Israel a barrier to regional peace

Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, Assistant Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, has hit the nail on the head by stating at the Council of the Arab League’s consultative meeting of permanent representatives that an enduring solution to the Palestinian issue is the only way to preserve stability in the region, commented a UAE daily.

In its editorial on Wednesday, The Gulf Today said, "The UAE’s proposal to the Arab League Council to hold an emergency meeting at the foreign ministers’ level is totally justified considering the present volatile situation created by Israeli forces.

"There is a definite need to put an end to the provocative acts committed by Israel in the occupied territories and hold Israel accountable for continuous violations. Also, the need to take advantage of the current momentum of international support to benefit the just Palestinian cause and move towards putting an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories should never ever be underestimated.

"With Israeli atrocities continuing to fuel anger worldwide, inflammatory rhetoric from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s team never ceases.

"Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely has the audacity to declare that it is her "dream to see the Israeli flag flying" over Al Aqsa mosque compound.

An increase in Jewish visitors to the site, some of whom secretly pray there despite it being forbidden, and inflammatory statements by politicians, have added to the tension. Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of 56 Palestinians this month alone.

"What Israel forgets is that the world is watching. Hundreds of British academics who have declared that they will boycott contact with Israeli universities over the state’s intolerable human rights violations deserve commendation, as they are standing up for a just cause.

"The 343 academics from 72 institutions have promised that they would not accept invitations to visit Israeli academic institutions, or participate in conferences funded, organised or sponsored by them.

"They would maintain this position until the state of Israel complies with international law and respects universal principles of human rights.

"As Al Jarman noted, the continued Israeli occupation and lack of settlement for the Palestinian cause through the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the pre-June 1967 borders with Eastern Jerusalem as its capital, in line with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, are the main factors of regional instability.

"The implication is that without finding a permanent and just solution to the Palestinian issue, the region will undoubtedly continue to suffer chaos, violence and instability," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.

Source: WAM