Western-linked Tunisia to host Arab summit

TUNIS, Tunisia — Arab leaders will gather here next week for a critical look at the threats, prospects and frustrations facing the Arab world, which is at a low point in its relations with the West.

The Israeli helicopter missile strike in the Gaza Strip on Monday that killed Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the paralyzed founder of the Palestinian organization Hamas, virtually has eliminated the prospect of any conciliatory move by the 16th summit meeting of the 22-member League of Arab States, usually called the Arab League.

A clamor for revenge swept through the Palestinian territories and several Arab countries, and the upcoming summit can do little beyond approving resistance to Israel and eliminating the peace process from its agenda. At best, the leaders can examine Arab impotence in the face of the paralysis of the Middle East peace process, Israel’s defiance of the Arab world, questions arising from U.S. conduct in conquered Iraq and Western Europe’s growing hostility to Arab immigrants.

Tunisian reluctance

The Tunisian hosts, who consider themselves a significant and historical link between the Arab world and the West, are likely to be confirmed in this role. The league envisages several economic decisions and structural reforms, but the conclusions of the summit might be depressing from the Arab point of view, particularly regarding relations with the United States.

The summit’s Tunisian leadership will need considerable diplomatic skill to keep anti-American rhetoric to a minimum. To much of the Arab world, the United States represents unconditional support for Israel and an increasingly dominant — and virtually uncontrolled — military presence in their part of the world.

The summit comes six weeks after the Washington visit of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, host to the Arab heads of state ranging from traditional monarchs to modern-style presidents.

Aides described Mr. Ben Ali’s trip to Washington as “the watershed in Arab-American relations.” Some diplomats consider this assessment optimistic.

Senior officials said it was with considerable reluctance that Mr. Ben Ali agreed to host the summit in his colorful Mediterranean capital.

“He felt the $20 million spent on the summit could be better used elsewhere,” one official said.

However, the summit venue has confirmed Tunisia’s commitment to “the Arab cause.” Amid various trends and currents, some linking and some dividing the league’s members, Tunisia often acts as a moderate and “constructively neutral” mediator.

Most participants opted for Tunis — rather than the chaotic atmosphere of Cairo, the league’s headquarters. The organization of previous international meetings held in Tunis has been impressive. As one participant put it, “Being in Tunis is almost like being in Europe.”

An optimistic Tunisian official expressed hope that Mr. Ben Ali’s Washington contacts “might lay the groundwork for rearranging the pieces in the Arab world, so that order can replace chaos, peace can be given a chance and hostility can be transformed into friendship.”

Some observers doubt that the pragmatic Tunisian president expects to find an easy consensus in a probable atmosphere of frustration, internecine quarrels and increasing anti-Americanism.

Story Continues →