January, 2002

The United States and Israel's Arab Neighbours

Said Okasha

After the events of 11 September, the concept of the Arab belt, a name for the group of countries bordering Israel, reappeared in political literature. The countries of this belt - Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and the emerging Palestinian state - have agreed on a semi-unified stance linking the success of the international coalition against terrorism to the settlement of the Palestinian issue, or at least the creation of conditions conducive to a resumption of the peace process. The US administration has asserted its commitment to Israel's right of existence and sovereignty within safe borders, and also pointed out the importance of the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The US media launched a strong attack against Egypt as a result of the Egyptian view that the Palestinian issue is a significant factor behind the emergence of terrorism. The US administration nevertheless expressed its appreciation of Egypt's stance in the confrontation of terrorism, and offered $95 million in aid for the Egyptian budget to counter the negative effects of the 11 September attacks.

The US campaign did not exclude Syria either. While the United States condemned Syria for sheltering Hizbullah, which it has listed as a terrorist organisation, the US administration hailed the Syrian condemnation of the 11 September attacks. Jordan adopted a balanced stance, asserting the need to settle the Palestinian issue as a guarantee for the elimination of terrorism, and at the same time participating in the military attack against Afghanistan within the framework of the Security Council resolution. In the case of Jordan, Washington takes into consideration the influence of the Palestinian lobby, and likewise realises that King Abdullah cannot enrage the Palestinians by disassociating between terrorism and the Palestinian issue.

Israel may have succeeded in pushing the United States to adopt a stance against what it calls the Arab bloc against it. But Washington does not wish to exclude the Arabs from the framework of its attempt to create a coherent coalition against terrorism, especially in light of the support that the countries of the Arab belt have pledged to the US campaign. Israel, in this respect, would be the sole loser if its Arab neighbours managed to crystallise a clear formula for peace that protects the rights of the Palestinian people against Israel's security guarantees in a way acceptable to the United States.