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- ‘Deal of the Century’ must declare Jerusalem as part of Palestine and provide fair solution on refugees
- Unified vision essential to combat terrorism
Dubai-UAE: – Leading political figures expressed the need for a stronger Arab coalition, a clear roadmap and proactive initiatives to combat the region’s economic, political, social and security issues. The experts were speaking at a panel discussion during the Arab Strategy Forum (ASF) 2018, titled “State of the Arab World Politics in 2019”.
Common themes addressed at the discussion included the link between the present issues and the future of Arab states. The panellists agreed that an absence of economic, political and security collaboration between the Arab states have led them to be less proactive in resolving their issues, and this in turn has created a political vacuum that has allowed for foreign intervention.
In his comments, His Excellency Dr Nasser Judeh, former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, referred to the ‘Deal of the Century’, stating that with the prolonged announcement and ambiguity around the details of this deal, one cannot judge its impact on the Arab and Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
He stated that the preliminary stance of Arab states remains focused on the interests of Palestine as an independent state. He added that the deal is likely to be positively received provided critical prerequisites are given priority, such as ensuring Jerusalem is declared part of Palestine and a fair solution found for refugees.
Dr Ayad Alawi, former Prime Minister of Iraq and the Leader of the National Accord, stated that the much-needed political and economic reforms can support a more positive outlook in the near future for combating the Arab states’ internal challenges and external dynamics affecting their stability.
Commenting on the conflict around the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates, Dr Alawi mentioned that Turkey’s dam will affect Iraq. He stated that while an understanding is in place that Turkey should allow more water into Iraq, the conflict extends to Iran as well.
A similar conflict was also addressed by His Excellency Dr Nabil Fahmy, former Foreign Minister of Egypt, who described a more positive direction by Egypt towards its discussions with Ethiopia and Sudan. He stated that despite the disparate agendas of each of the countries, water must remain a source of cooperation and any solution must be addressed holistically.
The three panellists echoed a similar sentiment towards battling terrorism in the region, stressing the importance of evaluating and analysing what Dr Alawi referred to as the third generation of terrorists - those who succeed Al Qaeda and ISIS and those who seek to create more chaos and destroy what remains of the economy.
New social equations and methodologies that address local considerations and existing economic, political and social challenges, and a unified vision for the future were identified as key requirements to combat terrorism, with the Arab League acting as an umbrella.
On the conflict between Qatar and other Arab states, His Excellency Dr Fahmy stated that Qatar needs to change its internal methodologies to be able to re-integrate itself into the Arab world.
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About the Arab Strategy Forum
The Arab Strategy Forum (ASF) is a premier global platform that convenes world leaders and strategic decision-makers from the public and private sector to exchange insights on geopolitical trends that impact the world today. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the annual event features panel discussions and expert-led thought sessions revolving around the state of the world and the state of the Arab world.
Aimed at enabling participants to make informed decisions, navigate risks, and leverage short- and long-term opportunities, the forum analyses the current Arab and global political and economic landscape, examines conflicts and possible resolutions, and highlights events that are set to leave a lasting impact worldwide.
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