Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit,
Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, affirmed that Israel's
reckless use of force does not guarantee lasting peace and security. He
emphasised that the occupying state has no viable solution to its
conflict with the Palestinians, instead opting to perpetuate the status
quo—the continued occupation of Palestinian territories. This, he noted,
amounts to a system of apartheid reminiscent of South Africa’s past, a
reality that compels the Arab world to persist in the struggle against
it. Mr. Aboul Gheit called for employing the same tools once used by the
oppressed in South Africa, namely, the mobilisation of global public
opinion, the strategic use of boycotts and sanctions, and legal and
judicial actions. He further stressed the need for robust diplomatic
efforts to isolate the occupation, heighten its cost, and erode the
legitimacy of the state that enforces it.
Mr. Aboul Gheit also pointed out that Israel is increasingly losing its
global legitimacy, particularly among younger generations. He
highlighted the widening gap between these new generations and their
predecessors in their perception of the occupation and their growing
rejection of its inherent injustices. He remarked that many young
people, who we have seen demonstrating in support of Palestine, will
soon rise to positions of influence in key decision-making centres in
important countries, bringing with them a renewed commitment to justice
and a clear understanding of the occupation’s stark realities.
Gamal Roshdy, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the League
of Arab States, announced that Mr. Aboul Gheit's remarks were made
during a speech delivered to an audience of members of the National
Defence College in the Sultanate of Oman, at the invitation of the
College's Commander, Major General Ali bin Abdullah Al-Shaidi.
In his address, Mr. Aboul Gheit touched upon the broader international
and regional landscapes, focusing in particular on the intensifying
conflict among the world's major powers, which he described as having
entered a new phase of the Cold War. He warned that this current
iteration could be even more perilous than the previous one, as it
involves three nuclear-armed powers. The dynamics are further
complicated by China's significant economic influence and its deeply
intertwined relationships within the global economic system, which
amplify the stakes of this geopolitical conflict and its far-reaching
consequences for international stability.
Mr. Aboul Gheit concluded his speech by emphasising that the evolving
international environment necessitates that Arab countries maintain the
highest degree of strategic flexibility and independence. He underscored
that while great power conflicts pose significant risks, they also
create certain opportunities and margins for manoeuvring. Reflecting on
recent experiences, he stressed the importance of the Arab world
confronting its challenges by relying on its own capacities while
actively engaging with friends and partners across the globe, wherever
shared interests and common visions align on specific issues or files.
