Arabs call for united fight against Israel

In the wake of the Arab Summit in Beirut, which offered Israel a golden opportunity for peace, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon retains as hard a stance as ever.

In a move, which many have perceived as a slap in the face of well-meaning Arabs, Sharon's army surrounded the headquarters of President Yasser Arafat on the very day summit participants issued their communique.

The Arabs extended an olive branch by announcing their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the war torn region. They offered the Zionist state peace and normal ties, provided it returns all occupied Arab land, and agrees to live alongside a Palestinian state. But what good will such promises yield, if Israel continues to rebuke them?

Gulf News spoke to a random sample of Dubai residents about the current situation. Exasper-ated with Israeli 'insolence', most Arabs expressed their readiness to take part in an 'all-out Jihad'. Westerners, on the other hand, spoke of the need to replace the warmongering of recent months with discourse and diplomacy.

Mohammed Al Mulla, a 24-year-old UAE national who works at a bank, doubts there ever will be peace in the Middle East so long as Israel does not respect international conventions and Arab rights.

"What happened two days ago, when the Israelis surrounded Arafat's headquarters, signals the start of a new war," he indicated.

"If they open the 'Baab Al Jihad' (Door of Jihad), and issue a call to fight for freedom, everyone will go. We will all go to restore the dignity of Arab countries."

Youssef Ahmad, a 21-year-old Lebanese national who teaches special classes for elementary students, remains optimistic.

"There is an end to all things," he stated. "And there will be peace in the Middle East one day."