Another Israel's false assumption and empty gesture

African News	Muslim World News	Middle East News	International News	Articles And Essays
Quran & Hadith	As Sirah Biography	Muslim Briefcase	Arabic Dictionary	Muslim Marriage

African Muslim A-Z

Gulf Yellow Pages

Middle East Finder

Arabic Dictionary

Muslim Marriage

Homepage :: الرئيسية

Articles By George S Hishmeh Accredited - Unassociated

Index :: القائمة

Another Israel's false assumption and empty gesture

Posted By George S. Hishmeh

Ehud Olmert was indeed posturing when he stood last week next to visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel inviting Arab leaders, including King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, to join him in talks at a regional peace meeting in Occupied Jerusalem.

It is doubtful that his empty gesture was taken seriously by the visiting German leader, the current president of the European Union, which had just announced that it would maintain contacts with moderate members of the Palestinian government who are not members of Hamas, contrary to Israel's hopes that countries would boycott the new Palestinian government.

Olmert must know better that no Arab leader would consider accepting such an empty gesture. Although his spokeswoman described it exaggeratedly as a "new initiative", it is unlikely that any Arab leader would respond positively to such an off-hand invitation, particularly since it did not include a serious counteroffer that matched the one adopted at the Arab summit conference a few days earlier. Even the late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated for making that trip, is believed to have received prior assurances in secret meetings in Morocco with then Israeli defence minister Moshe Dayan that the late Israeli prime minister, Menachem Begin, was prepared to give back all of the Sinai Peninsula.

There was no doubt that Olmert's intention here was a bid to help shore up his sagging popularity in Israel where just 2 per cent say they trust the prime minister and more than two-thirds want him to resign.

His shenanigans are more blatant when it is realised that his invitation came only a couple of days after telling the Israeli press that Israel would not allow a single Palestinian to return to his or her homeland, now Israel, and that Israel bore no responsibility for the plight of the Palestinian refugees.

In short, the tables have turned. Israel is now the bearer of the "three nos" slogan - no to accepting the Palestinians' internationally sanctioned "right of return"; no evacuation from the occupied territories to the 1967 armistice lines; and no pullback from the occupied Holy City. This contrasts sharply with the Arab peace initiative, which was reiterated by the 22-member League of Arab states last week at their summit meeting in Riyadh, thus abandoning their own infamous "three nos" - "no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with it, and insistence on the rights of the Palestinian people in their own [usurped] country."

Olmert's proposal did not receive overwhelming support in Israel either. One member of the Knesset has labelled the prime minister's offer as "delusional" and the liberal Peace Now group described it as "cheap populism". But of course, the Israeli prime minister is counting on the backing of the Bush administration despite what the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may be doing during her monthly trips to the region.

In a letter delivered to Ariel Sharon, the former Israeli prime minister, in April 2004, US President George W. Bush committed himself to the "establishment of a Palestinian state and the settling of Palestinian refugees there, rather than in Israel". He also stated: "In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centres, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949."

That's why Olmert feels secure and confident that regardless of what the Arabs may offer him he can easily shift the focus of the discussion because he has the backing of the world's remaining superpower.

He did it again when he received this week Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the third in line to the US presidency, when he asked her on Sunday to take a message to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad saying Israel would be interested in making peace if Syria stopped supporting terrorist groups. Again Olmert sidetracks Syria's demand that Israel agree to withdraw to the June 4, 1967 lines.

Regrettably, none of Olmert's recent visitors, Rice, Merkel, Pelosi and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have bothered to tell Olmert that he is barking up the wrong tree and it is time that he come up with something more concrete. Otherwise, Israel is now the holder of the banner with the Three Nos.

* An Arab American columnist based in Washington.

Homepage :: الرئيسية

Articles By George S Hishmeh Accredited - Unassociated

Index :: القائمة

Our Sheikh And Amir: Sheikh Abu Abdullah Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas) :: Email Sheikh

Advertisements are free on this site based on strict selections and high valuation of services to the Muslims

Our Editor & Director: Umm-Abdullah Adelabu :: Email Us

AwqafAfrica is in association with www.esinislam.com, www.islamafrica.com, and www.islamicafrica.com <<>> African Muslim Directories <<>> If you reside in the UK, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, or Australia and require FREE Islamic ritual services including Marriage, Newborn Baby Ceremonies, Funerals, etc. send your requests to: ritualservices@esinislam.com <<>>> Free Muslim visits in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Accra, Cotonou, Port Novo, Freetown, Abidjan, Dakar, Khartoum, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Harare, or Kinshasa visits@esinislam.com <<>> FREE Translations English-Arabic-English and French-Arabic-French are available for mosques, Islamic centres, and Muslim organizations based in Africa or serving the Africans abroad: translator@esinislam.com <<>> Free Islamic And Arabic Studies For The African Muslims And African American Muslims <<>> Islam In Africa <> Islam In America <> Islam In Europe <> Islam In Asia <<>> Join us celebrating Islam in Africa Muslims or African Muslims | Muslims of Africa and Muslims in Africa Islam in Angola Muslims or Angolan Muslims | Muslims of Angola and Muslims in Angola <>Islam in Benin Muslims or Dahome Muslims | Muslims of Benin and Muslims in Benin <> Islam in Botswana Muslims or Boswanan Muslims | Muslims of Botswana and Muslims in Botswana <> Islam in Burkina Faso Muslims or Burkinan Muslims | Muslims of Burkinafaso and Muslims in Burkinafaso <> Islam in Burundi Muslims or Burundian Muslims | Muslims of Burundi and Muslims in Burundi <> Islam in Cameroon Muslims or Cameroonian Muslims | Muslims of Cameroon and Muslims in Cameroon <> Islam in Cape Verde Muslims or Capean Muslims | Muslims of Cape Verde and Muslims in Cape Verde <> Islam in Central Africa Muslims or Central African Muslims | Muslims of Central Africa and Muslims in Central Africa <> Islam in Chad Muslims or Chadian Muslims | Muslims of Chad And Muslims in Chad <> Islam in Comoros Muslims or Comorian Muslims | Muslims of Comoros and Muslims in Comoros <> Islam in Congolese (DRC Kinshasa) Muslims or Congolese (DRC Kinshasa) Muslims | Muslims of Congolese (DRC Kinshasa) and Muslims in Congolese (DRC Kinshasa) <> Islam in Congo (Brazzaville) Muslims or Congolese (Brazzaville) Muslims | Muslims of Congo (Brazzaville) and Muslims in Congo (Brazzaville) <> Islam in Djibouti Muslims or Djiboutian Muslims | Muslims of Djibouti and Muslims in Djibouti <> Islam in Equatorial Guinea Muslims or Equatorial Guinean Muslims | Muslims of Equatoria Guinea And Muslims in Equatoria Guinea <> Islam in Eritrea Muslims or Eritrean Muslims | Muslims of Eritrea and Muslims in Eritrea <> Islam in Ethiopia Muslims or Ethiopian Muslims | Muslims of Ethiopia and Muslims in Ethiopia <> Islam in Gabon Muslims or Gabonese Muslims | Muslims of Gabon and Muslims in Gabon <> Islam in Gambia Muslims or Gambian Muslims | Muslims of Gabia and Muslims in Gambia <> Islam in Ghana Muslims or Ghanaian Muslims | Muslims of Ghana and Muslims in Ghana <> Islam in Guinea (Conakry) Muslims or Guinean (Conakry) Muslims | Muslims of Guinea (Conakry) and Muslims in Guinea (Conakry) <> Islam in Guinea Bissau Muslims or Bissauan Muslim or Bissawean Muslims | Muslims of Guinea and Muslims In Guinea <> Islam in Ivory Coast Muslims or Ivorian Muslims | Muslims of Ivory Coast and Muslims in Ivory Coast <> Islam in Kenya Muslims or Kenyan Muslims | Muslims of Kenya and Muslims in Kenya <> Islam in Lesotho Muslims or Lesothian Muslims | Muslims of Lesotho and Muslims in Lesotho <> Islam in Liberia Muslims or Liberian Muslims | Muslims of Liberia and Muslims in Liberia <> Islam in Madagascar Muslims or Madagascan Muslims | Muslims of Madagascar and Muslims in Madagascar <> Islam in Malawi Muslims or Malawian Muslims | Muslims of Malawi and Muslims In Malawi <> Islam in Mali Muslims or Malian Muslims | Muslims of Mali and Muslims In Mali <> Islam in Mauritania Muslims or Mauritanian Muslims | Muslims of Mauritania and Muslims In Mauritania <> Islam in Mauritius Muslims or Mauritian Muslims | Muslims of Mauritius and Muslims In Mauritius <> Islam in Mozambique Muslims or Mozambican Muslims | Muslims of Mozambique and Muslims in Mozambique <> Islam in Namibia Muslims or Namibian Muslims | Muslims of Namibia and Muslims in Namibia <> Islam in Niger Muslims or Nigerean Muslims | Muslims of Niger And Muslims in Niger <> Islam in Nigeria Muslims or Nigerian Muslims | Muslims of Nigeria and Muslims in Nigeria <> Islam in Rwanda Muslims or Rwandan Muslims or Rwandese Muslims | Muslims of Rwanda and Muslims in Rwanda <> Islam in Sao Tome Muslims or Sao Tomese Muslims | Muslims of Sao Tome and Muslims in Sao Tome <> Islam in Senegal Muslims or Senegalese Muslims | Muslims of Senegal and Muslims in Senegal <> Islam in Seychelles Muslims or Seychellois Muslims | Muslims of Seychelles And Muslims in Seychelles <> Islam in Sierra Leone Muslims or Sierra Leonean Muslims | Muslims of Sierra Leone and Muslims in Sierra Leone <> Islam in Somalia Muslims or Somali Muslims | Muslims of Somalia and Muslims in Somalia Islam in South Africa Muslims or South African Muslims or Southern African Muslims | Muslims of South African Or Muslims Of Southern Africa Or Muslims in Southern Africa <> <> Islam in Sudan Muslims or Sudanese Muslims | Muslims of Sudan and Muslims in Sudan <> <> Islam in Swaziland Muslims or Swazi Muslims | Muslims of Swaziland and Muslims in Swaziland <> Islam in Tanzania Muslims or Tanzanian Muslims | Muslims of Tanzania and Muslims in Tanzania <> Islam in Togo Muslims or Togolese Muslims | Muslims of Togo and Muslims in Togo <> Islam in Uganda Muslims or Ugandan Muslims | Muslims of Uganda and Muslims in Uganda <> Islam in Zambia Muslims or Zambian Muslims | Muslims of Zambia and Muslims in Zambia <> Islam in Zimbabwe Muslims or Zimbabwean Muslims | Muslims of Zimbabwe and Muslims in Zimbabwe <> Islam in African Muslims || African Mosques || African Muslim Organizations || African Muslim Colleges || African Muslim Businesses www.esinislam.com <<>> ALL SERVICES ARE FREE