For Peace in the Middle East

Nations Which Consider Themselves Above the Law
The Oasis Plan for Peace
About The Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-Up

The following are excerpts of the presentation by Hussein Askary Al-Nadeem, representing Lyndon LaRouche and EIR, to a conference of the Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-up in Abu Dhabi, on "Human Rights, War Victims, and International Law" on July 16, 2002.

Nations Which Consider Themselves Above the Law

The Muslim philosopher and thinker, Abu Nasr Al-Farabi, states in his "Commentary on Plato's Laws," that Plato "had explained people's desire to avoid wars among them, and their strong longing to that end, due to the great good contained in avoiding war. This is only possible through the implementation of the law, and that whenever the Laws oblige the people to go to war, then, that is done in the pursuit of peace, not for love of war."

In the humanist Christian tradition, there are abundant examples of this fundamental principle. St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) writes in his book "The City of God" (Book 19, Chapter 12) the following: "Whoever gives even moderate attention to human affairs and to our common nature, will recognize that, if there is no man who does not wish to be joyful, neither is there any one who does not wish to have peace. For even they who make war desire nothing but victory—desire, that is to say, to attain to peace with glory. For what else is victory than the conquest of those who resist us? And when this is done there is peace. It is therefore with the desire for peace that wars are waged, even by those who take pleasure in exercising their warlike nature in command and battle. And hence it is obvious that peace is the end sought for by war. For every man seeks peace by waging war, but no man seeks war by making peace."

In our Islamic tradition, we find various lessons for mankind through the morals of the great prophet Mohammed (May Allah's blessings be upon him) in times of peace and war. He always urged for peace and raised the Jihad of the soul (strife to moderate and perfect the soul) and raised it above the Jihad with the sword. We remember him offering the prisoners in the battle of Badr to buy their freedom through teaching Muslim children how to read and write. The successors of Prophet Mohammed also left us many lessons in the treatment of prisoners and inhabitants of conquered cities. While bidding farewell to the Muslim army which was heading for the first time to fight the Romans, Khalifat Abu Bakr told the army chiefs: "Do not betray. Do not act perfidiously. Do not mutilate (the dead). Don't kill a young child, an old man, or a woman. Do not cut palm trees or fruit bearing trees. Don't slaughter a lamb, a cow or a camel unless needed for food. You'll pass by people who have dedicated themselves to living in monasteries. Leave them, and let them continue the affairs they have dedicated their lives for."

In modern European history, there is one very important precedent on the issue of war and peace among nations, and what should be the principles for uplifting the victims of the war from the suffering and misery inflicted upon them in the conflict. That is the Peace of Westphalia treaty of 1648, which ended the Thirty Years War and almost a hundred years of brutal and bloody religious conflicts among Christians all over Europe.

The treaty signed in October 24, 1648 states: "That there shall be a Christian and Universal peace, and a perpetual, true, and sincere amity ... and that each party shall endeavor to procure the Benefit, Honor and Advantage of the other." The concept of the perfect sovereignty of the nation state and the equality among all nations was recognized for the first time as a principle governing international law; that the smallest nation is as equal as the greatest one in the eyes of the community of nations. Furthermore, in order to establish this system of "Amity" where each nation works for the benefit of all, it was necessary that the signatories of the Treaty pledged not to seek revenge, retributions and reparations when peace was established.

The Oasis Plan for Peace

What can you offer the victims of such a bloody war? You give them back their dignity and their confidence that humanity shall overcome barbarism. You give their children a future of well being and prosperity; a chance to develop their creative potentials so that they become scientists, poets, musicians and nation builders within an environment of economic development and social justice. You give the fathers and mothers of those who have perished in the conflict a life of dignity, freedom and welfare, so they see that the sacrifices made by their beloved ones were not in vain.

This requires a just economic and financial order based on the principle of the general welfare of all nations. There should be an emphasis on real economic agro-industrial development and growth. In the Middle East in general and Palestine in particular—a sovereign nation state of Palestine—the priority is to finance massive transport, water and energy infrastructure works. Water is the main source of conflict and will remain so. American economist LaRouche, who had indicated this point in his recent speech here in the Zayed Centre, has over the decades outlined an elaborate plan for "peace through development" in the Middle East. It is called the Oasis Plan.

Without this sort of economic development and cooperation, there will be little chance for peace, even if good intentions existed. However, good ideas and intentions are not enough in the current circumstances. After a river of blood had flowed in Palestine, and even inside Israel itself, a deeper reflection is needed. It is the moral responsibility of the international community in general, and the United States in particular, to provide protection to the Palestinian people, and allow them to enjoy their legitimate right to build an independent and sovereign state.

There is one single chance to achieve a true humanist and ecumenical dialogue, which can lift people, all people to the sublime status which their Creator has given them all. In all religions there is a noble view of human beings and of relations among nations. As for the Palestinians and Arabs, in general, they should be aware of the trap of being tempted to deny others their human character, even if those other happen to be their rivals. As the great religions and humanist philosophies preach, we should always remember that the purpose of just war is to achieve peace and justice, and not revenge. If peace were to come without fighting, the better.

About The Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-Up Malaysia's Bernama press agency recently called the Abu Dhabi-based Zayed Centre the "Voice of the Arab World." The Zayed Centre was established in 1999, following a symposium on "Future of the Arab Nations and the Role of the League of Arab States" held in Abu Dhabi in November 1997. Initiated by the U.A.E.'s President, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the ZCCF has rapidly expanded its influence into a working regional mechanism that seeks to highlight the concept of Arab solidarity in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres and inter-Arab relations. The Arab League approved its establishment, as an independent political entity, in its session in Cairo in 1999. The ZCCF has played a significant role in highlighting the Arab point of view on various political social, religious, ethnic, cultural and economic issues by holding symposiums, lectures and talks and publishing 147 books, dossiers, and studies. Its website is www.zccf.org.ae Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr. gave the keynote speech to the June 2-3, 2002 Zayed Centre's conference, "The Role of Oil and Gas in World Politics", which was attended by leading personalities from Arab oil-producing nations, including many government ministers. The invitation to keynote the conference is an indication of LaRouche's soaring influence in the Arab/Islamic world. For his speech, see http://larouchein2004.net/pages/speeches/2002/020602abudhabi.htm