Aqaba Process and Nakba: Summits for Photo-Ops while Human Bodies are Blown into the Air

Most people probably have no idea what “Aqaba Process Balkans III” even means. Frankly, neither did I. Yet, local media—including Macedonian outlets—duly reported that heads of state from the Balkan region gathered at an important security summit co-organized by Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. Actually, the guest list went beyond the Balkans, particularly because presidents of Slovenia and Croatia also participated—countries that no longer define themselves as “Balkan” ever since joining the EU. Among the participants in this series of Aqaba informal summits, one can see representatives even from countries and organizations (such as NATO) directly involved in the spread of state-sponsored terrorism and proponents of extremism. A pretty interesting bunch of people enjoy in an informal settings!

What prompted me to reflect was the series of brief and contentless news snippets about President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova’s meetings with President Rumen Radev and King Abdullah II of Jordan. I won’t dwell here on seemingly minor protocol faux pas, such as her habit of clasping the interlocutor’s outstretched hand with both of hers—even during formal meetings with high representatives of Muslim countries. But then again, there’s no one around her to point out that such attempts at charm are neither appropriate nor effective, even with those she greets so warmly.

Given that Macedonia’s president is akin to a “British queen” (as we say in constitutional law, referring to heads of state who appear powerful but are ceremonial facades in international affairs), you won’t see her at any truly significant summit. That’s why her media team works hard to create the illusion of international stature, engagement, and competence. The Aqaba Process—obscure to most, yet sounding exotic and important—provided a rare opportunity for personal affirmation. Her social media message read:

“It is clear the world has entered a turbulent phase and that freedom is difficult to achieve under conditions of security threats. We are barely safe anywhere. A joint action is needed, and everyone must tackle radicalism in their own environment. In this struggle, we must be cautious because selective justice can be dangerous—every life has equal value and must be protected. I thank President Radev and King Abdullah II for the invitation to this important political and security forum.”

But what really set off alarm bells for me was another statement she made to the Macedonian and Bulgarian media, saying that “both Islamophobia and antisemitism are dangerous and must be opposed equally.” WTF!? What antisemitism is she talking about? The only ‘evidence’ might be people like me, who wear a keffiyeh and stand with Palestine. If that’s now considered antisemitism, then truth has officially become a casualty of diplomacy.

From the public remarks made by those present in Sofia—ranging from Slovenia to Kosovo, all of which I reviewed—you’ll glean little beyond the usual platitudes about combating terrorism and radicalism. The Aqaba Initiative has been around for a decade, yet its tangible results are hardly discernible—aside from the fact that the summits continue to take place regularly in various corners of the world. But the world of 2015 is not the world we live in today. Yes, it's commendable that these leaders are at least talking about radicalism, extremism, and security. Still, almost no one reported that upon arriving in Sofia, King Abdullah called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza—if only for the duration of the summit. Even Jordan’s own media barely acknowledged his diplomatic tour. The Jordan Times devoted just a few perfunctory lines to the event—suggesting it could just as easily not have happened at all.

While presidents—many of whom know nothing about geopolitics, terrorism, security, or extremism—debate and pose for group photos in Sofia, we’re witnessing horrifying scenes of civilians being blown apart—from Gaza to Yemen. And this is done in a far more organized and deadly fashion than ISIS ever managed. (ISIS, by the way, was legitimized in Syria by the West when it helped install a butcher as the head of a so-called interim government now recognized by the “international community.”) If we are serious about uncovering the roots of radicalism and the hatred directed at everything Islamic, then we must have the courage to say it plainly: the current genocide—the ongoing ethnic cleansing, the grotesque spectacle of human bodies torn apart (children and women among them), captured gleefully by sadistic drones—is the very seed of evil. What else can emerge from such monstrous campaigns? Another hollow round of the Aqaba Process, while the Nakba grinds on—relentlessly—until the last living Palestinian is erased? For the sake of truth, King Abdullah waved goodbye to Sofia participants and went on a meeting on Gaza in Egypt, but the Balkan leaders can get back to their business as usual - and forget about Aqaba and Nakba.

Protesting genocide is not antisemitism—it is a reflection of global human empathy and solidarity.

And yet, even writing these words—just like holding that summit in Sofia—feels tragically futile. On what is perhaps the most existential issue facing our civilization, the Macedonian president speaks in euphemisms, always with gloves on, never daring to utter the words ceasefire in Gaza. Our foreign policy reflects none of it—it’s as if the issue simply doesn’t exist. I don’t even know if our state has sent any humanitarian aid. I’ve heard nothing.

Jordan’s role in all this is a complex story of its own—with half its population not merely sympathetic to Palestinians but of Palestinian origin. After more than 70 years of Nakba… and yet, the king plays it clever, cautious, hypocritical—and remains deeply dependent on the Empire.

So go ahead. Forget the Aqaba Process because the Nakba is happening now, in real time, before our very eyes.