US President George W. Bush held yesterday the Annapolis meeting amid a full Arab participation just hours after he signed an agreement with Nouri el-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, to set the foundation for a long-term US military presence in Iraq, opening the door before the establishing of US military bases there. The Arab countries went to Annapolis to end the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, replying to the call of the US administration which theoretically sponsors peace and practically sponsors the Israeli occupation. The question is: do the Arabs expect that those who occupy Iraq and prepare for a long-term military presence there might play an effective role to convince Israel of ending its occupation to the Arab territories?
Al Gomhuria, Editorial
28/11/2007