Media reports on current events between Palestinians and Israelis indicate that clashes and tensions between the two sides usually occur during the month of Ramadan. In this conflict, chronic violence is not surprising. What is surprising, however, is that the actions and reactions on both sides are always repeated, with no attempt to avoid this annually recurring crisis - writes Salem AlKetbi, UAE political analyst and former Federal National Council candidate
That Ramadan, Easter and Passover fall on the same time for the first time in almost three decades was known in advance. The tensions over the holy sites were very likely to be expected as such.
They required precautionary and preventive measures that would eliminate or at least mitigate the possibility of an event that would escalate into a major crisis that would join the list of catastrophic crises in the region and around the world. I am talking about preventive measures and policies that are not security-oriented at all.
I do not mean, of course, proactive handling that is limited to the Israeli security aspect. But I do mean that any “provocative” behavior on either side, no matter how simple, must be prevented because it eventually becomes a conflagration that causes bloodshed and reinforces the cycle of mutual violence.
In this repetitive scenario, one wonders how things will continue at the same pace, leading to the same disastrous results for all efforts to change the state of hostility and achieve genuine regional peace. Obviously, no lessons have been learned so far from the repeating scenario to avoid the next crisis in the same places and at the same times.
We all agree on the goal of ensuring security and religious freedom for all. I believe that this can only be achieved if we approach the situation in Jerusalem with policies, ideas, alternatives and solutions that are different from those that cause recurring crises.
I believe that it is very delicate to ensure that the situation in the holy places is not disturbed, at least in the current phase of regional and international conditions.
It was necessary to avoid the current escalation so that the chronic annual tragic scene is not repeated, with all the political and strategic losses and consequences, which at least set back again the relations between the Arabs and Israel on a popular level.
Against this background, it is hard to deny how difficult it is for any Arab country, especially those historically known for supporting the Palestinian people, to follow the bloody events between Palestinians and Israelis without a political reaction. The issue is not only the consistent historical and strategic positions of these countries, which are known to all.
It is also about the gravity of silence at such times, which provides a golden opportunity for detractors and timeservers to make a long list of ready-made accusations against the leaders and peoples of these states. In the midst of this crisis, the UAE’s stance on the events in Jerusalem is in the spotlight.
Although UAE diplomacy is moving according to specific and clear parameters, some are trying to fish in troubled waters by exploiting the crisis and even using it for other purposes. The UAE is well aware of this and acts according to its own rules, principles and values, whether on the Palestinian issue or on other regional and international issues.
Objectively, no observer can but give the UAE respect and credit for its response to the events in Jerusalem. The UAE acted through diplomatically accepted means and mechanisms. This particular crisis differs from previous ones in that there is an Israeli ambassador to the UAE who can express his point of view and position through the diplomatic channels available to him.
This is only about the UAE’s effort to defend the rights of the Palestinian people in its official relations with the Israeli side, without affecting the positive outcomes in the UAE-Israel relations. Logically, the Israeli side should not be surprised at the UAE’s protest against what is happening in Jerusalem. The UAE’s principles are not new.
It expresses them diplomatically and away from the media hype. Since the signing of the Abraham Accord with Israel, the UAE has decided to look beyond the traditional alternatives and deal realistically with the existing geopolitical and geostrategic realities. It no longer makes sense to remain silent on what is going on between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Not only because the whole Palestinian issue is a central issue in the UAE’s foreign policy. But also because this recurring level of mutual violence threatens the UAE’s efforts to build a non-violent, tolerant and coexistent the Middle East among all societies and religions.
It harms Israel itself not only on the level of “image” but also on the level of future and supposed desire to build a real peace with the Palestinian people and the rest of the Arab societies. So the UAE’s support for the cause and the Palestinian people is nothing new.
What is new is that the voice of the UAE and its people is conveyed to the Israeli state and people through its official representatives. This in itself is an important addition in the interest of the cause and not the other way around, contrary to what some claim that the UAE is abandoning its principles, false, and allying with Israel, twisting the truth.
The UAE maintains close relations with Israel but not to take advantage of the Palestinians and neglects their defence. This controversy has occurred before in the context of the signing of the peace agreement. It is not surprising that it is resurfacing now.
We will not tire of clarifying what some are trying to cover up and pointing out the realities of things and attitudes.
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