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A Mid-East Breakthrough
Credit goes to the tenacity of the US Secretary of State. James Baker that Israel, four Arab countries and Palestinian representatives have agreed to loin the Middle East Peace Conference in Madrid on the 30th of this month. However, while succumbing to Washington’s pressure, all the parties concerned also recognise the changed realities on the international scene, marking the end of the superpower rtvahy and the decltne of Moscow as a factor in the Arab-Israeli conflict If an Arab state, like Syria, can no longer rely on Kremlin for arms and political support. Israel also sees the difficulty of using Moscow's support for the Arabs as a bargaining point with Washington for increased military and economic support.
The package of concessions, offered by the US official, contains sufficient positive elements for the two — or rather three — sides, the Arab states, Palestinians and Israel. It is a breakthrough of sorts for all concerned that sworn enemies of four decades have agreed to sit together to study prospects of establishing peace between themselves, through a process which is still shrouded in ambiguity and contradictions. Starting with a three-day meeting, the process will go through two more stages Involving direct bilateral negotiations between Syria and Israel, which may well be the most crucial part of the Madrid conference.
A country like Bangladesh which has consistently supported the Arab cause, the withdrawal of Israel from occupied territories and the establishment of the Palestinian state In West Bank and Gaza strip must note with dismay that it is Tel Avtv which has secured all the concessions from the United States, not to mention the diplomatic recognition from the Soviet Union. , the co-sponsor of the Madrid meeting, leaving :lhe Palestinians virtually empty-handed, with hardly anything to offer as a bargaining chip. Again, the United States has given a number of undertakings to Israel, even before the start of the Madrid meeting, such as that there would be no discussion on Ine future of East Jerusalem or on any proposal for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Israel has also been given the veto over the composition of the Palestinian team which, instead of occupying an independent entity, will form only a part of the Jordanian delegation. The worst part of the deal ; is that the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) whose legitimate representative character •is recognised even by the United Nations has been kept out to win Tel Aviv's participation at the Madrid meeting.
Why have the Arab states and Palestinians agreed to Join the talks ? What can they expect from a meeting which extremist Palestinian K»ups have strongly denounced ? Their real pe Ues in bringing international pressure on Israel for the acceptance of UN Security Council resolutions, especially No 242, which make It obligatory for the Jewish state to withdraw from the occupied territories. They would also certainly use the 'meeting to call a halt in the settlement of Russian jews in the West Bank and the Gaza strip. Finally, (he big question is. how far will the conference go In paving the way for an independent state for the dispossessed people of Palestine ? May be only a step, as a PLO spokesman said last week. In the beginning of long Journey.
At this stage, all one can hope is that the conference will develop its own momentum and underscore the weaknesses and contradictions of Tel Aviv's position. Thus, the conference could slowly move away from its original terms of references and start talking on Issues which are now regarded as taboos by the Jewish stale. Much depends on the unity in the Arab ranks, the understanding that Jordanians and Palestinians sustain in their Joint team and the international understanding of the issues concerned, especially the rights of the Palestinian people. If these conditions are met, Arabs can indeed look forward to a long conference, covering several stages, with guarded optimism about its outcome.