US urged to push for two state solution

US urged to push for two state solution

 

DOHA: A senior Fatah leader has called on the US to push for the “1967 Two State Resolution” if it was really sincere to bring in lasting peace in the Middle East.

Participating in a panel discussion on “Assessing President Obama’s New Beginning with the Muslim World” on the second day of the US-Islamic World Forum, Saed Erakat, Member of the OLO Executive Committee and Fatah Central Committee, Palestinian National Authority posed: “Why Obama can’t move to the 1967 Resolution. He must sand up to this policy with the agreed swaps.”

When Obama delivered his much-debated Cario speech; the Muslim world thought it was the most genuine attempt by a US regime to address the unrest in the region. Unfortunately the incidents that unfolded in the following months betrayed the hope. “Now US is not a country that shares its border with the nations like Canada…. Its borders have now extended up to countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and Jordan.”

“The Muslim world realises that between all the conflicts there is a matrix of interest. If somebody plant bombs in plains or trains and hit the buildings, we must call them criminals and the Muslim community must condemn it. They are criminal acts. There is nothing called Islamic terrorism,” Erakat said.

“You fight terrorism with democracy, freedom and ideas; not with bullets. If you do so, you cannot win the war on terrorism,” he added.

The Cairo speech was waxing eloquent on partnership and engagement but then why “Exclusion of Hamas?”, asked Anwar Ibrahim, leader of Parliamentary Opposition, Malaysia.

There was lot of euphoria in the Muslim world when Obama became the president. “You must remember that Obama is just the president the US. He is not the saviour of Muslim World.”

“There is a strong protest within the Muslim World for the US not engaging with the Hamas. ‘You engage with several hostile countries…even willing to engage with North Korea and Taliban.. but why not Hamas?, he asked.

He said the US administration has failed because it was and is prejudice. “You dictate the agenda. This is dangerous. You must engage with all sections of Muslim brotherhood,” Anwar Ibrahim said.

Martin Indyk,, Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy Programme, The Brookings Institution said initially the “1967 Two State Resolution” was supported by both the camps. . But in the process both the camps let the US down.

Obama has the intention for comprehensive Middle East peace. But the rift within the Palestinian bloc is making the task difficult. He recalled how the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, said a big “No” to Barack Obama when the President sought his cooperation in untangling the Palestinian issue. “Israel, Palestine and Arab leaders must come together to achieve the lasting peace in the region,” Indyk said.

Reflecting on White House’s determined peace initiatives, Pradeep Ramamurthy, Senior Director for Global Engagement, National Security Council, US said: “What America genuinely wanted is a comprehensive relationship. The US wants to intensify its engagement with the Muslim majority countries. As you look for broader agenda you must have to develop confidence and faith with your partners. .. We know that Middle East peace is a difficult talks and it will take time..”

He stated that the US don’t have any policies of pre-condition in the peace initative. “We are optimistic about negotiation,” he stated.

Nabil Fahmy, founding Dean of the School of Public Affairs, American University in Cairo, Egypt and Shibley Telham, Anwar sadat Chair for Peace and development, University of Maryland, US also spoke.

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