My last name is of Jewish origin and I am of Lebanese descent on my father’s side. I grew up with both a Star of David and a Christian cross hanging over the fireplace mantle in our house. And although we never made it to the alter, my first fiancée was Jewish. As I naively look backwards in time through my rose colored glasses, I like to think that my life reflects the state of affairs among many Jews and Arabs before WWII. We come from the same genetic stock and have been intermingling for thousands of years.
To diminish and demonize the other side, is to diminish and demonize ourselves.
What I fervently desire, as a person of Semitic origin, is for the peaceful coexistence between the State of Israel and a future Palestinian state. And until both sides can come to the negotiating table as equals in that regard, I believe that there never will be peace among people who share the same blood.
So why would I support a US veto of a Palestinian state at the UN Security Council? For this simple reason: It diminishes the US influence in the ME significantly. As I look back over the last 65 years of US decision making in the region, I can’t think of a single instance where our foreign policy has had a beneficial impact in the region. We’ve basically made a hash of things with just about every move, from supporting brutal dictators, to helping overthrow democratically elected governments, to invading countries for no good purpose.
We’ve been fucking up for decades and I don’t see that changing anytime in the near future. I believe it’s time we let the Europeans take the lead in negotiations, since they have a much more nuanced view on how to broker peace in this dispute. Mostly for domestic political reasons, the United States can’t…and hasn’t been able to for some time.
What is the net result of a loss of US credibility in the Middle East? How would that affect everyone’s behavior in the region? Would Israel’s highly right wing government make different choices if they knew that the US could not help repair the damaged relationship with their former Arab and Turkish allies?
Per capita and by landmass, Israel is one of the most militarized countries on the planet. It is estimated that they have over 200 thermonuclear warheads in their current stockpile. How would the US intercede militarily on Israel’s behalf in a dispute with one or several of their neighbors, (especially in a fashion that the IDF could not do for themselves), which wouldn’t just make any situation even worse?
What are the long term consequences to making the most cynical of moves and vetoing the recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN Security Council? What have we ever achieved with our influence in the region?
Removing the US from that playing field might be the best possible move for improving the chances for peace.
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