Endorsing Netanyahu's narrative at the Arab League

Israeli media has reported extensively about comments by Arab League Chief Nabil Al-Arabi with regard to Netanyahu’s refuting the existence of a Palestinian state. According to a quote obtained by AFP and disseminated widely in news reports, Al-Arabi stated that: “I believe, personally, that he made that statement about… no two states to gain the votes of the extremists, particularly those Russian immigrants who went to Israel in the last 10, 15 years.”

Al-Arabi added: “I think there will be enough pressure on any Israeli government that the situation as it is cannot continue; Israel is going to be a pariah.”

Earlier this month, Press TV reported about an endeavour by the Arab League in the form of a resolution to be submitted to the UN Security Council. A statement issued in this regard by the organisation is replete with the usual implications to the detriment of Palestinians – in this case confirming the Arab League’s “support for the Palestinian leadership in its efforts to end the Israeli occupation over Palestinian lands, and… its rejection of recognising Israel as a ‘Jewish state’.”

Both instances reflect the common international trend of prioritising Israel’s existence and the enforcement of oblivion. Predictably, the Arab League is embarking upon dismissive rhetoric that relegates Netanyahu’s statements and actions to mere election propaganda, while ignoring the consequences for Palestinians – a tactic that serves both Israeli interests and those of the organisation itself. Beyond the tactic of possibly appeasing voters, the Arab League is conveniently ignoring the fact that Netanyahu’s refusal to consider a Palestinian state is simply a testimony of his adherence to the Zionist colonisation process.

From discourse regarding the Arab League’s compromised attitude towards Palestine, to reflections about Israel’s status within the international community, it is clear that Israel is safely ensconced within a realm that issues a series of mild condemnations against its actions and contains negotiable parameters that in turn safeguard its impunity.

Alleged pressure upon Israel by the international community, including the Arab League, is unlikely to ostracise the “Jewish state”. This fabricated state may well be considered a pariah. However, that status is effectively countered by international insistence upon protecting Israel’s on-going colonial project. Apart from the usual rhetoric about the two-state fallacy, Israel’s brutality during Operation Protective Edge was essentially sanctioned by international organisations, either through upholding Israel’s “right” of defence or else by encouraging further aggression through complicit silence.

During Israel’s latest colonial massacre, the Arab League urged the international community to take “urgent steps for an immediate end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza and [to provide] protection for the Palestinians”. Just as the issue of colonisation was removed from the narrative during Operation Protective Edge, the same trend can be discerned in the recent statements that have attempted to lighten Netanyahu’s attitude with regard to a hypothetical Palestinian state. In reality, the international and Arab conspiracy is easily visible – through the insistence on eliminating the Palestinian narrative in order to accommodate an imperialist imposition, thus safeguarding the colonial bulwark and participating in furthering the web of corrupt stances currently stifling Palestinian resistance.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.