The
West’s protestations about human rights sound hollow when one looks
at Yemen where the U.S. and U.K. place profits from arms sales to
Saudi Arabia over the carnage those weapons are inflicting.
by
Alon Ben-Meir
Part
3 - Bad to Worse
The conflict is going from bad to worse as international
efforts to press both sides have been woefully inadequate, and media
attention is nearly absent. Continued fighting will further fuel the
struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and contribute to other
regional conflicts. Moreover, the prospect of finding a peaceful
solution is becoming increasingly difficult and laden with
uncertainty, as the Trump administration believes that a solution
lies with more military force. Trump justifies his bellicose approach
as he sees Iran as the culprit who is raging a proxy war against the
Saudis and benefiting from continued instability.
For these reasons, the E.U.’s neutrality has allowed
it to maintain contact with all the conflicting parties, and is best
positioned to build on its credibility to persuade both sides to
agree on a ceasefire and settlement. The Houthis want to negotiate
with someone with authority rather than a mediator, and refuse to
have talks with U.N.-appointed envoy Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed, who
they consider to be biased. They also view the U.S. and the U.K. with
suspicion, as they are the chief suppliers of weapons to Saudi
Arabia.
Although France and Britain are supportive of the
military campaign, they can be coaxed by the E.U. into introducing a
UNSC resolution that must first, focus on a ceasefire; second,
address the humanitarian crisis; and third, work on a permanent
solution that would take the Houthis’ interest into full account.
As Gandhi once observed: “Three-fourths of the miseries and
misunderstandings in the world will disappear if we step into the
shoes of our adversaries and understand their standpoint.”
The conflict in Yemen can end only through a political
solution, as no solution secured by force will survive. The Trump
administration must learn from Iraq and Syria’s intractable violent
conflicts, which could not be resolved through military means. To
resolve the conflict in Yemen, the U.S. must join hands with the E.U.
to achieve a peace agreement and put an end to the unconscionable
tragedy inflicted on millions of innocent people.
Just take a look at the eyes of a starving, sick, and
dehydrated little child whose heart is just about to stop. Multiply
this image by tens of thousands and ask yourself, where have we gone
wrong? We have gone wrong because it has been long since we lost our
humanitarian and moral compass.
***
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