In the moments of history, there will be decisive decisions that rearrange the scene, correct the path, and carry clear messages for those who try to jump on the facts. This is exactly what happened in the “Palestine Summit” that was held in Cairo, where the Arab meeting was not merely a protocol meeting, nor was the “Cairo Statement” merely a duplicate paper from the statements of condemnation and denunciation that the Arabs bored before others. Rather, it was a bold announcement of a new shift in the Arab position towards the Palestinian issue, re -drawing the map of joint Arab action, and stressed that this issue, which some tried to bury under the rubble of wars and crises, remains the first central issue of the Arab nation.
Since the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip fifteen months ago, the horrific scenes that the screens were enough to shake the global conscience, but the official international responses were faded, and Western positions were selective and hesitant. On the other hand, the Arab position was moving slowly, until the Egyptian invitation to hold an emergency Arab summit, in direct coordination with His Majesty the King, the head of the current session of the Arab summit, to rearrange the papers, and put an end to the scenes of singularity in the Palestinian people.
The role of the Kingdom of Bahrain in this summit was not symbolic or formal, but rather was influential and decisive in formulating the unified Arab position. Since assuming the presidency of the Arab Summit, the Palestinian issue was placed in the forefront of priorities, and sought to restore diplomatic momentum in international forums.
Manama was not satisfied with the statements, but rather pushed into studied political moves to turn Arab support into practical steps, which was manifested in the outputs of the “Cairo Summit” that exceeded the condemnation to decisions that can be implemented. The Kingdom of Bahrain played a fundamental role in uniting the Arab position against attempts to displace the Palestinians, and supported international efforts to establish an international fund for the reconstruction of Gaza, ensuring the arrival of aid away from any political extortion. It also contributed to strengthening the call to deploy international peacekeepers in the Palestinian territories, to protect the Palestinian people from repeated attacks.
When the “Cairo statement” was issued, it was clear that it was not similar to the previous Arab data. He deviated from the pattern of traditional formulations, and set clear mechanisms for Arab move, away from the language of appeals and the calls that the Palestinians are accustomed to. It was a bold statement, because it put the points on the letters, and emphasized matters that were said only in the closed rooms. The statement stressed that the Arab refusal of the forced displacement of the Palestinians is not just an initial position, but rather a red line that will not be allowed to be transcended, warning that any attempt to empty Gaza from its residents, or redrawing the population map in the West Bank, will be considered an ethnic cleansing crime that requires international trial.
The statement was not satisfied with rejecting the Israeli aggression, but rather demanded international mechanisms to stop it, most notably the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping forces in the occupied Palestinian territories, a new Arab proposal that transcends the usual “diplomatic appeals”, to place the international community in front of its direct responsibilities.
The summit also submitted an unprecedented initiative to establish an international fund for the reconstruction of Gaza, to collect financial pledges from donor countries, so that the reconstruction does not remain hostage to the political blackmail practiced by some international powers. This step, which came with direct support from Bahrain, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, confirms that there is an Arab will to end the tragedy of Gaza.
The summit reaffirmed the two -state solution, but with a new spirit, by calling for an international conference to establish an independent Palestinian state, a move that carries a strong political message that the Arabs no longer accept that Palestine remains merely a “negotiating file”, but rather a political reality that must be imposed on the international community.
Arabs today are in front of the political will test, especially in light of the accelerated international changes. If the Arab states want this statement to have a real impact, then they must immediately start implementing its outputs and converting decisions into practical steps on the ground. The biggest challenge is not in formulating data, but rather in the ability to impose it as a reality that cannot be exceeded.
Thanks to the relevant efforts led by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the opportunity appears to be greater than ever to convert this statement into a political reality that cannot be overcome, and to ensure that Palestine remains at the forefront of Arab and international priorities, until achieving the full justice of its people.
