Pulling the reins

Amid growing fears of a massive Israeli military strike against the Palestinians, a high-level Arab meeting gave the PA exactly what they wanted: more money and a non-belligerent tone towards Israel, reports Dina Ezzat
Arab countries appear to be sending the international community a message that it must pressure Israel into pursuing peace negotiations and committing itself to a clear timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of the Mitchell report under the supervision of international observers. They are also sending Israel a message that they are not taking any tough stances, at least not collectively.
However, the message, coming from a limited Arab foreign ministers meeting, may have opened the door for a new round of inter-Arab disputes.
Yesterday, with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat present, a meeting of the Arab Summit Follow-Up Committee adopted a stand that showed no hard-line or even firm language, either against Israel or the US. Rather, the word coming out of the Cairo meeting was more of an invitation for renewed efforts at the regional and international levels to establish a clear mechanism for peacemaking under international supervision. "This stance was not reached by consensus," commented one informed Arab League source. "Rather, it was one that caused serious disputes at the meeting."
Ministers squabbled for hours over a draft communiqué that included reference to the need for the implementation of the Mitchell report within a certain time-frame beyond which Arab countries could reinforce suspension of all political contacts with Israel.
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Sharaa refused any reference to the Mitchell report on the basis that the only acceptable terms of reference for peacemaking were those of the 1991 Madrid conference.
For his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher categorically rejected calls for the suspension of political contacts with Israel.
Members of the follow-up committee are Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen. The meeting had originally been scheduled at an ambassadorial level but earlier this week the Gulf Cooperation Council called for a meeting at foreign minister level to study possible Arab moves in light of the serious developments taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority was promised further financial aid, at least from the Gulf states. "We desperately need the money to help us cope with the consequences of the blockade," Nabil Shaath, Palestinian minister of planning, said. "Financial support is very significant at this stage."
"This is what the Palestinians wanted. They, the Egyptians and the Jordanians are of the opinion that there is still hope that the current Israeli government might succumb to US pressure and start working on resolidifying the cease-fire and even implementing the Mitchell report," commented one informed Arab diplomatic source. He added that the Palestinians were clear in refusing a Syrian-Lebanese proposal to re- emphasise an Arab resolution that was recently adopted to suspend all high-level political contacts with Israeli officials.
Also overruled by Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians was a Syrian proposal to initiate Arab measures for an economic boycott of Israel. However, a meeting to discuss a boycott and its consequences may take place in Damascus later.
"If this meeting takes place, it will be held just to please the Syrians and not as a serious indication of a collective Arab will in this respect," commented one Syrian diplomat.
"If the Palestinians want to have contacts there is no point in arguing that these contacts should be stopped. We have heard from both the Americans and Israelis that something positive could be happening," commented one Egyptian diplomatic source who asked not to be identified. The source said Egypt was convinced that it has to continue its involvement in direct political contacts with Israel irrespective of Arab criticism.
The Gulf states seemed to be leaning towards the Egyptian-Jordanian-Palestinian viewpoint. Informed sources told Al-Ahram Weekly that a suggestion was made on behalf of the GCC to delegate high-ranking Arab officials to meet with the leaders of the G-8 on the sidelines of the Genoa summit in quest of support. Not all member states of the follow-up committee went along. In the words of one Syrian diplomat: "We should be tired by now of pursuing these tactics. We need to depend on our will and we need to consider tougher policies including an economic boycott."
The situation on the eve of the ministerial meeting was described as "tense" and "confusing" with the member states of the committee taking opposing views. Moussa, who according to close aides is not optimistic about the prospects of peace with the current Israeli government, was concerned that the meeting might produce a new wave of inter-Arab splits rather than a coordinated Arab stance. "He is well aware that the doors are closed before the peace process at this stage. This is something that he has been clearly alluding to in his recent statements -- that there is no peace process now. As the head of the Arab organisation he needs to worry more about maintaining a minimum of inter-Arab unity," one close aide to Moussa told the Weekly.
Meanwhile, Moussa will pursue further contacts to decide on the next moves. One source told the Weekly that he may find it necessary to call for an Arab meeting at the prime ministerial level.
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