Arab-American relations are of a contradictory nature, the causes of the contradictions being the goals of US policy. Since World War II, three main concerns influenced US policy towards the Arab world: First, the strategic importance of Arab territory in the American confrontation with the Soviet Union; second, the rich oil deposits in Arab areas; and thirdly, the destabilization, frustration and domination of the Arab national liberation movement struggling for economic and political independence and Arab unity.
The US used varied tactics to achieve these goals. It began with diplomatic attempts to turn the Arab world into a stronghold in a system of blocs with which the US was trying to surround the Soviet Union and to halt the progress of the Arab national liberation movement threatening the US imperialist position in the Arab world. The collapse of the Soviet Union at the beginning of the 1990s put an end to the policy of military blocs, but the other concerns influencing US policy towards the Arab world remained the same. New tactics were introduced: threats of intervention, military intervention, political and economic pressure, etc.
The US made a strategic choice in favor of Israel .It wanted Israel to adopt itself to fit into a Middle East context and cease to look upon itself and be looked upon by others as alien to this community. Of course Washington had no intention of sacrificing its relations with Israel on the altar of rapprochement with the Arab world. It is a matter of priorities in implementing American policy objectives.
The US military aid makes it possible for Israel to continue its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip and the Golan Heights. US economic aid enables Israel to establish more settlements in the occupied territories, which amount to nothing more than Government subsidized housing for Israeli commuters who agree to live on expropriated usurped Arab lands. US political aid and backing make it possible for Israel to commit crimes against Palestinian civilians and totally disregard the international community and the United Nations. Simultaneously, the US wanted to take positive approach to the Arab world in order to safeguard its interest in its strategically important and oil-rich area. So the US maneuvers to reconcile these two contradictory objectives of its ME policy — increasing Israel's influence as a strategic base and strengthening the American position and influence in the Arab world — proved futile. This is why the US peace process failed and why Arab-American relations remain contradictory.
However, after ten years of useless peace talks, the peace process appeared to be mere illusion. Thanks to US policy-makers who support the aggressors and their criminal practices and violations of international laws, US-Arab relations are still not based on equality and far from healthy. The principles of US Middle East policy have remained the same since the end of the Second World War.
Washington is creating obstacles to Arab solidarity. It tries to use inter-Arab differences to consolidate its own position and presence in the area. This runs counter to the interests of Arab security, independence and economic unity.
However, it is high time the Arab states should review their relations with the US and put them on the right track. First of all, they must put an end to inter-Arab differences, close ranks, follow an independent policy of their own, consolidate their political and economic integration and unify their positions concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict and the lifting of sanctions against Iraq. Then a new and equal relationship with the US may solve the contradictions in the interest of the peoples of the region and the international community.
The recent visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Syria was significant in every way. Syria is the land of ancient civilizations and the cradle of Christianity. The Papal visit demonstrated its quest and strong desire for the long-awaited Middle East peace based on justice and comprehensiveness and on giving each party to the ME conflict its own right according to the prestigious resolutions of international legitimacy.
Exactly like Prophet Jesus Christ, the sublime bearer of the peace, amity and fraternity message started in Syria 2000 years ago and the savior of mankind, Pope John Paul II has carried the same heavenly message to save peoples from various pains by cooperation between Islam and Christianity and to end the long-standing hardships that have been troubling the entire region over the past fifty years.
In the speeches His Holiness made during his visit to the country, the Holy See carried a message of peace to Syria — a genuine peace "based on a new... understanding and respect among the peoples of the region".
The main causes and repercussions of the Arab-Israeli conflict must have been in the mind and heart of His Holiness. When in the liberated city of Quneitra, the pearl of the Syrian Golan, the Pope saw for himself the barbaric destruction of all parts of the city intentionally caused by the Israeli occupation troops before their withdrawal in 1974. Quneitra is just one living and vivid example of Israel's savage hostility. However, the Pontiff may have in mind that the source of all troubles and ordeals in the region has been Israel and its policy based on racism, aggression and expansion, which is the cause of sufferings and ordeals in the entire Arab region. These calamities will unfortunately continue unabated unless Israel's ugly occupation and open aggression terminate, its policy of racism and expansion is bridled once and for all and its consequences are totally eliminated.
Racism, aggression and expansion will be terminated when Israel's occupation of all the Arab territories ends, settlement building and expansion cease, the Palestinian people's legitimate rights to self-determination, freedom and repatriation are fully restored and an independent Palestinian state with holy Jerusalem as its capital is eventually established. Once these objectives — which are the core of a just and comprehensive peace strongly advocated by Syria and the basic obligations of the Mideast peace process launched in Madrid 10 years ago — have fully materialized, ordeals and hardships will end, and the whole region will enjoy genuine peace, lasting security and durable progress.
His Holiness has, in this connection, expressed confidence that Syria, under the leadership of President Beshar Al-Assad, will spare no effort to work for the hoped-for just and comprehensive ME peace. When calling for peace, the Pope did not forget the fact that the long-awaited peace cannot be achieved unless principles of the international legitimacy are fully honored. He reiterated the principles of "preventing seizing land by force, maintaining peoples' right to self-determination and respecting resolutions of the UN Organization and the Geneva Conventions".
Will Israel understand the Holy See's peace message and respond to His call for pulling out of all the occupied Arab territories and restoring Arab — and especially Palestinian — rights in line with provisions of the international legitimacy? The answer depends on a radical change in Israel's policy. But current events show that genuine peace does not exist in the Israeli lexicon and the Israelis, led by the well-known butcher Ariel Sharon, have opted for more aggression and expansion.
