Gaza Conflict Will Have Long-Term Consequences On Arab World: Ismail Patel

The human cost of Israel's decision to attack Gaza is being paid by the Palestinians. However, the fallout from this wanton violence is going to have long-term political consequences throughout the Arab world. The Israeli attack on Gaza is likely to bring to the fore political trends that up to now have remained just below the parapet of influence. The situation has brought the Arab world to an historic crossroads, where leaders will either move towards Arab independence from western policies, which is likely to be driven by popular grassroots support, or continue to toe the line of Israel/US influence. Much of this will be determined by the duration of Israeli attacks and the survival or demise of Hamas.

The first and obvious fact in the current war is that since the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948, this is the first war that Israel has launched that Palestinians have defended themselves without any neighbouring Arab country militarily intervening. The Palestinians have taken up arms independently, whether home-made or imported, to defend their land and people against this full-scale Israeli military attack from the air, sea and ground. This could be argued to be the first Palestinian-Israeli war.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[mamacat]

The people who lived there for the last 800 years were mostly Muslim. Why would anyone try to make the argument that Palestine was not theirs, unless it is to try to justify taking the land away from them?

[brklynivn]

Didn't those muslims take the land and chase out the previous occupiers?

[uvymopkq]

No they did not chase out the previous occupiers.....they killed them. Needless to say " Its a long worm that does not turn".

[haval2]

i'll try again. the land was never the Palestinians land. no wealthy arab state is helping the deplorable conditions in Gaza with oil $$$. Even moderate arab leaders have said nothing...they don't want Hamas and Hizbollah either. They are terrorists and cheered 9/11 attacks. they passed out candies. some real stupidity being expressed here. Some contributors need to learn the correct history of the area.

[FairTalk]

The Palestinians call the violent ethnic cleansing NAKBA. It is a long continuing catastrophy. In the 1940s over 90% of the people in Palestine, call it whatever you want, were Palestinian. They has lived there for generations, in their homes, shops and farms. They love their land, neighborhoods and society. The "law" in "Israel" is not democratic, but makes Jews superior to Christians and Muslims. Elected officials are forbidden to even raise the issue of civil rights. Israel practices apartheid. The translatio of Hamas is "The Resistance." Equating Hamas, with 9/11 terrorists is just silly. Yes, some do need to learn correct history. Only when the right of return is resolved will there be peace.

Here is an example of how the settlers feel about Palestinians...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6bt1bhhH_8
"We like to live here.....If the Palestinians want a state
let them do it somewhere else...That's my belief."

[gakabani]

Selective memory I would say! It is easy to go an erase the path of history with your simple words.

Your ignorance is such that makes me feel like God!

[haval2]

Barakagirl doesn't know history...it's not the Palestinian's land and never was. Where are their arab brothers with oil...why don't they help the deplorable conditions? Hamas and Hizbollah cheered at the disaster and death in the US. get over it. Even moderate arab leaders don't want Hamas or Hizbollah or you'd be hearing from them . you are naive.

[metropixie]

"...this is the first war that Israel has launched that Palestinians have defended themselves without any neighbouring Arab country militarily intervening."

You mean they're being left to their own devices? Their friends are not coming to their aid? It may look that way, but Hamas has been as much militarily supported by Syria and Iran as Israel by the US. The gravest mistake is to take things at face value. This is a high-stakes chess game.

[amdezurik]

uh, no i don't think so. How many billions has Hamas gotten? 3-5 billion a year? Do you have a source for that or the constant supply of jets, weapon systems and spare parts?

[amdezurik]

yeah, just what I thought...

[WorkingClass]

Hamas has been as much militarily supported by Syria and Iran as Israel by the US.

If that was true Hamas would have nukes. Not to mention armor, artillery and air power.

[maddie0001]

The article didn't mention this but - what's going on on the West Bank? How can Fatah claim to be the representative of the Palestinian people and yet stand by and watch its people getting shot like fish in a barrel? The West Bank=Warsaw Ghetto and Fatah=Judenrat (http://www.shoaheducation.com/judenrat.html), with only the power Israel/America lets it have. Fatah's more than willing to hand over names but Hamas is not willing to walk into the cattle cars.

Once the Gazans are pushed into Egypt (who's also on the US payroll) and the West Bank bantustans are set up how are the Arab states handle their population without the Israeli bogeyman?

[FairTalk]

Thanks for this well writen opinion. It is informative, and unbiased.
I recommend it to all without hesitation.

@usedtowander: Israel equates the right of return to a denial of Israel's right to exist. This is the main reason previous peace agreements have not worked.

[hapiday]

Sorry, many people are not feeling what you're feeling. I truly believe every man, woman and child has the right to exist. But Israel is beating people over the head with their "woe is me" attitude. People are getting tired of hearing it and the Gaza conflict is not helping to change the image they have of Israel. The world is watching and feel this is just plain terror.ism and gen.ocide being committed. Israel is putting the U.S. in deeper trouble. I can't say enough times, this is wrong. There welfare of Israel should not take precedence over the issues and concerns of the American people.

[usedtowander]

At this point in time it seems to me that the Israelis are dissembling about their goal because of the world community pressures. Yet, the Muslims (Arabs and Persians) are very clear about their goal.

Israelis seems to just want to survive. Over the past 60 years interference from outside has simply delayed the conclusion of this issue.

Muslims (Arabs and Persians) have, after more than 60 years, still not recognized Israel's right to exist. They are very clear about their goals - kill all Jews.

Faced by being surrounded by such enemies, that are supported by donations from Muslims worldwide and actively supported by Iran, Syria and others, it seems to me that Israel has little choice but to continue with these actions.

The world went to war against the Axis powers during WWII because it was determined to eliminate the Nazis - who tried to eliminate the Jews then. It seems to me that this is simply a continuation of the same mindset - to eliminate the Jews.

[barakagirl]

what a bunch of Bu!@(/# here!

the problem is that the Palestinians are the latest victims of the Holocaust since they are paying for the atrocities from European Christians fascism. Why not let the Pals return to their land? Do you think Israel can hold on the land through bombings and violent apartheid policies?
Sooner or later the State of Israel will have to follow the numerous UN resolutions for its withdrawal of the occupied territories. The US with its financial crisis will not have the leverage in the world it has to cover for it. At some point they will need to accept the best way to secure its future is by ending the occupation.
If I was a Pal living in these conditions and seing Israel bombing my people and having no justice brought to her I would definitely join the resistance. If you want to kill Hamas have a peace offensive rather than this acts of genocide.

[almazza98]

You mean the resistance against oppression and ethnic cleansing interfered, sorry I don't feel sorry for them,