Discreet Meeting Tackles 'Non-Arab' Interference

By SANA ABDALLAH

AMMAN -- A hastily arranged meeting of foreign ministers from eight U.S.-allied Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority has sought to find ways to end "non-Arab" interference in their regional affairs - an obvious reference to Iran - to boost Arab unity.

The ministers met behind closed doors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday to reiterate their support for Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the "sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people."

The reaffirmation recognizing the PLO as the only representative of the Palestinians was a clear rejection of calls, or plans, by the Islamist Hamas movement for an alternative representation.

Supporting the Saudi-sponsored Arab initiative for peace with Israel was another rebuff for Hamas, whose demands for abandoning the Arab-Israeli peace process gained widespread popular backing in the aftermath of the massive Israeli war on Gaza.

The ministers also agreed to support Egypt's mediation between Israel and Hamas to consolidate a long-term cease-fire in Gaza, and between the Fatah-led PA and Hamas to launch Palestinian reconciliation talks.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan said in an official statement the meeting's aim was "overcome this difficult time in the Arab world to achieve solidarity."

He implicitly pointed the finger at Iran for causing internal regional disputes.

"We are working to get beyond a difficult phase and create an Arab consensus on stopping unwelcome and unconstructive interference in our affairs by non-Arab parties," Sheikh Abdullah said.

While he did not specify which "non-Arab parties" that have been responsible for the deep polarization among the Palestinians and Arabs, he was clearly referring to Iran, which makes no secret of its support for Hamas and Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah organization.

A non-Arab Shiite power, Iran has in recent years emerged as a powerful regional player, supporting and strengthening groups threatening the pro-Western Arab establishment seeking peace with Israel.

It was no coincidence that the gathering in Abu Dhabi came as top Hamas leaders, including its exiled political leader Khaled Meshaal, were visiting Iran and meeting its President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to "express appreciation" for their support during and after the 23-day war on Hamas-ruled Gaza.

It was also no fluke, analysts say, that countries seen as the "rejectionists," or those who publicly support resistance against Israel - such as Syria, Qatar, Sudan and Libya - were not invited to the Abu Dhabi meeting.

In addition to the host country, the consultations were also attended by the foreign ministers of the so-called "moderate regimes" of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco and Yemen. Iraq and Kuwait were also invited, but they said previous engagements kept them away.

Meanwhile, it was not immediately clear how this Arab bloc, which is expected to meet again on March 3 in Cairo, ahead of an annual summit in Doha later in the month, was planning to heal inter-Palestinian and internal Arab rifts.

PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said the meeting was aimed at "cleaning up our relations to create conditions" that would ensure a successful summit of the 22-member Arab League. An Arab rapprochement would "facilitate Egyptian efforts toward Palestinian reconciliation," he said.

Palestinian analysts say the internal Palestinian disputes are an extension of the larger Arab rift, which has deepened by foreign intervention that seeks to impose their own agendas on the differences.

The interference, however, is not just coming from Iran. The United States is closely involved in the region, and more recently Turkey has emerged as a key regional influence, and to a less extent Europe. All this is adding pressure on the Arabs to confront the external influences.

And with the new U.S. Barack Obama administration appearing to be less forceful than its predecessor on imposing its power in the region, the Arabs have an opportunity to rebuild their order independently in a way that could lead to a consensus and give themselves enough strength to ward off foreign interferences, regardless of the sources.