A multitude of Arabs have a positive outlook regarding the recent Arab summit conducted in Jeddah, particularly owing to the pragmatic efficacy and sway of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the summit's host nation.
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Saudi Arabia's capacity to exert influence and actively collaborate with other Arab hubs of decision-making and influence is greatly esteemed, particularly amid the tumultuous happenings in the Middle East and the globe, to say nothing of the assessments suggesting a strong likelihood of the Ukraine crisis escalating into a more extensive global clash in the imminent future.
A few individuals in the Arab world were anticipating the Jeddah Summit to adopt a distinct rhetoric in contrast to past summits and to observe the introduction of unconventional remedies and substitutes to the predicaments and disputes tormenting the Arab region. Undoubtedly, this is a legitimate aspiration, but it lacks a practical execution strategy.
Through speeches and grandiloquent expressions, crises are not resolved, and it is no overstatement to assert that one of the primary origins of the Arab dilemma is that it stems from preceding phases characterized by catchphrases, impassioned speeches, and empty clamor.
Should an individual disregard the significance of the Palestinian issue and its "core importance," they face criticism. Likewise, if someone accentuates it, they also encounter criticism under the pretext of repetitive stances and words devoid of action.
The expectations or the meaning of "taking action" incessantly advocated by these detractors remain a mystery to all. In what manner could the Jeddah Summit transpire and in what shape should it diverge from other Arab summits? Did these individuals expect Saudi diplomacy to guide their Arab brethren in waging a war against this or that party implicated in the Arab crises, with the intention of demonstrating the summit's triumph?
And why did they neglect to listen or grant themselves an opportunity to peruse the words articulated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, which encapsulated explicit messages concerning the pursuit of security and stability, defusing crises, and ending conflicts?
Certain Arab observers find a prevailing sentiment of frustration permeating the Arab Jeddah Summit, discernible from the countenances of those in attendance. This sentiment, however, bears no connection to the outcomes of the summit or the host nation. We must acknowledge that the regional and international climate is nothing short of disheartening.
Between Israel and the Palestinians, the intensity of violence continues to rise, while the Sudanese army engages in a brutal and overt military clash with the Rapid Support Forces. Additionally, suffocating crises plague Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Libya, while other Arab nations grapple with unparalleled economic hardships. Meanwhile, the international environment remains obscured by the potential for a new global conflict that could impact every facet of existence. Consequently, the atmosphere is hardly ordinary.
Even if the summit had been filled with mirth and grins, these same critics would contend that Arab leaders exhibit indifference towards the bloodshed in Sudan, the unfolding events in Palestinian territories, or the anguish experienced by other people.
The predicament for some of us, Arabs, lies in the fact that there exist individuals who believe our crises can be rectified with a handful of phrases in a casual discourse or a proposition to bolster Arab collaboration.
These individuals fail to grasp that a substantial political measure, such as the reentry of Syria, encompassing all its weight and sway within the Arab structure, embodies an affirmative political progression. In the absence of Syria's involvement, it becomes arduous to deliberate upon a unified Arab perspective regarding regional security or construct a clear strategic perspective concerning Arab ties with influential regional forces like Israel, Turkey, and Iran.
Alternative viewpoints are also held by Western critics. Some contend that Syria has not made any compromises in return for its reinstatement into the Arab League. From a realistic standpoint, the Arabs have not presented Syria with anything thus far, apart from extending a warm welcome for its return. Hence, the notion that this return warranted concessions makes not much sense.
A comprehensive and enduring experience of over a decade has substantiated that the pursuit of resolutions and pathways to alleviate the plight of the Syrian populace cannot be accomplished without engaging in direct communication and establishing channels of contact with Damascus. The situation grows even more precarious, given the far-reaching consequences of the ongoing circumstances in Syria on regional security, particularly in view of the proliferation of terrorist activities, illicit drug trade, refugee crises, and other related concerns.
To provide further clarity, it is imperative to recognize that the protracted exclusion of Syria, encompassing both the nation and its citizens, for more than a decade is not a rational substitute. The matter at hand does not revolve around the regime per se, and it is crucial for everyone to acknowledge that persisting with the current policies against Syria merely reflects a dearth of political pragmatism, a postponement of resolutions, and an evasive approach.
Moreover, it leads to additional anguish for millions and further strategic blunders, including enabling other regional factions to expand their influence in Syria to the detriment of its people and, similarly, to the detriment of Arab strategic interest.
Sanctimonious Western powers fail to tackle the crisis in Ukraine and give rise to conjectures about potential involvement in a prospective global conflict of potentially nuclear proportions with heavyweight Russia. Nevertheless, the West persists in asserting its capability to dispense counsel to the Arabs concerning Syria and related issues, disregarding the reality that the sole certainty in the realm of politics is change and that interests serve as the guiding element in shaping stances and perspectives.
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A crisis of the magnitude that Syria endures cannot be resolved through seclusion and disconnection, for it is a nation besieged by the dominance of diverse regional and international factions and militias across numerous regions of its land. Approximately half of its people have undergone internal displacement or have become refugees in foreign territory.
There exists no logical alternative except for what was articulated by the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud: "It is imperative for us to unite and exert every endeavor to strengthen Arab collective action in tackling it."
Some perceive Syria's reentry into the Arab League as a diplomatic triumph for President Bashar Al Assad, and indeed, this holds true in political analysis calculations. But on the flip side, it also is a win for Arab unity, which has at last triumphed over the hurdle of disagreement concerning Syria, courtesy of the assiduous and adept Saudi diplomatic endeavors. They managed to devise a harmonious formula and pragmatic political resolutions, establishing a shared foundation upon which all Arabs stood united in Jeddah.
