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No Peace at all

The Middle East Peace talks

The latest escapade of US President Jimmy Carter has not only sounded the death knell for his re-election chances next year but also has increased the chances of war in the Middle East region.

The whole premise of the Middle East peace talks has been that the two enemies in the area are Israel and Egypt, and that if both of them can get together, then the inevitable can be averted. Unfortunately for Carter and everyone else concerned, this is not the case. The central issue in Middle East politics is the right of the Palestinian people to gain back their national self-determination. Since 1974 they have lived in a country ruled by the doctrine of Zionism - a policy which means that they are effectively second class citizens in their own land.

The region is also an accurate reflection of global power contention — the rapidly declining influence of US interests, and the growing influence of the Soviet Union. The recent Middle East talks have shown this changing power situation very clearly. The US has suceeded only in alienating some of the nations which, before Camp David, it relied upon as allies. The more important ones are Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and some small but influential nations such as Kuwait. None of these countries have been prepared to sacrifice their support of the Palestinian people for a make-shift peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. Rather, they have joined the main body of the Arab Third World nations in condemning the agreements.

As well as US influence declining, the power of Zionism within Israel is encountering new stresses and strains. While the fanatical Zionist elements are actively promoting new illegal settlements on the West Bank, Jewry within Israel and internationally are increasingly turning away from the racialist and expansionist policies of Zionism. Pressure for genuine self rule for the Palestinians as the only solution to the problems of the Middle East is growing within Israel. The ultra-nationalistic policies of the Begin government are only leading to the weakening of the Zionist regime.

In reality, the peace talks are a fabrication designed to bolster the flagging influence of the United States in the Middle Eastern region. Under Jimmy Carter, however, US influence has gone into a rapid downhill plummet and the Camp David talks especially, have backfired rather badly.

But as in other parts of the world, the USSR has not overlooked the chance to fill the vacuum left by the declining US. Already they have had some success in high jacking the Palestinian national movement through their local agents. It is not inconceivable that in the near future they will become the greatest enemy of the independence and peace of the Arab nations of the Middle East. Judging from present day events, that day may be sooner that we think.

David Murray