The Arab League member states will convene tomorrow to take a decision regarding the Arab participation in the Annapolis peace meeting. The level of participation reflects the Arab acceptance of the general framework of the conference. The main goal of the US-sponsored peace meeting is to re-launch serious negotiations between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. For its part, the United States pushes the Palestinians and the Israelis to negotiate over final status issues.

By doing so, the US administration regards the discussing of final status issues in the Annapolis meeting as a concession on the part of Israel which usually calls on the Palestinians to meet their commitments as stipulated in the US-sponsored roadmap before taking any action on the part of Israel. However, the Arab countries should pay heed to the fact that the success of putting into force any peaceful settlement is linked to closing the file of Hamas-Fatah differences.

It is illogic to expect that Abu Mazen might meet his commitments as stipulated in any would-be agreement in light of the state of power split between Gaza and the West Bank. Certainly, the Arab participation in the Annapolis meeting confirms desire to make peace, but taking any Arab decision in this respect should put into account all obstacles and dimensions in the post-meeting stage.

Al Akhbar

November 21, 2007