During my appearance on the dialogue hour program on Al Arabiya, hosted by the prominent journalist Reem Boughemara, an important issue was raised regarding the necessity for a new regional system in the Middle East. I mentioned that the dire conditions in many countries of the region—filled with wars, poverty, bloodshed, devastation, and a dark future—highlight the urgent need to take action and propose new ideas for the countries sharing the geographical space from the eastern Gulf to the ocean.
This new regional system should include all Arab countries, with their diverse orientations, as well as Iran, Turkey, and Israel, to achieve realistic solutions for the chronic problems in the region, away from the paths of wars and violence that have never resolved issues and only create a perpetual cycle of loss for all—both within individual nations and in the relationships between regional countries. It is far better to adopt peace and dialogue as the sole strategic option for resolving conflicts and disputes, aiming for a win-win equation for everyone.
As a final note, around 70 years ago, in 1954, a wonderful regional system was available for the countries of the region, which was supposed to include Arab states, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Britain, supported by the United States and the West. This system aimed to enrich the countries in the region and solve its problems by preventing wars, similar to the Marshall Plan that uplifted Western Europe and East Asia. It was called the Eisenhower Project for the Middle East and included a solution for the Palestinian issue through granting the right of return to some and financial compensation to others.
Instead of supporting this regional system known as the Baghdad Pact, which was akin to NATO and strengthened, unified, and uplifted European countries despite the historical differences and disagreements among their nations, President Abdel Nasser, guided by his advisor Heikal, attacked this pact openly, followed by the ignorant Arab revolutions and secretly by Israel, which understood that it could not wage war and expand in the presence of such a strong alliance that could have prevented numerous wars and subsequent military setbacks.
Now, regarding what we failed to achieve in the past, why not create a new regional system through which we can resolve all conflicts and begin transforming the region into... a project for a new Europe?!!
