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"We may wish to think of the Arab -Israeli conflict as just one regional conflict among many. But it is not," said Annan. (Reuters) |
CAIRO — The yawning divide between Islam and the West does not have its roots in religious differences but rather political conflicts, particularly the continued Israel occupation of Palestine, a galaxy of world-renowned scholars, politicians and religious leaders said in a report presented to the UN Monday, November 13.
"Neither ancient history nor religious differences are responsible for present tensions between Western and Muslim populations," concludes the High-level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations.
"The Israeli-Palestinian issue has become a key symbol of the rift between Western and Muslim societies and remains one of the gravest threats to international stability," it stressed.
UN Secretary-General who received the report at a ceremony in Istanbul on Monday.
"We may wish to think of the Arab -Israeli conflict as just one regional conflict among many. But it is not," he said.
"As long as the Palestinians live under occupation, exposed to daily frustration and humiliation, and as long as Israelis are blown up in buses and in dances halls, so long will passions everywhere be inflamed."
The Alliance of Civilizations initiative was launched in November 2005 by Spain and Turkey.
The High-level Group was appointed by Annan a year ago to explore ways of addressing the increasing polarization between Muslim and Western societies.
It comprises 20 prominent international figures from a variety of religions including Iran 's former president Mohammed Khatami, former French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Arthur Schneier, Senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue.
The report crowns a year-long process in which the Group had three main meetings – in Spain, Qatar and Senegal – as well as a working session in New York.
Double Standards
The report also said that double-standard policies were fueling the growing divide between Muslim and Western societies.
"Moreover, the perception of double standards in the application of international law and the protection of human rights is increasing resentment and the sense of vulnerability felt by many Muslims around the globe."
Washington drew fire from across the Muslim world Saturday, November 11, for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned the Israeli killing of twenty Palestinian civilians, including eight children and four women in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanun.
During an emergency meeting Sunday, November 12, infuriated Arab foreign ministers voiced their "utmost indignation" at the American veto.
As one of the council's five permanent members along with Britain, China, France and Russia, the US has veto power which it has now used 82 times, including 41 times to shield Israel from censure.
Its previous use of the veto was in July to block a draft resolution that would have condemned Israel's military onslaught in Gaza as "disproportionate force" and would have demanded a halt to Israeli operations in the impoverished territory.
Washington had also blocked international efforts to enforce an immediate ceasefire in Israel's war on Lebanon.
Invasions
The world dignitaries also heaped blame on military interventions into Muslim countries.
"Western military operations in Muslim countries contribute to a growing climate of fear and animosity that is spreading around the world," they said in their report.
"The spiraling death toll in Iraq and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan help swell the ranks of terrorist groups."
A recently comprehensive National Intelligence report, representing a consensus view of the US 16 disparate spy services, has concluded that the Iraq war played a more direct role in increasing terrorist attacks and creating a new class of "self-generating" terrorists who are united by an anti-Western agenda.
The 30-page classified report warned that rather than contributing to eventual victory in the US-led global counterterrorism effort, the situation in Iraq has worsened the US position.
Repression
The report also suggests that the repression of non-violent political opposition and the slow pace of reforms in some Muslim countries is a key factor in the rise of extremism.
It calls for ruling parties in these countries to allow the full participation of peaceful political groups, whether religious or secular in nature.
The high-level group urged foreign governments to be consistent in their support for pluralism by, for example, respecting the outcome of elections.
For the past five years, the Bush administration has been championing a "democracy" drive worldwide and a global "war on terror."
However, pundits say, the US failed to support free and democratic elections in several Muslim countries when Islamists emerged as winners.
Legislative elections have brought the Palestinian resistance group Hamas to the helm of power and saw the Muslim Brotherhood and Hizbullah make major political gains.
A December Gallup poll, conducted in 10 nations that comprise 80 percent of the world's Muslim population, found that an overwhelming majority of Muslims strongly doubted the United States was trying to establish democracy in the Middle East.
Oil, protecting Israel and dominating the region were seen as US goals, according to the survey.
Recommendations
The high-level group came up with concrete steps for promoting dialogue between cultures.
It proposed appointing a high-level representative to assist the UN chief in defusing to tensions at times of crisis.
The dignitaries called for analyzing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dispassionately and objectively and establishing clearly the conditions that must be met to find a way out of this crisis.
They pressed for resuming the political process, including the convening of an international conference on the Middle East Peace Process as soon as possible.
The report also put forward a range of concrete proposals in the areas of education, media, youth and migration to build bridges and promote a culture of respect and understanding among Western and Muslim communities.
It called for the development of film and television programs co-produced across religious and cultural boundaries and showing diversity as a normal feature of society.
The group encouraged the promotion of cross-cultural and human rights education to ensure that students everywhere develop an understanding of other cultures and religions.
It also proposed creation of a Global Youth Solidarity Fund, to encourage young people to contribute to the implementation of all of the recommendations set forth in this report.
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