Peace 'sent to wrong address'

Dubai: On the 40th anniversary of the 1967 war, which is considered a watershed event in the history of the Middle East, prospects for a settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict are mired in hopelessness and seem far from over, analysts say.

"Uncertainty lies ahead for the Middle East" responded Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, on how he envisions the future of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Some eyewitnesses say the outcome of the Six Day War was decided in the first few hours and changed the borders of the Middle East, as well as military and political perceptions.

Clashes

Among the reasons linked directly to the events that led to the 1967 war, noted experts, were that the borders of Arab countries with Israel, mainly Jordan, were witnessing frequent clashes with Palestinian fighters who were active at the time.

According to recently revealed Israeli documents, Israel had the early intention to launch this war and to occupy Jerusalem, noted Gulf News' correspondent in Palestine Khalil Al Asali. Documents that were published in Israel stated that the former Soviet Union had played a major role in pushing former Egyptian President Jamal Abdul Nasser to go to war with Israel, which was already prepared for a confrontation, added Al Asali.

Abdul Nasser moved troops into the Sinai Peninsula, called for the removal of UN observers from several locations, and on May 22 announced the closure of the Strait of Tiran, a vital shipping source for Israel.

Israel responded by attacking Egypt's air force and destroyed it within hours on the ground. It also captured Sinai, the Golan Heights from Syria and the whole West Bank and Gaza strip, including East Jerusalem. The Arabs call the war the "Naksah", or the setback.

Peace treaties

Both Egypt and Jordan signed peace treaties with Israel and their lands were returned. But the Arab-Israeli conflict still continues on various other fronts, mainly on the Palestinian-Israeli front.

In the past few years, Arabs proposed a peace initiative twice to Israel based on a "land-for-peace formula." But Israel did not accept it.

"The initiative came 40 years too late," said Abdul Hadi. "It arrives when there aren't charismatic Israeli or Palestinian leaders. It was sent to the wrong address and in the wrong time," he told Gulf News. However, other analysts don't share the same pessimism.

"The timing is suitable [for the peace initiative]," said former Jordanian Prime Minister Taher Al Masri in an interview with Gulf news.

After the 1967 war, Arabs were stubborn about accepting the reality and Israel was manoeuvering after winning the war, noted analysts. "Now, for the first time, the Arab countries are capable of moving. But the problem is with the other side, Israel and the US. They are not ready," added Masri. "Also, both are unwilling to take a decision to end the conflict," he added.

Israel is seeking to create a different reality on the ground, according to which it built and expanded colonies in the West Bank, confiscated lands, and built a huge separation wall, which left the Palestinians today with nearly 10 per cent of what they had after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

"The Arab peace initiative is taking away from Israel that reality, and therefore it is unwilling to deal with it," added Masri.