Over the past two weeks the news has increasingly been dominated by the worstening situation in the Middle-East. The images of blown out bridges and blood covered children have been more graphic than usual but the disproportionate retaliation from the Israeli army is exactly what I have come to expect- incidentally a sarcastic note of thanks to America for continuing to supply all the weapons that the Israeli army could ever use; genius George W., genius (Ruthe has more on that here)!
Now Ehud Olmet has had the chance to prove he's as hard as his predecessor it seems we may start to get somewhere, but what is of even more concern than the dreadful loss of life caused by this crisis is the long-term effect that this is having on the attitude of the Arab community towards Israel. In today's Guardian Rami Khouri (editor of your favourite broadsheet Beirut's Daily Star) highlights three areas of concern:
- a steady loss of fear by ordinary Arabs in the face of Israel's military superiority
- a determined quest for more effective means of technical and military resistance to Israeli occupation and subjugation of Palestinians and other Arabs
- a strong political backlash against the prevailing governing elites in the Arab world who have quietly acquiesced to Israeli-American wishes.
Khouri continues,
"The Lebanon and Palestine situations today reveal a key political and psychological dynamic that defines several hundred million Arabs, and a few billion like-minded people around the world. It is that peace and quiet in the Middle East requires three things: Arabs and Israelis must be treated equally; both domestically and internationally, the rule of law must define the actions of governments and all members of society; and the core conflict between Palestine and Israel must be resolved in a fair, legal and sustainable manner.
Because these principles are ignored, we suffer outbreaks of military savagery by Israelis and Arabs alike, for the sixth decade in a row. The flurry of international diplomacy last week to calm things down was impressive for its range and energy. But it will fail if it only aims to place an international buffer force between Hizbollah and Israel, and leaves the rest of the Arab-Israeli situation just as it is."
Amen brother, Amen!
And now I've got rid of anonymous commenting I won't get any nutters saying Israel can do what it likes because it's God's chosen nation. Well I might do but at least I'll know who they are!
If you are unhappy with US military aid to Israel, perhaps you should contact your congressional delegation. The US has been supplying military aid to Israel long before George W became president.
Khouri makes some very good points. I wish it could be that simple and maybe it could be, but each side needs to have a sense of security before either would be willing to lay down arms. What I don't understand is the term "Israeli occupation". Is he referring to pre-1948 borders? I ask because Israel had already withdrawn from the Golan Heights and Gaza, so I'm not sure what is being "occupied" unless he is referring to the entire nation of Israel.
Posted by: Michael | July 24, 2006 at 02:42 AM
Surely the illegal Jewish settlements in the west bank, gaza and the Golan heights with their own routes in and out of Israel (for exclusive Israeli use), amounting to more than 400,000 settlers occupying huge area's of land illegally confiscated by the Israeli government can be called an occupation?
Good post Phil, I hate the idea that Christians jump on the Israel bandwagon and overlook every bit of evil done by Israel because of some skiwiffy theological interpretation. I have spent the last week looking for a 'balanced' book on the theology of the middle east conflicts and have yet to suceed. Anyone recommend something?
Posted by: Ruthe | July 24, 2006 at 10:30 AM
Ruthe, I would recommend Colin Chapman's 'Whose Promised land?' He has also written 'Whpse Promised City?' which I have yet to read.
I also recommend anything by Elias Chacour.
An interesting book dating back to the 1990s is Dan O'Neill and Don Wagner's Peace of Armageddon' which dates back to the time of the Rabib/Atafat handshake but is still with much relevant analysis.
Posted by: Paul Martin | July 25, 2006 at 09:16 AM
Thanks Paul. My reading in this area is particularly poor so I might also dig those books out.
I know Stephen Sizer has a couple of books on the matter but I suspect they may be clearly written in support of his agenda.
I read Brother Andrew's, Light Force last year, that was good though not of the historical-political genre that you're looking for
Posted by: Phil Smith | July 25, 2006 at 12:21 PM