Palestinian Authority wears two faces

• Last Updated: October 18. 2009 1:46AM UAE / October 17. 2009 9:46PM GMT

Abdul Bari Atwan wrote in a comment piece for the London-based newspaper Al Quds al Arabi  that the endorsement of  the Goldstone report by the UN Human Rights Council on Friday was a great victory for Arab as well as Palestinian public opinion. “Yet it is a humiliating defeat for those who undermined the people’s will by ignoring the opinion of other concerned parties in the Palestinian Authority.”

Palestinians inside and outside the Occupied Territories stood against the former decision by a handful of officials who had earlier postponed discussing the report. They rejected especially the act of neglecting the consultative role of the central committees of Fatah and the Palestinian liberation movement. On Friday, however, Russia and China emerged to be the most enthusiastic countries to adopt the report.

Endorsing the report is likely to herald to a new phase in international diplomacy. It revealed  that if Arab and Muslim countries act in tandem, they can win international support. It also showed that the Palestinian cause was still unifying them at a time new regional powers are emerging, such as Turkey and Iran. Last but not least, the US influence in international organisations seems  to have been  in decline as “its two closest allies, Britain and France, abstained from voting”.

Settlements are part of a long-term solution

“Again, a successful outcome of peace efforts are unlikely,” wrote Abdul Arrahman al Rashed in a comment piece for the London-based newspaper Al Sharq al Awsat. “The reason is the same: Israel’s dodgy manner in approaching peace and constant Arab obstinacy. The Palestinians have  become fixated over the issue of settlements, which has distracted them and so far has caused the mission of  George Mitchell to fail.”

I have frequently heard remarks by the senior Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Ereket, who repeats the same condition at the outset of each round of negotiations. Each time, I fail too understand why he sticks to this requirement. Though I agree with him in essence that settlements must be stopped, the issue can be seen as a part of a more comprehensive solution.”

If peace talks succeeds, settlements would be evacuated as a result. Similar scenarios happened in Sinai when the Camp David accord was signed, and in Gaza when settlements were dismantled after Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank.”

Mr Ereket’s statements do not serve the cause, but they rather hamper the US president Barack Obama’s efforts in pushing the peace process forward. Insisting on this condition may cause Arabs to lose great opportunities for negotiation.

Plenty of bombers to accuse in Iraq

It is no longer acceptable to bring the deadly blasts in August to international venues, nor is it fair trying to drag Syria to an international trial, wrote Abdullah Rabhi in a comment piece for the  Qatari newspaper Al Watan.

There is more than one name to blame for the attacks. Iraqis, if asked, would reveal several that could have been involved in uglier crimes of killing and ethnic cleansing. The list of people involved could include senior party leaders, government officials, senior military and police officers, who for years have ordered to torture detainees in Iraqi prisons. They have also, by proxy, spurred on a sectarian war. “It is very absurd now that the Iraqi government is calling for an internationalinvestigation into one dubious crime among many. It knows very well who stood behind them.

The Iraqi foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, himself admitted  in the aftermath of the bombings that some security officials might be involved. He said that those behind the incidents were politically motivated and the reasons could be linked with the upcoming elections. “Yet, Mr  Zebari, after rounds of talks with Syria emerged to say that negotiations reached a deadlock, and the only solution left is to seek an international investigation.”

Education problems in Kuwait are social

In an open letter to Mr Tony Blair, that appeared in the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida, Faisal al Sharifi wrote: “Dear Mr Tony Blair, many thanks for your concerns toward our education system. This is to review and evaluate your vision regarding Kuwait’s education system for the year 2030.” 

Mr Blair’s report mentioned that although Kuwait is among the highest spending countries on education worldwide, the learning outcomes remain very mediocre. “Mr Blair underscored the social ill of nepotism as the main cause behind the failure of Kuwait’s education system. He also pointed the finger at the inability of the authorities to assess well the performance of teachers.”

Kuwait’s education system is much influenced by partisan and political agendas. And above all, selecting and rewarding the most capable teachers depends on social connections.

Mr Blair outlined  five recommendations to reform education in Kuwait. He suggested increasing teachers’ performance levels, expanding education options and matching the job market needs with university programmes. While some of his suggestions can be implemented, others would face bureaucratic difficulties. Meanwhile some problems are structural and it is difficult to correct them overnight.

* Digest compiled by Mostapha Elmouloudi

melmouloudi@thenational.ae