We have repeatedly made an assumption that Arab spring bears a potential
of radical overhaul of the Middle East conflict architecture http://blog-abunajla.blogspot.com/2011/05/arab-revolution-may-overhaul-middle.html
, and reshuffling of traditional
alliances in the region.
Despite all existing dissension and
contentions two Palestinian authorities have come together to start building
Palestinian State. After US President Obama’s speech addressed to Arab world,
in which the US administration declared its countenance to the 1967 borders
between Israel and Arab State, Palestinian authorities made few further steps
to get broader international support for their plans. In the end of May Mahmud
Abbas clarified that Palestinian authorities will bring up the declaration of
the State of Palestine to the UN General Assembly, if Israel government does
not come back to resume negotiations.
Russian Foreign Office manifested their
intention to support Palestinian State at UN General Assembly once the issue
comes to voting. Very substantial backing on behalf of Turkey was done by President
Abdallah Gul on June 16: Turkey will vote for the establishment of the Palestinian
state at the eventual UN GA voting in September. France has suggested convening
of an international conference in Paris in mid July to discuss peace agreement based on
recognition of 1967 borderline. Mahmud Abbas immediately accepted the offer,
but Benjamin Netanyahu did not and told they appreciate the French initiative,
but need to weigh it further and consult with American friends.
International pressure on Israel is
getting heavier weight. The last
weekend on June 25 Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan manifested unambiguous and comprehensive
support to the State of Palestine at the press conference with Mahmud Abbas in
Ankara. This week Mahmud Abbas made an official two day visit to Azerbaijan. He
was introduced as President of the Palestinian State and conducted few events
with President Ilham Aliyev and other high ranking officials of Azerbaijani
government. The Embassy of Palestine was officially opened in the building
provided by Azerbaijani authorities. At the joint press conference in Baku
yesterday President Aliyev ensured a full backing to the establishment of the
State of Palestine with the capital city in Eastern Jerusalem. Azerbaijan has
been and will continue to be on the side of Palestine elsewhere in international
organizations and gatherings, - Ilham Aliyev said. Mahmud Abbas highlighted
many similar challenges both nations were facing because of aggression by neighboring
states.
Palestinian leadership visit to Azerbaijan and
its tangible outcomes indicated further remarkable changes in regional policy. For
the first time since independence Azerbaijan openly declared its unanimous
support to Palestinian authority plans. It is noteworthy because after a
certain cooling in relationship with Turkey value of cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Israel has risen. Cooperation with Israel has also been valuable
because of the growing tension of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and for further confrontation
and militarization trend in relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The reasonable question is what has
urged the Azerbaijani government to take a stronger stand for the Palestinian interests?
This might be a valid inference of increasingly coordinated international pressure
on Israeli government aimed at demanded renovation of Israel policy towards
Arabs. Policy makers in Azerbaijan may have come to conclusion that the long
standing conflicts and continuing occupations have ended up under critical view
of democracy and peace champions. After the failure of Armenia and Azerbaijan
summit meetings under the aegis of Russia a stronger side in Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Azerbaijan, has aligned with militarily weaker side in Arab-Palestine
conflict to demonstrate its peaceful aspirations, and both countries, Palestine
and Azerbaijan, were victims of territorial occupation by aggressive neighbors.
And finally we have probably witnessed another indication of traditional alignment
of Azerbaijani and Turkish external policies, which was not evident in the case
of relationship with Israel until these most recent developments in question. http://blog-abunajla.blogspot.com/2011/06/turks-and-arabs-arab-spring-might-lead.html
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