Self-Doubts Further Imperil 'Deal of the Century' Despite Economic Focus
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UK £2 Issue 209, Year 5 June 9, 2019 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com The Arab region Qatar, two The unending on World years after business Environment Day of fighting the boycott extremism Pages 6,20 Page 5 Pages 12-13 Self-doubts further imperil ‘Deal of the Century’ despite economic focus ► Members of the Trump administration seem divided and sceptical about the practicality of the plan. Mamoon Alabbasi not the only obstacles to the “Deal of the Century.” Members of the Trump adminis- London tration seem divided on the practi- cality of the plan. he yet-to-be-announced US Speaking in a private meeting peace plan for the Middle with Jewish leaders, US Secretary East that is commonly re- of State Mike Pompeo gave a candid T ferred to as the “Deal of the assessment of the plan. In an audio Century” appears to have suffered recording of the meeting obtained setbacks, prompting Washington by the Washington Post, Pompeo to focus on the economic aspects of noted that “one might argue” that a possible Israeli-Arab agreement. the deal is “unexecutable” and it Its expressions of doubt about the might not “gain traction.” practicality of the deal are further Pompeo acknowledged that imperilling the initiative. “frankly, this has taken us longer to The Trump administration is roll out our plan than I had original- nonetheless pressing ahead with a ly thought it might.” He confirmed: US-led conference on the Palestin- “It may be rejected. Could be in the ian economy, June 25-26 in Bahrain, end, folks will say: ‘It’s not particu- despite Palestinian political leaders larly original. It doesn’t particularly and businessmen declaring they work for me,’ that is, ‘It’s got two would not take part. good things and nine bad things, The International Monetary I’m out’.” Fund, the World Bank and the Eu- Such concerns were not ex- ropean Bank for Reconstruction pressed only by Pompeo. and Development said they would “Prominent conservative and Undermined. President Donald Trump (Front-L) turns to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attend the gathering, dubbed the pro-Israel voices close to the White (C) after signing a proclamation at the White House in Washington, last March. White House adviser (AP) “Peace for Prosperity” conference. House are increasingly sharing their Jared Kushner is first on the left. Regional support for any political fears, which range from the possi- measure that may be announced at bility that the peace proposal could ready to govern themselves. political solution that takes into ac- Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to the conference is already reserved. trigger violence to worries that its of- “The hope is, is that over time, count the legitimate aspirations of form a government. A rerun of the Saudi Arabia and the United Arab ferings could forever kill efforts to they (Palestinians) can become ca- both the Palestinians and the Israe- Israeli elections is to take place Sep- Emirates said they would attend the craft a two-state solution,” reported pable of governing,” Kushner told lis” and added that it must also be tember 17. conference but they are unlikely to Politico. news site Axios. He said he was not in line with the accepted “interna- In the meanwhile, Palestinians publicly endorse a political deal re- “Many hoped the plan would get concerned whether the Palestinians tional parameters.” see the “Deal of the Century” as jected by the Palestinians. shelved even before the latest po- do not trust him. “I’m not here to be By insisting on international law, promoting anything but peace. Statements from leaders at the litical turmoil in Israel prompted trusted,” he said. European powers reiterated their “The Palestinian peace camp has Arab and Islamic summits in Mecca the scheduling of new elections in In anticipation of the Bahrain objection to the continued Israeli to hope that the political complica- were univocal in their rejection of the fall. Now, some are going on the “workshop,” Kushner recently con- occupation of the Palestinian ter- tions that both Trump and Netanya- Washington’s stances on the occu- record to urge the Trump adminis- cluded a trip to Morocco, Jordan ritories and to measures or policies hu face mean they’ll step away from pied Palestinian territories and the tration to set aside the plan indefi- and Israel — with an additional stop that would entrench that occupa- the deal and that they can keep Golan Heights. The leaders reiterat- nitely, even though few people have in Belgium to meet with European tion. their camp alive until the scales of ed their support for an independent seen the closely held proposal.” leaders — in an apparent bid to gain Israel, which is likely to attend the peace process are balanced once Palestinian state, with East Jerusa- Recent statements by Kushner support for the conference but his the conference, expressed support again,” wrote Palestinian activist lem as its capital. have raised eyebrows. The Pales- shuttle diplomacy does not appear for the involvement of US President Muhammad Shehada in Haaretz. Palestinian objections, Arab cau- tinians, who have long accused to have been fruitful. Donald Trump aimed at brokering tion, European insistence on in- Trump of siding with Israel at their The European Commission a future Mideast peace deal with Mamoon Alabbasi is Deputy Man- ternational conventions and the expense, are likely to feel their po- stressed in a statement that any US the Palestinians. But the country is aging Editor and Online Editor of absence of an electoral mandate in sition validated after Trump’s son- economic plan for the Palestinians grappling with political uncertain- The Arab Weekly. the current Israeli government are in-law suggested they were not yet must be accompanied by a “viable ty after the failure of Israeli Prime P2 ‘Fun Bus’ a breather for Beirut’s street children Samar Kadi his large family. “I like being on tion for street children while giv- activities were carried out on the The programme seeks to engage the bus because I can learn, draw ing them the chance to take a res- pavement or in open shelters in with the families of working chil- and watch cartoons,” he said. pite from street work. specific areas, Tabsh said. “The dren and encourage them to get Beirut The “Fun Bus” initiative, funded “Our bus rolls every day, except idea of the bus came later. We their sons and daughters off the by the UN High Commissioner for Sundays, stopping at different lo- thought the kids needed a safe streets. lad in her black headscarf Refugees and the European Union cations and neighbourhoods,” said and private space to express them- and long robe, Rayyan and implemented by the Makh- Youssef Tabsh, project manager at selves,” he said. hurried to the brightly zoumi Foundation, a Lebanese the Makhzoumi Foundation. “Now when they see our bus The “Fun Bus” initiative provides support and C coloured bus as it pulled NGO, provides support and recrea- When the project began in 2017, they would hurry inside because to the side of the street at a large they feel it is for them. We are tak- recreation to street children intersection in the heart of Beirut. ing them off the street for 1 to 2 while giving them the Packing away the boxes of tissues hours during which they can enjoy chance to take a respite from she was selling, the 13-year-old activities, go crazy and let go the street work. hopped on board the bus stationed steam before going back on the under the shade of a tree. street,” Tabsh added. The programme has taken more “I cannot stay long. My mother On the “Fun Bus,” the youths get than 150 children off the streets will not allow it. I have to go back to live their childhood for a couple in the past two years but many to work,” she said. of hours, a welcome change from challenges remain. It has reached Every Thursday, Rayyan and selling tissues and chewing gum hundreds of children working in other Syrian refugee children sell- for a few dollars a day. The initia- Beirut, most of whom are from ing chewing gum and tissues at tive offers lessons in basic literacy among the nearly 950,000 regis- the busy intersection wait impa- and numeracy, awareness sessions tered Syrian refugees living in the tiently for the “Fun Bus” where on hygiene, protection issues and country. Their families live below they can enjoy activities such as the dangers they could face on the the poverty line, with limited ac- drawing, watching films and basic streets. cess to employment, often leaving learning. “Most of the children have never them with no option than to send Yazan, 11 years old and originally set foot in school but, with the ba- their children out to work to make from Aleppo, said he has been on sic learning we offer, they are now ends meet. the bus several times in the two able to read numbers and words years since he started working on A welcome change. The “Fun Bus” drives in downtown Beirut. making them better equipped to Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly the street to help provide food for (Makhzoumi Foundation) protect themselves,” Tabsh said. Travel and Society section editor. 2 June 9, 2019 News & Analysis Palestine Israel New elections in Israel undermine chances for ‘Deal of the Century’ reasonable comfort with capital- ists, peaceniks with settlers, the Geoffrey orthodox religious with militant Aronson secularists. This is “Team Israel” — the source of its vitality and dynamism here is today a king in and its ability for more than half a Israel and his name is century to defy demands for an end Binyamin Netan- to the occupation of the West Bank yahu.