NATO ignores Palestine and talks US 'priorities'

As I observed the “NATO 58 General Assembly” held in Rome, two things caught my attention. The first is Europe’s concern over the change in American “priorities” ​​which includes Washington’s new directive to focus on the Pacific and Asian states. The second related to the full "projection" of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the lack of importance given to the Palestinian issue on NATO’s agenda. With regards to America’s changing priorities, almost all speakers of the NATO "pillars" insisted that the changes would not reflect negatively on the common interests between Europe and the US. American officials also reassured members that the country would stay committed to NATO and European security. Despite the “many” assertions, Europe’s anxiety over America’s "transformation" is clearly evident - from repeated calls for increased attention to European contribution, to security and defence, as well as the revival of a common Europe-wide defence policy. Washington has a lot of reasons to transfer its attention from Europe and the Mediterranean to the Pacific and Asia. The most important being the growing Chinese and Indian economies, as well as vigilance of the “Russian bear" after long years of "hibernation". Despite considering the country as a “medium” regional power, due to its loss of influence in the Middle East, and its failure to modernise socially, politically and militarily in the last decade, America still continues to observe Russia. As for the Arab-Israeli conflict, it is the “hidden truth” of NATO meetings, which rarely seems to be mentioned at all. There is no talk of the need to end this conflict by securing a just solution to the Palestinian issue, nor any talk of "nuclear proliferation" and the rise of national and religious extremism in the region. Even when nuclear proliferation is brought up, only Iranian nuclear threat is mentioned, and the term “extremism" is only raised in talks about the “Arab and Muslim world”. Surprisingly, there has been no mention at all of the trends of nationalist extremism and "Haredi" gripping Israel which have contributed to the formation of governments and coalitions that have ranged between the right and the extreme right. After a series of "dull" discussions, I can only conclude that key terms like “Palestine and the peace process”, "two state solution" and “Arab-Israeli conflict” have all but disappeared from the vocabulary and agenda of the international community. Considering that the Palestinian national movements are at the thresholds of "reconciliation" and a change in leadership, it seems important for the international community to be involved. After decades of asking Palestine and the Palestinian people to commit to peace, it seems unfair that when they are finally ready for peace, the Palestinian people are faced with ignorance and denial. It is time for the Palestinians to put their own cause on the agenda of the international community again, which cannot be achieved without raising awareness on a popular, political and human rights front. The Palestinian issue is facing the threat of effacement and oblivion, as was the case in the years before the advancement of the Palestinian national movement. The international community cannot be blamed alone as the responsibility falls on Palestine, Israel and the Arab world. It is now time to correct this "historic mistake". --- The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.