Doomsday Clock ticks for Mideast
Published: 10th December 2006
MANAMA: The Doomsday Clock is ticking in the Middle East, Deputy King Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa warned last night.The situation in Palestine could blow up in the world’s face and the new nuclear arms race looms right here, he told Manama Dialogue security conference delegates.
“Our region’s Doomsday Clock is moving towards midnight,” he said.
“Midnight will strike when, and if, the Israeli settlements in Palestine become so numerous and so deep-rooted as to destroy the possibility of an independent Palestinian nation-state.
Doomsday Clock ticks for Mideast
Published: 10th December 2006
MANAMA: The Doomsday Clock is ticking in the Middle East, Deputy King Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa warned last night.The situation in Palestine could blow up in the world’s face and the new nuclear arms race looms right here, he told Manama Dialogue security conference delegates.
“Our region’s Doomsday Clock is moving towards midnight,” he said.
“Midnight will strike when, and if, the Israeli settlements in Palestine become so numerous and so deep-rooted as to destroy the possibility of an independent Palestinian nation-state.
“If a settlement was thus made impossible, peace would be impossible.
“The consequences would be felt far beyond Ramallah and Tel Aviv.”
The Palestinians need to put forward a government of national unity, while the Arab world needs to take a lead in facilitating the peace process.
“From the Americans, we need a willingness to be engaged and even-handed,” said the Deputy King.
“And we need an end to the American sanctions against the Palestinian people just because they voted for Hamas.
The perception of a nuclear Iran could imbalance the region even further.
“Iran is a major regional power in military terms – even without nuclear weapons,” he noted.
“We need a continuous dialogue with Iran – not an occasional one – and a unified voice so there is no doubt or ambiguity about our intentions.
“A trusted third party is required to mediate between regional powers, said the Crown Prince, suggesting the EU three – France, Germany and the UK – with the participation of the US, Russia, India and China.”
Iraq is a catastrophe, which worsens every day, said the Crown Prince.
Self-government is the only answer. “The longer this is delayed in Iraq, the more insurgency, the more civic collapse, the more violence there will be,” he observed.
© Gulf Daily News
