Jordanians cautiously optimistic about Arab summit outcome

AMMAN — As Arab leaders meet at the Dead Sea to address the many challenges facing the Arab world, some Jordanians have expressed hope that this year will finally bring a solution to the Palestinian issue and an end to the war in Syria.

Acknowledging that Arab countries are living through enormous and long-standing challenges, several Jordanians interviewed by The Jordan Times underlined that Arab leaders can overcome the crises of the region if they have a strong and unified stance.

“Every year we hear that the Arab leaders are meeting, but with every year, the situation of the Arab region worsens. I really hope that it will be different this time. I hope that Arabs will find courage and stand together,” Hanadi Hassan, a 33-year old chemical engineer, said.

Hassan said that Arab leaders should strengthen their collaboration in the fight against the Daesh terrorist group, highlighting that Syrians and Iraqis in Jordan will be able to return to their home countries if Arab leaders exerted stronger and more organised efforts to defeat the terrorist group.

The ongoing war in Syria was also the main concern for Mahmoud Al Rafi, IT officer.

“It is still unbelievable to me that Syria is destroyed by war and that hundreds of thousands of Syrians became refugees. I hope from the bottom of my heart that the Arab leaders meeting here can bring a solution, which ends this war,” Rafi said as he was buying groceries.

For the septuagenarian Abu Karim, the picture is gloomy.

“Arab leaders have been meeting for years now. What did they do for the Palestinian issue? Did they manage to reclaim our stolen lands?” Abu Karim said as he sat on a chair in front of his butchers shop near the Sports City area.

Recent graduate Nizar Sheikh believes that this year’s Arab summit will be different.

“I think that the outcomes of this summit will be different because Jordan is hosting it, which gives it greater momentum given Jordan’s strong regional and international role in diplomacy,” Sheikh, a political sciences graduate, said.

He underscored that the Arab countries should come together and unify their positions regarding the ongoing crises in Syria, Yemen and Libya, while stressing that the “Palestinian cause” must always take centre stage in their deliberations.

Retiree Mohammad Idris agrees.

“All Arab countries should sort out tensions between themselves and also let go of personal interest. If this happens, Arab leaders can come together and achieve peace in the region,” the 80-year old predicted.

Idris expected the ongoing Arab summit to bring solutions to the troubled region, indicating that “all Arab countries are running out of patience with what is happening in the region.”

“I’m looking forward to hearing what the Arab leaders will propose in this regard later this week,” he said.