For years, several Arab regimes have been rapidly moving towards open normalization with Israel, abandoning decades of slogans that championed the "Palestinian cause" as their top priority.
But as time passes, a crucial question arises: What have the Arabs truly gained from this normalization?
Normalization was promoted as a gateway to "peace," "stability," and "development." Some regimes even portrayed it as an economic and political salvation from their internal crises.
However, reality quickly exposed these claims. No development has been achieved, nor has security been established. On the contrary, political crises have intensified, social divisions have deepened, and public anger has surged.
How can the Arabs remain silent, or some even become complicit, while the people of Europe and America are taking to the streets in massive demonstrations demanding an end to the killing and injustice?
Palestine: The Cause Pulled from the Forefront
It is regrettable that the Palestinian cause has been sidelined from the priorities of some regimes, despite being the cause that has united the Arab nation throughout history! There are undeniable commonalities: religion, language, and Arab identity—all elements that make Palestine a cause not only for Palestinians, but for all Arabs and Muslims.
It is striking that the West, despite its cultural and political alignment with Israel, has recently witnessed bolder popular and official stances condemning the Israeli aggression against Gaza and the West Bank. How can the Arabs remain silent, or some even become complicit, while the people of Europe and America are taking to the streets in massive demonstrations demanding an end to the killing and the lifting of injustice?
Shouldn't our voice be more sincere and stronger, especially since we are the ones who carry the Palestinian cause in our hearts and our history?
The Lost Unity… and the Costly Fragmentation
The Arab fragmentation, manifested in the scattered normalization efforts, serves only one party: the Israeli occupation. When ranks are scattered and bilateral relations with Israel are offered on a platter of fleeting loyalties, the door is wide open for the liquidation of the Palestinian cause and the entrenchment of the occupation as a fait accompli.
This unjustified political fragmentation does not only affect the Palestinians, but threatens the entire Arab national security. The occupation does not stop at the borders of Palestine; its influence extends deep into Arab sovereignty, creating security and cultural breaches that may not be immediately apparent, but whose effects are inevitable.
Regimes must listen to the voice of their people before yielding to the pressures of allies or the allure of deals. Losing popular support means the erosion of legitimacy and the loss of moral compass.
The Oppressed Peoples: The Last Fortress
Despite all this collapse, the Arab peoples remain steadfast in the face of this dubious path. From Rabat to Sana'a, from Cairo to Algiers, the people have not abandoned Palestine, nor have they been deceived by the slogans of "economic peace." The masses continue to cry out against normalization, considering it a betrayal of values and a departure from the collective will.
Therefore, regimes must listen to the voice of their people before heeding the pressures of allies or the allure of deals, for the loss of popular support erodes legitimacy and leads to a loss of moral compass.
There will be no place of honor in the annals of history if the Arabs do not adopt a firm stance that restores the centrality of their cause.
Salvation lies in unity, not subservience.
There is no salvation for the Arabs except through a return to genuine unity—not the unity of empty slogans, but a unity based on respect for the will of the people, support for the oppressed, and the protection of values and principles. These are the pillars that can rectify the damage inflicted by past decades.
There will be no place of honor in the annals of history if the Arabs do not adopt a firm stance that restores the centrality of their cause and liberates them from the logic of subservience to the logic of sovereignty and dignity.
