Straining to block the tide of war

After touching base with Washington last week, Cairo forged ahead in calming tensions in the region. Nevine Khalil and Soha Abdelaty search for a ray of hope
The signs appeared good at the beginning of the week. Israel lifted the siege imposed on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat since 3 December, retracted its precondition for a seven- day period of calm before talks can be relaunched and was discussing the idea of allowing American monitors in the Palestinian territories. In addition, two top US officials are making high-profile visits to the region this week.
All this changed on Monday night, when Israel launched its largest ground offensive in 20 years in Gaza and the West Bank, signalling a shift in its strategy, from bombing derelict Palestinian Authority buildings to utilising thousands of troops in making armed incursions.
Even before the latest developments it was unclear how successful or committed the US would be in reengaging in the peace process. As for hopes over Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's sincerity in pledging to return to the negotiating table, events on the ground have rapidly dispelled them.
President Hosni Mubarak's trip to the US last week laid the groundwork for the visit to the region by US Vice-President Dick Cheney, though much remains to be done. Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said that the Egyptians managed to convince US President George W Bush's administration to push for more engagement in the peace process. Mubarak's visit to Washington appeared to signal a change in the tone the US is using to address the Israeli government, according to Maher. He added that, following a period when the US refrained from criticism and concentrated its demands on the Palestinian leadership, last week's condemnation, by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, of Israel's declaration of war on the Palestinian people as "not acceptable and fruitless" was a new departure.
Cheney's whirlwind tour of the region this week, and that of special envoy General Anthony Zinni due today, aim at taking first-hand stock of developments. Cheney will also discuss his country's campaign against terror and US intentions vis-a-vis Iraq during the 10-nation tour.
The Americans now believe that the peace process needs to be dealt with on two parallel tracks -- on the one hand, achieving security and, on the other, working on developing a political context. These will be the guidelines for the Cheney and Zinni visits.
Mubarak's talks with Cheney, yesterday afternoon in Sharm El-Sheikh, fine-tuned a number of issues which the two had began discussing last week in Washington. Egypt hopes that Cheney's visit would be an opportunity for him "to see for himself how the Middle East has developed and changed over the years," Egypt's ambassador to Washington Nabil Fahmy told Al-Ahram Weekly, "and what exactly is the feeling in the region regarding America, the peace process and other issues." Fahmy believes the greatest achievement would be for Cheney to return to Washington "with a better understanding of what people think, even beyond the government-to-government level."
But the US is doing more than sending envoys to the region, according to Maher, who says that the US is in the process of formulating a new plan or initiative. "There are some ideas that are being discussed in American circles, we have listened to some of them, and encouraged others," he said upon returning from Washington last Thursday. "Until the American steps are [in place] it is important to clarify to the Israeli side that it has to stop its [aggressions] against the Palestinians," Maher added.
The Arabs blame Israel for the violence, and believe Washington should pressure Tel Aviv to change its aggressive policies. "The US has influence on the Israelis. When they want to, they can. They should," noted Fahmy. At the same time, Maher believes, "Sharon has to solve his problems with the Palestinian people and we are prepared to assist him as are others."
Mubarak spoke by telephone to a besieged Arafat on Saturday, briefing him on the view from Washington on the moribund peace process. Two days later, Sharon announced he would lift the blockade on Arafat, allowing the Palestinian leader to move between the West Bank and Gaza Strip but requiring permission to travel abroad. In a rare conversation with Mubarak by telephone on Monday evening, Sharon talked about exploiting the interest Washington is currently showing in the peace process and finding ways to contain the situation. The two stressed the importance of using political and security negotiations as a means of breaking the vicious circle of violence.
However, even as Sharon talked to Mubarak on the phone, the Israeli army was preparing to reoccupy Ramallah and Jabalya, a refugee camp in Gaza, and launch the greatest land offensive in 20 years against the Palestinians. Given Sharon's track record, Cairo took the Israeli prime minister's recent overtures with a grain of salt. "We demand that Mr Sharon lift the siege on all the Palestinians, and to stop his aggressions," Maher told reporters on Monday. Sharon's decision to lift the siege on Arafat and his flexibility on the seven-day calm period received a luke-warm reception by Maher. "Saying he will release President Arafat in two phases is illegal and [the seven-day condition] is nonsense," he said, hoping that Sharon would come to his senses and realise that "the rest of his policies are wrong."
In other developments, Mubarak met with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal. Cairo and Riyad saw eye-to-eye on all current issues, including the Saudi peace initiative and the upcoming Arab summit. The two agreed that the Saudi proposal to offer Israel normalised ties with the Arabs in return for its withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders should be a main item at the summit.
"The Arab summit must come out with a clear and joint Arab position," stressed Al-Faisal.
The Arabs will proceed according to Israel's actions. "If Israel moves towards peace, so will the Arabs," he said. "We have shown our commitment to peace, Israel must do the same and it will achieve a comprehensive peace with Arab countries."
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