MIDDLE EAST: Political action aimed at restoring the peace process in the Arab-Israeli conflict is the only way forward, according to the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Dr Nabil Shaath, who visited Dublin yesterday, reports Deaglán de Bréadún, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Dublin was the latest stop for Dr Shaath on a tour of European capitals. He had already been to Paris, Berlin, The Hague and London. He left for Brussels last night for a meeting with the EU foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, following which he was due to travel to Oslo and Stockholm.
Dr Shaath has been visiting Ireland regularly since 1970 when he came as representative of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation to speak at a public meeting organised by sympathisers in a Dublin hotel.
"I see Ireland as the closest European country to the Palestinians because of common history and some personal psychological characteristics. There is this warmth of personality and stubbornness in pursuing justice and there is a generosity also in the Irish," he says. "We feel very happy that Ireland is in the Presidency of Europe today." Commenting on criticism of Ireland in some quarters as anti-Semitic or at least half-hearted in its opposition to anti-Semitism, Dr Shaath says Israeli supporters tend to equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.
"Any criticism of Israel is regarded as an anti-Semitic crime, which is really blackmail." Asked what Ireland and Europe could do to overcome the impasse in the Middle East, he says: "I am not asking for an economic blockade of Israel's ports as a sanction for what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people. I am simply saying there is really a difference between political action and inaction and the difference is very important.
"Inaction means not challenging Israel's policies, acquiescing to Sharon's tactics and abandoning the peace process, and that is disastrous. But action has a variety of stages and we would accept political action that is directed at reaching a ceasefire and stopping that infamous wall from being built inside our territory.
"That is the amount of action we are asking for, hoping that this will propel us into the peace process and into full implementation of the Road Map."
Meanwhile, others may argue that the building of the wall between Israelis and Palestinians has helped reduce the number of suicide bombings, but not Dr Shaath. "The solution is to reach agreement on a ceasefire that will end all confrontations, particularly if monitored by an international monitoring group." Another issue he highlights is the "siege" of President Arafat at his headquarters in Ramallah. "It's really a shame that the elected president of Palestine and national political historical hero of the Palestinian people is put under that kind of humiliating siege. But he is steadfast and strong: he is in his late 70s but still hopes that he will see freedom and peace prevail."
Earlier, Dr Shaath met both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, who is himself visiting Israel next week. On his last trip to the region in June, Mr Cowen paid a courtesy visit to President Arafat but, as a result, Israeli leaders declined to meet him.
On this visit, Mr Cowen is expected to meet Israel's Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister, Mr Silvan Shalom.
In a separate development, some 14 Israeli and Palestinian parliamentarians are due to arrive in Ireland tomorrow for a "study visit" hosted by the Glencree Reconciliation Centre. The group, which includes Israel's Minister for Internal Security, Dr Uzi Landau, will meet Mr Cowen on Monday morning.