Why does American opposition to the Palestinian Authority’s request to join the United Nations exist, considering that the American president admitted in principle to a Palestinian state when he wished to see a Palestinian representative “when we come back here next year”? And how and why does the Palestinian endeavor to join the United Nations disrupt peace talks with Israel?
Who but a sane and fair person in the world holds Israel responsible for the obstruction of peace negotiations in recent years (if not 20 years ago) and realizes that the Israeli government wants to stall for four or five more years to cover the West Bank with settlements and transform the population from Arab to Jewish, thus making it impossible in practice to establish a Palestinian state on the Arab section of the land. In reality, none of these reasons explain the negative American stance more than the upcoming American elections, in which Jewish financial and political lobbies play a major role. The world saw right-wing neo-conservatives standing and applauding the Israeli prime minister in Congress after his speech in which he challenged the American president in his own home!
The United States, in its near-absolute support of Israel, is responsible for the obstruction of any peace talks, current or old. However, we cannot understand how to reconcile Washington’s call for the defense of democracy and the freedom of peoples and their rights with what is happening in Palestine! How shocked were the Arab and Muslim people by this almost blind endorsement of Israel, while applauding the Arab Spring at the same time! How can they hunt Islamic terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan and the ravines of Yemen while staying silent about a different kind of terrorism, namely the occupation of the West Bank, planting it with settlements and the arrest of thousands of Palestinians!
Israeli and Zionist lobbies in the United States and in the West in general have captured the thoughts and driving tools of policy. The Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians have not succeeded until now, despite peaceful and positive attitudes — which some call concessions — in charging Israel with the implementation of international legal decisions, nor in convincing the United States and major countries to force it to do so. The question today is this: what will be the position of these countries and the Arab and Muslim populations of the United States if the Palestinian state fails to enter the United Nations?
The first answer is what is pictured in the popular unrest in front of the Israeli embassy in Cairo, and the slogans raised in opposition demonstrations in Jordan, the two Arab countries that have signed peace agreements with Israel. The Israeli persistence in obstructing the peace process and Washington’s silence might lead to a freezing of relations between these two Arab countries and Israel, if not more than that. The Egyptian prime minister hinted at this in a recent interview. We will also see American and Israeli flags burning once again in Arab capitals. Maybe we will see the return of an atmosphere that is prepared for a fifth Arab-Israeli war, a shadow hanging over the region that invalidates the American-Israeli bet that the fall of dictatorships and democratization in the Arab world will facilitate peace.
In reality, the fate of the Middle East and the Arab world was not always wrapped in mystery and loss as it is today. The Arab Spring alone did not shake the rules of governance in most of the Arab countries, thus calling into question who would govern after the fall of dictatorial regimes: the Islamists (any form of them: the Turkish or the Afghan or the Muslim Brotherhood), the civilian democrats, or the military once again? The winds of regional and older international conflicts have taken the region by storm as well, from Iraq to Rabat, and they carry serious consequences. At the forefront of this is the Cold War, the small flames between Washington and Moscow, the Shiite-Iranian project that Tehran works to implement in Iraq, the Gulf, Syria and Lebanon, as well as the Sunni-Arab reaction to it; we’re now 1,400 years back in time. Let’s also not forget the role that Turkey is determined to play in the Arab world and the Middle East. Above all is the economic and social reality out of the problems and crises that most of the Arab people suffer from. It is not easy for any type of governing regime to overcome the disadvantages and prevent the implementation of worsening policy. The Arab scene, from any angle at which I looked at it, has no reason for optimism, but raises anxiety, fear and suggests loss. It will persist for years and years before the clouds dissipate and political life stabilizes in the Arab countries. The West, which applauded the Arab Spring, has begun to question its “interests” as a result of this fear. The Palestinian issue, in its next phase, will increase the stirring of the leaves, heating up positions and complex interests; loss increases loss.
From which issue or crisis will the solution begin? There are many who affirm that the first priority is the Palestinian cause, but difficulties and obstacles have been encountered and continue to be encountered in the solution to the Palestinian issue. This leads to the emergence of another priority, namely to change the ruling Arab regimes and establish democratic governments. The Palestinian cause is not merely a slogan for governments to exploit in order to deprive its people of freedom and the right to hold their government accountable, but also a vibration and a darkening democratic horizon in front of the Arab people, posing serious questions about the correctness and possibility of this solution.
Another viewpoint says that the solution begins with the liberation of minds and financial institutions, though Western media and politics, under Jewish control, is forbidden to place any pressure on Israel and are harnessed in service of Israel. Perhaps, but how? Terrorism, certainly, is not the most preferred or shortest route either.
Whatever the beginning and end of the thread, it should be withdrawn to unravel the complexity of the crises and risks in this unhappy situation in which the Arab countries and people live. Capturing the end of the string and untangling it will not be enough, unfortunately, to eliminate the partisanship, sectarianism, doctrinal and ideological frictions that is tearing Arab societies apart. This creates a strong barrier in the face of pure nationalism, true democracy and true belief.
Happy peace and happy spring and I hope you all are well.
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