RESOLUTIONS of the recent pan-Arab summit at Sirte in Libya have proved nothing but the Arabs' insistence on treading the same futile path time after time. Generally speaking, the Arabs appear to be either fearful to use pressure cards within their hands to compel Israel to make any sort of concession or are complacent about the current situation, which seems to suit the agenda of some Arab leaderships. The Arabs opted years ago to give the US the lead in the process of Arab-Israeli negotiations. Today, the US is showing Israel a different face, but the Netanyahu hardline government is becoming defiant as never before and has taken its plans to Judaise Jerusalem to unprecedented heights. In light of latest developments in the Middle East conflict, should the Arabs still follow the safe approach of let's wait and see or should they manoeuvre to attack in an unexpected way? The report submitted by Amr Moussa, the chief of the Arab League, in which he urged Arab leaders to consider the high stakes of the collapse of the peace negotiations to be well-prepared for alternatives is well worth analysing. The Arabs are still hanging on to the peace initiative, which they proposed and unanimously approved eight years ago and which has been completely neglected by Israel. On the other hand, they received Moussa's suggestion of a regional allegiance with Turkey and Iran with lukewarm enthusiasm. The simple question being reiterated on the Arab street has to do with the Arabs' ignoring the use of weapons of oil, trade and Arab deposits in world banks. A close look at a recent crisis that erupted between Libya and Switzerland, regardless of the cause that triggered it, gives evidence that pressure does have its claws. When Libya upheld a ban on the entry of European Union citizens in response to a Swiss decision to deny entry to l88 Libyans, including President Gaddafi's family, the Spanish Foreign Minister showed up in Libya to settle the dispute. The Arabs are required first to believe in their strong position and to be willing to take the risk of confrontation by means of fresh methods even it means entering into alliance with countries traditionally thought of as unfriendly.
