Interesting how the Arabs don't feel safe in their own countries, but the Arabs in the West Bank (and Gaza too) because they feel Israel will protect them.
Forget the Palestinians: Arab states have too much else to worry about
By Amir Taheri
July 12, 2015 | 9:53pm
Modal Trigger
Iranian women hold placards in favor of Palestine and Yemen during an anti-Israel rally marking Al-Quds Day.Photo: EPA
‘Hi there! Any news from Palestine?”
This is how a prominent Arab writer, Walid Abimerchid, started his latest newspaper column last week, going on to describe a “growing fatigue with the whole Palestine issue.”
He notes that the so-called peace process has run into sand. President Obama is focused on forging an alliance with the mullahs of Tehran; no other major power seems interested in touching the issue. The international peace-broker Tony Blair has quietly resigned amid general indifference. French President François Hollande made some noises about “a new initiative” but quickly thought better of becoming involved in “something no one is interested in.”
The Arab columnist’s concern reflects the current mood in the Middle East. For the first time in decades, Palestine has been shut out of the news in favor of Syria, ISIS, sectarian wars and the growing aggressiveness of an Iran encouraged by Obama’s grand strategy of retreat.
Most of the foreign press in Israel has moved to Beirut and Istanbul to cover the sectarian wars in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
In the past months, the Palestinian government resigned, Hamas split into at least three factions and the lengthening shadow of ISIS killers looms over the Sinai Peninsula in neighboring Egypt.
But there are other reasons the Palestine issue has lost much of its luster for many Arabs. One reason was cited the other evening by a Jordanian businessman, Abu Furas, at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in London. “Today, no Arab feels safe in his country,” he said. “Ironically, the sole exceptions are Palestinians in the West Bank because they know Israel will defend them if ISIS attacks. Even in Gaza, most people secretly believe that Israel is their ultimate protection against ISIS fighters trying to strike roots in the Sinai.”
Though the idea of Arabs being saved by Israel from massacre by their own brethren sounds fantastic, events on the ground lend it some weight
Continue reading at:
Forget the Palestinians Arab states have too much else to worry about New York Post?
Forget the Palestinians: Arab states have too much else to worry about
By Amir Taheri
July 12, 2015 | 9:53pm
Modal Trigger
Iranian women hold placards in favor of Palestine and Yemen during an anti-Israel rally marking Al-Quds Day.Photo: EPA
‘Hi there! Any news from Palestine?”
This is how a prominent Arab writer, Walid Abimerchid, started his latest newspaper column last week, going on to describe a “growing fatigue with the whole Palestine issue.”
He notes that the so-called peace process has run into sand. President Obama is focused on forging an alliance with the mullahs of Tehran; no other major power seems interested in touching the issue. The international peace-broker Tony Blair has quietly resigned amid general indifference. French President François Hollande made some noises about “a new initiative” but quickly thought better of becoming involved in “something no one is interested in.”
The Arab columnist’s concern reflects the current mood in the Middle East. For the first time in decades, Palestine has been shut out of the news in favor of Syria, ISIS, sectarian wars and the growing aggressiveness of an Iran encouraged by Obama’s grand strategy of retreat.
Most of the foreign press in Israel has moved to Beirut and Istanbul to cover the sectarian wars in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
In the past months, the Palestinian government resigned, Hamas split into at least three factions and the lengthening shadow of ISIS killers looms over the Sinai Peninsula in neighboring Egypt.
But there are other reasons the Palestine issue has lost much of its luster for many Arabs. One reason was cited the other evening by a Jordanian businessman, Abu Furas, at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in London. “Today, no Arab feels safe in his country,” he said. “Ironically, the sole exceptions are Palestinians in the West Bank because they know Israel will defend them if ISIS attacks. Even in Gaza, most people secretly believe that Israel is their ultimate protection against ISIS fighters trying to strike roots in the Sinai.”
Though the idea of Arabs being saved by Israel from massacre by their own brethren sounds fantastic, events on the ground lend it some weight
Continue reading at:
Forget the Palestinians Arab states have too much else to worry about New York Post?
