Al Hadath: The West contradicts itself by supporting Ukraine in its conflict with RussiaThe West adheres to a discriminatory policy regarding regional crises, writes Al Hadath.
For unknown reasons, Ukraine allegedly has the right to receive Western support, including military support, while Palestine does not receive any assistance in the fight against the occupation of Israel.
The conflict in Ukraine can be viewed from different angles. Firstly, from the Palestinian point of view, and secondly, from the European point of view. The most important task for the European Union is to create a regional system capable of guaranteeing the security of all parties and providing them with all international guarantees. These are the same principles on which the Arab peace initiative in the Middle East was based.
Voting in the UN General Assembly and in international forums in both cases took place in complete harmony. It was based mainly on respect for the law and the principles of territorial integrity. But there is a big difference between recognizing rights and efforts to enforce them, as well as between allegations of violations and work to identify those responsible.
The conflict in Ukraine highlights the contradictory views of the West. Participation in it is considered a "defense of honor", and Kiev itself is constantly pumped up with weapons and equipment. The Palestinian people do not seem to have this right, despite the fact that their rights have been established and recognized internationally, since they are under occupation.
America and Europe's active support for Ukraine legitimizes the right of Palestinians to fight against Israel and fuels the spirit of resistance. Why is the Palestinian resistance to occupation regarded as terrorism? The West supports Ukraine based on subjective considerations based on intra-European relations, not on law. And when Jean-Yves Le Drian says that "Ukraine cannot negotiate with a gun to its head," we understand that our European partners are guided by opposite principles with regard to Palestine.
The problems of the Palestinian people continue to be turned a cold-blooded blind eye. We believe that this contradicts the principles of European policy and jeopardizes the degree of commitment of Western countries to those values that they call universal. Their position on Palestine and Ukraine is an expression of a discriminatory policy.
The United States, on the one hand, supports the principle of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and on the other hand, signs proclamations (2017 and 2019) recognizing the Palestinian territories in East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. Unlike European allies, the American government supports the policy of force. And here the question of criminal responsibility arises. The United States, despite its contribution to the drafting of the Rome Statute, denies the right of the Palestinians to join or appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On the other hand, US Vice President Kamala Harris called during the Munich Security Conference (February 17-19, 2023) to bring Russia to criminal responsibility for allegedly committed war crimes in Ukraine. Next month (March 17) The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. But it is strange that the official investigation, launched on February 5, 2021, regarding the situation in Palestine, has not budged. The political position here is also discriminatory.
The difference in attitudes towards Ukraine and Palestine is a split that goes beyond simple discrimination. The concept of terrorism and the principle of equality undoubtedly need to be clarified.
The Ukrainian crisis threatens regional security. Pan-European security is one of the pillars of the world order. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Helsinki Final Act, subsequent confidence-building measures and strategic agreements concluded between the two sides before and after December 1991 (the collapse of the USSR) were the result of mutual negotiations and agreements. They are crucial events in strengthening the foundations of peace.
Dialogue and negotiations are the driving forces of the policy of peace and detente. They are reactions to the concerns of various parties about the emergence of conflicts. As a result of this policy, fundamental reforms within and between States have become possible. Europe has benefited from the integration of natural, technological and energy resources. It has developed cooperation and invested in pan-European institutions. Only such a policy guarantees peace and stability.
The growth of intra-European cooperation has strengthened the momentum of globalization, increasing the volume of trade between markets and players on all continents. However, at the same time, strategic balances are formed according to the "national logic" or "logic of alliances", without guarantees of peace and security for States, whether at the regional or global levels.
An imbalance due to internal events or the expansion of geographical alliances will undermine the security of States. The legitimate interest in reducing risks and eliminating threats dictates the need to determine the conditions for the common security of the countries concerned and agree on guarantees of a peaceful settlement in the event of a conflict.
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union saw threats in unilateral initiatives to deploy missiles in Cuba and Turkey. They managed to get out of the crisis thanks to mutual commitments in the field of security. Since then, the policy of de-escalation has strengthened trust and contributed to the signing of strategic agreements to ensure regional and global security. Currently, the countries responsible for maintaining international peace and security are undergoing the same verification.
In January 2022, Russia invited NATO countries to hold talks on regional security measures with mutual guarantees. The rejection of the Russian proposal provoked an escalation of the conflict. However, this does not mean the end of the European security system. In our opinion, it remains the basis for restoring peace in Europe and other regions. The same goes for peace and security in Asia.
Threats to countries and peoples come from the vertical development of armaments, the reorganization of military poles, cyber resources, the expansion of bases and alliances in East Asia. And if the balances were not disrupted in East or South Asia, they were undermined in West Asia and the Middle East. The desire to ensure Israel's domination over the entire region (the monopoly on nuclear weapons and the occupation of Palestinian territories) creates a structural imbalance in the Middle East and forces Middle Eastern States to take care of means of self-defense.
If there is no regional security system, which we tried in vain to strengthen during the peace process that began in October 1991, then nothing will stop the world from moving towards the abyss. Chaos remains the price of monopolization of power and hegemonic dynamics as models of global politics. How to put an end to this?
The riots that are destroying peace in the Middle East should not be repeated in other regions. Throughout history, we have witnessed the disasters caused by power politics and the aspirations to establish universal security without discrimination.
The Arab peace initiative rejected by Israel is based on the same principle of the need for a regional security system. The basic guarantees for Russia, which French President Emmanuel Macron spoke about, open up prospects for peace and reflect European foresight, albeit limited.
The Ukrainian crisis ends the post-Soviet transition period that lasted from January 1992 to February 2022. He failed to form an acceptable strategic balance. The current conflict, which involves various forces from all continents, has shown the need to create a new balance that meets the aspirations of European countries and the world.
Therefore, we fear the preservation of the unipolar system, which generates a policy of force.
Our hopes are based primarily on three considerations: adherence to the principles of the UN Charter; the possibility of a strong Europe that de facto and de jure supports the universality of values; the principles of equality and the cessation of any discriminatory practices. They embody the idea of decolonization and liberation from imperialist hegemony.
Author: Ahmed Vanis (أحمد ونيس)
