Interview with Arab League chief Elaraby on regional reforms and Saudi Arabia’s contradictory policies

17 SPIEGEL: Many Arabs now feel that your institution is not very efficient. Elaraby: The historic moment of change has gripped the entire region, and sooner or later it will change all Arab countries. The League will certainly need to adjust to that. We must be capable of reacting quickly to unexpected developments. SPIEGEL: Surely there are a few member states, most notably Saudi Arabia, which will hardly support such changes. Elaraby: I too have my doubts there. Nevertheless, we still have to try, and we have to take seriously the human rights established by the UN, which all countries in the League have recognized. SPIEGEL: How does Saudi Arabia's foreign minister explain that his country supports the Syrian opposition, on the one hand, while at the same time sending troops to Bahrain? Elaraby: I don't ask him these questions. That's your job. You're the journalists. SPIEGEL: Do you support the Palestinian Autonomous Authority in its aspiration to have the UN General Assembly give its blessing in September to the establishment of a State of Palestine? Elaraby: UN Resolution 181, adopted in 1947, is the birth certificate for two nations, Israel and Palestine. What's wrong with the Palestinians appealing directly to the UN after 20 years of negotiations with Israel? They could spend another 20 years negotiating without results, because the Israeli government doesn't even want to put an end to the conflict. The Israelis are only serious about gaining more land and expanding the settlements. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_025013