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More of the same

THE Israel-Egypt diplomatic squabble is clearly continuation of Israeli attempts to keep international focus away from matters that matter. Cairo is understandably displeased at the US Congress’ decision to suspend $100 million worth of annual military aid, with only official lines from Tel Aviv and Washington failing to see a very prominent Israeli hand in molding Congress’ opinion.

To Arab capitals expressing concern since well before Annapolis, the only unknown was what exactly Israel would do to divert attention from continuing settlement-expansion in the West Bank, since the core issue of freezing settlement activity was to precede all else. So, business goes on as usual in the Middle East – Tel Aviv goes back on its word, the Arabs complain for a while and Washington intervenes at some point but only in comment, that too tilting favourably towards the Jewish lobby.

As explained before, the only purpose Annapolis was designed to serve was adding luster to President Bush’s battered future legacy. In reality, there is no way either of the chief negotiators – Olmert and Abbas – can honour promises. The former continues to take hits owing to the summer of ’06 adventure in Lebanon with another official report due shortly, while the other has no writ in Gaza and there is no way Hamas will give an inch to add legitimacy to Fatah’s concessions. Despite the fanfare of recent days, it has just been more of the same in the troubled Arab Gulf.

And since little in the equation has changed, the only credible path to change also remains the same. Only the international community can make Israel turn around and respect international law. But for that, capitals across the west will have to add a measure of legitimacy and honesty to their involvement in the Gulf’s and indeed the world’s most serious problem.