Revive Arab League
There are several reasons behind the dark image of the Arab League. They result in pessimism and heartbreak about it. It has failed to achieve many of its objectives and the aspirations of the Arab masses which used to see this organisation as a platform for freedom, democracy and cooperation and as an apparatus for establishing security, peace and understanding among the Arab countries and between them and the outside world.
These Arab countries are still hotbeds of tension, disputes, conflicts, and border issues. Development projects have failed in Arab countries. There are more than 80 million people in the Arab world who do not know how to read and write. Tens of millions are below the poverty line. In the area of cooperation, trade exchanges between Arab countries are small. On the contrary, the volume of trade with the countries of the outside world, particularly Europe and the United States, is high and diverse.
The Arab League has been facing sharp criticism and intense calls for revival and reform to keep pace with the developments of the world since the last seven decades. Many people post the question: “What has this organisation done to achieve democracy, freedom, and economic, cultural and social cooperation among the Arab countries?
How can we achieve political integration and have joint Arab action plan when there is no economic integration and trade among members of the Arab League? We all know that history, language, religion and a common civilization are the factors which integrate use.
(by Muhammad Qirat in TRT Arabi)
Egypt-Israel Relations
There was a development on the front of Egypt-Israeli relationship. Naftali Bennett reached Sharm el-Sheikh and held official “public” meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. It was difficult, even impossible, when Benjamin Netanyahu was at the helm.
The first meeting continued for three hours. This means that all the topics of mutual interests were part of the agenda of the meeting. There were issues which needed to be immediately addressed, such as Gaza, and there were issues which would need longer time to be sorted out by the two countries.
There were certain issues on which there was immediate agreement, such as the importance of defusing and avoiding a new wider war, finding a formula for a longer-term calmness, and finalisation of exchange deal, which Israel sees as key to everything.
President Sisi wants that the issues of immediate concern should be sorted out first and an atmosphere should be created to continue the momentum for the issues which would take time. President Sisi has evolved traditional role of Egypt to be played in Gaza. Egypt has allocated half a billion dollars of its already uncomfortable finances, as a contribution to reconstruction. It is using its relations with Israel to douse fires and work to prolong calm. The Egyptian discourse linking the Gaza issue to the issue of the desired settlement is clear, albeit it is without an Israeli and American response.
(by Nabil Amro in Asharq Al Awsat)
Compiled and Translated by Faizul Haque