THE observer of ongoing Arab-Arab disputes will realize the reason behind the Arabs’ series of defeats in the hands of Israel. He will also be sure that Moshe Dayan’s statement shortly after the defeat in 1967 has become true.
In 1967, Arab newspapers published the press statement of then Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan. A foreign journalist addressed Dayan: “Sir, Major General, you took the Arabs by surprise. It is true that you won, but you would not have done so without using the surprise. If the Arabs are united, they can throw you into the sea.”
Dayan responded laughingly: “The military victory that we achieved was not the result of mere surprise. As long as we receive television and newspaper reports showing that Arabs are unable to embark on a bus in a disciplined and civilized queue, I will never fear them.”
What has changed since the defeat? Have the Arabs learned the lessons and got rid of their muddled mentality? Have they learned how to queue up? Have they developed themselves, or they are still echoing songs about their past glory while their present condition is getting worse?
The Arabs lost in their first battle with Zionist gangs in 1948. Instead of standing together as one firm body to resist the Israeli occupation, the Palestinians divided into groups taking the Arab countries as an example where every country is only interested in its own favor. They violated the commands of Allah Who said in the Holy Quran, Surat Al-Emran, Verse 64, “Say: O People of the Book! Come to common terms between us and you that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we stand not from among ourselves, lords and partners other than Allah. If they turn back, Say ye: bear witness that we are Muslims.”
If this is a call from God Almighty for us Muslims to seek common terms with the People of the Book; they are rather invited to seek, at least, unity among themselves. The Arabs are asked to adopt a united position in order to save themselves from the afflictions they suffer.
We blame the Palestinian groups because each of them took one Arab country as a sponsor, so the latter adopted their positions and fought on their behalf. One group is supported by Iran, second by Iraq, third by Syria, fourth by Algeria, fifth by Libya; while the sixth, seventh and eighth are supported by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. All of the groups forgot their basic issues and got involved in the Arab-Arab disputes which resulted in the death of a large number of Palestinians – more than those killed by Israelis. Have the leaders of Palestinian groups learned the lesson?
Israel recently announced its intention to add Jordan Valley and West Bank to the occupied land. Neither Palestinian organizations nor Arab countries reacted. They merely issued pointless statements that we have become familiar with.
The same thing can be said about the attack on Saudi Arabia one week ago. Instead of supporting Saudi Arabia, we witnessed the contradictory positions of Arab countries despite the fact that most of the countries worldwide have condemned the attack. Arab countries, especially those loyal to Iran, put the responsibility over such terrorist attack on Saudi Arabia. We heard the out of tune voices of Iranian mercenaries including Hassan Nasrallah. He boasted about the crime a couple of days ago, while hiding behind a mercenary machine for distorting reality.
Arabs inquired about the reasons behind their defeats but they ignored what Dayan said 52 years ago. They still fight over who gets to the bus first. They never lined up. This nation will never reach its goals without discipline. It will continue drinking the poison of disputes as long as it includes those who prefer to support the enemies against their own community.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
