The Peace Process: Who's Listening?

Ron Ross
BFP News
Email: ronrossbfp@hotmail.com

1st March 2007

The question must be asked: Is anyone in the Arab world listening?

My question is directed specifically at those in the Middle East who have constant communication with the White House and the US State Department.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah emerged from discussions this week and called on the international community to recognize a Palestinian unity government.

As far as I know, the whole world has agreed that recognition will be forthcoming immediately the said Palestinian unity government acknowledges the right of Israel to exist, renounces terrorism and accepts all previous Palestinian agreements made with Israel.

It is that simple.

Recognising the Palestinian Unity Government is not the fault of the international community.

The peace process these men crave, is stymied by a Hamas-led contingent who refuse to comply to the rules of the game.

Iran is saying no to the international community where their nuclear aspirations are concerned and Hamas is saying no because their reason for living is the extermination of the Jews and the state of Israel.

These are not terms the international community can accept.

The international community has explained that problem from the beginning and it must be time for someone in high places to say to the Arab leaders, "Get with it!"

Mubarak and Abdullah, who are said to be friends of the West came out of the Riyadh meeting and immediately emphasized ,and this next bit is a quote - `the need for action by the international community to reactivate the peace process and recognize the Palestinian government.'

Are these people deaf or just stubborn?

There are one or two serious problems with their request.

At the time they made their remarks no Palestinian unity government existed. It is in the wings but not at the time of their statement.

Action by the international community has never ceased.

Dr Rice has made more visits to the Palestinians than any other international diplomat and she has continued to encourage the PA to activate the process already articulated by the Quartet.

She has repeated the conditions of the Quartet so often she must be able to recite them in her sleep.

It is Hamas and their dance partner Mahmoud Abbas who are called upon to reactivate the peace process. The buck stops with them. They simply must acknowledge the right of Israel to exist, renounce terrorism and embrace all previous agreements made by Palestinian leaders with Israel.

I am aware English is not the first language of these negotiators but surely by now someone has supplied the Quartet information to them in Arabic.

I'm not wanting to be unkind with that comment but they just refuse to get it. Why?

Mubarak and Abdullah are reportedly acquaintances if not friends with President Bush. They must have the man totally confused. He hands out millions in support to Egypt and in return his Middle East policy is ignored and treated with disdain by Mubarak.

The Egyptian leader obviously does not fear retaliation from the US administration. He may be too busy looking over his shoulder at the Moslem Brotherhood who come from the same terrorist cloth as Hamas.

Italy has called on the international community to recognize the Palestinian unity government.

Russia followed up with the same recommendation.

The only difficulty for these cheerleaders is the sad bloodthirsty existence of Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian terrorist groups.

They continue to defy unity by shooting or kidnapping each other.

They will announce a Palestinian unity government soon but watch this space. Both sides have a tendency to love each other dead.

They have the same dream for Israel but that's another story.

There is a God factor which most of these players have a tendency to ignore at their peril.

For further evidence of that fact study the Bible or read through the history of the Jews.

He turns up when least expected. But those who know the Word are already reading Ezekiel 26-37 and 38 and maybe He is not so unexpected after all. .

Ron Ross resigned as Senior Pastor of Noosa Baptist Church to become National Director of Bridges for Peace Australia. Three years ago he joined Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem to establish international radio news and an audio service webcast at www.bridgesforpeace.com Ron was Sports Editor of WINTV for 20 years before joining the full-time missions. You can contact Ron at : ronrossbfp@hotmail.com