Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

The Arab Summit That We Need | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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His Excellency President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen called for the holding of an emregncy Arab summit, and activating the treaty of the Arab common defense to counter the Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon.

This means that the Arab world has to declare war, despite the fact that activating the Arab common defense treaty stipulates the necessity of consulting fellow Arab nations prior to that declaration.

Secretary General of Hezbollah, Mr. Hassan Nasrallah, who admitted to not conferring with the Lebanese government, has declared that he is not waiting for anyone’s aide, and that he is solely depended on God, his people, and his will. Such a declaration comes at a time of very little Lebanese support for Nasrallah’s actions, where Lebanese officials stated in the Security Council meeting the day before last that it was not aware of Hezbollah actions and that it totally denounces them.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that that Hezbollah’s kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers was a “tactical mistake”, while the people of Lebanon shout in agony asking what did they do to deserve this, and who’s leading them into this war? So how can the Arab world ask for an emergency summit?

This brings up another question, who’s going to attend this summit, since the responsible and reasonable Arab nations have clearly denounced these “uncalculated adventures’, as well as those who wish to lead the entire region into conflict behind their own government’s backs and without their government’s support.

Moreover, if an Arab summit were to be held, we call on summit that reflects the truth on the ground, especially after Lebanon’s Prime Minster singled out what Hezbollah did, saying, “It’s highly unlikely that Hezbollah would have led such an attack unassisted.”

Therefore, the summit should be held in Damascus in the presences of representatives from Syria, Mr. Hassan Nasrallah, Khaled Mashaal and an emissary from Iran, since Iran is embroiled in so many issues from its nuclear program, to the situation in Iraq amongst others.

Together, they shall convene, plan and decide what the entire region’s fate should be from wars, conflicts and destruction, while collectively deciding our futures, and how we react to it.

This is the truth without any sugarcoating, even if it angers many. Holding a summit for the sake of more rhetoric and fake heroic acts is unacceptable and a waste of time.

the activation of the treaty of the Arab common defense should start with the protection of the Arab people, which is something that can never be achieved with arms, but with responsible resolutions. For nations that nurture their people and elevate their values as humans will set their priorities, realizing that rationality comes before uncalculated adventures.

Instead of holding an Arab summit, those who possess the keys to resolving this crisis should take better care of their people, while also denying Israel the pretexts to which they have justified their barbaric aggression against Lebanon and its people.