Perhaps in this way the moribund League can be goaded into action.
It might be possible to convince the occupying power that it is in everyone’s best interest to retreat, to give up annexation, to give up its terrorism
Original Source in Arabic: Lebweb.com (Lebanon News)
Tlaxcala- Translated from Arabic into English by Adib S. Kawar, a member of Tlaxcala, the network of translators for linguistic diversity. Revised by Paul Richard Harris, Editor of Axis of Logic.
This translation is on Copyleft for any non-commercial use: verbatim copy of the translation in its entirety may be freely reproduced, respecting its integrity and citing the source, the author and the translator.
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