Ayoon Wa Azan (The two peace treaties must be abolished)

I propose that Egypt abolish the peace treaty with Israel, and that Jordan follow suit. If these two countries take this course of action, they would soon find their domestic oppositions supporting them. This would give both President Mohammed Mursi and King Abdullah II additional time to address the economic problems in their respective countries, as these problems are the main issue in the opposition’s campaign against both men. During the presidential elections in Egypt, the only common trait among all candidates was hostility to Israel and the rejection of the peace treaty in place. In truth, rejecting the treaty is a declared position of the Muslim Brotherhood and all Islamist groups in every Arab country, so if President Mursi abolished it, he would be only carrying out the policy of the group to which he belongs. (Suspending the two treaties and withdrawing the ambassadors to Israel after a joint Egyptian-Jordanian statement to this effect is the very least they can do.) In Jordan, the Muslim Brotherhood is of the most active opposition factions. They are in the street and their voice is heard. This is why I can imagine a scenario where the king abolishes the treaty with Israel, followed by a 180 degree turn by the Brotherhood, who would go on to lead the support for this move in the street. I am not an adventurer at all, and caution is a second nature to me. As I urge the abolition of the two peace treaties with Israel, I do not see this as a leap into the unknown. Instead, I believe it to be a completely justified decision. Indeed, there is a neo-Nazi government in Israel that murders children, and peace with it is impossible. The Egyptian president and Jordanian king can justify any step in this direction by invoking Israeli policies and the new assault on the Gaza Strip. Of course, the peace treaties with Israel bring U.S. economic aid to Egypt and Jordan. But the aid to Israel, home to six million immigrants, occupiers and settlers, is many times over what other countries receive. But more importantly, most of the aid that goes to Egypt, and the lesser aid that goes to Jordan, can be recouped in a single day from the wealthy Arab states, which are in turn coming under pressure from their public opinions. Furthermore, this would deal the Iranian regime a blow, because the Palestinian cause is the latter’s pretext to meddle in the affairs of both nearby and distant countries. I have always supported the policies of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and regretted that he had not taken office at the age of 50 or 60, to conjure for his country nothing short of a miracle of progress. If the Saudi king were to lead the campaign to abolish the two peace treaties with Israel, this would become his monumental political legacy that many heads of states seek, but fall short of achieving. And, if Qatar takes part in rejecting the two treaties, then the tendentious and malicious campaigns, against the Emir and his prime minister – often out of envy and inferiority – would backfire in one day. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti opposition would stage its next march towards the Emir’s palace or the prime minister’s office, but this time to support him, rather than to oppose him. And so on. Naturally, the “staging” of the campaign to abolish the treaties must be appropriate, and honesty is the way forward here. All that Egypt and Jordan have to say is that there is a racist and extremist government in Israel, and that peace with it is impossible, which is true. The Arab bloc must also focus its efforts on addressing the blockade on Gaza, the settlement activities, and the expulsion of the people of Jerusalem and the theft of their homes. Even the Aqsa Mosque is in danger of falling into the hands of the enemies of God and humanity. If the Arab governments show courage like this once, I am certain that the U.S. administration would complain and protest, and send envoys to try to change the Arab position. The U.S. may even make threats. Nevertheless I insist, as objectively as possible, that this declared stance of the U.S. would not be the real one. For one thing, it suits the U.S. President Barack Obama greatly, for both personal and national reasons, for Netanyahu and the Israeli eight to be defeated, and succeeded by a centrist government that is indeed possible to have peace with. Benjamin Netanyahu believes that he snapped up a good opportunity to attack the Gaza Strip, and massacre entire families, including children and senior citizens, to improve his odds in the elections for the Knesset. But the Israeli aggression on Gaza provides an even bigger opportunity for the Arab countries to abolish the two treaties, and reconcile themselves with their peoples over an issue that no two Arabs or Muslims differ on. If Egypt and Jordan launch an agreement and coordination with Saudi Arabia, then the other Arab countries would follow, and for the first time in recent memory, the Arab governments and Arab peoples would be speaking in one voice. --- The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.