To start with, just to head off some blog posts, i am well aware thank you that it’s Israel that is attacking Hamas, not Arab countries , but there’s a lot of strong feeling behind this question.
Look at this footage of demonstrations in the Arab world (or so-called “Arab street” ) – the anger isn’t aimed just at Israel. Egypt and Jordan’s leaders have been attacked for being – as they would see it – too close to the USA and not supportive enough of Hamas.
Today, Osama bin Laden released an audio message calling for a holy war, but he also criticises Arab governments for preventing their people from acting to “liberate Palestine”.
A lot of you on all the blog posts below as why – when people criticise Israel for not letting journalists in – or not opening the crossings, point out that Egypt does that too. And hopefully you’ll have read this piece talking about Egypt and Syria allegedly jostling for supremacy over the Gaza crisis.
Here’s what Syria’s president said today. And here’s a quote from a New York Times article from Egypt :
“Arab governments have felt their legitimacy challenged with an uncommon virulence. With each passing day, and each Palestinian death, the popularity of Hamas and other radical movements has ratcheted higher on the Arab street, while the standing of Arab leaders has suffered.”
The gap between leaders and their people is recounted here, too, while they can’t seem to agree on a proposed summit on the Gaza crisis.
Also, there’s self interest. Many people are fighting their own battles. here’s an excerpt from a blogger in Iraq, who talks about a gathering of friends..
“As we sat down chitchatting, a few mobile phones beeped simultaneously. “Please donate to Gaza at such and such banks” One of the ladies read the message out loud. She then threw her phone in dismay at the table. “Why should I care about Gaza” She said “While my own country is suffering. What did the Palestinians do for us Iraqis when my people were getting killed by the hundreds” She continued. “Let them go to hell”
On the day an Egypt-brokered deal is attempted to end the fighting, should Palestinians expect more from their Arab brothers and sisters ?
On tonight’s programme our studio guest is Nadim Shehadi, an associate fellow on the Middle East Programme at the London think-tank Chatham House.
If you’re an Arabic speaker you might be interested to go the the BBC Arabic’s interactive pages which are discussing this exact same topic. Here’s the link.
@1700GMT
RSS feed
As an American living in Morocco, I have never been afraid before because of my being an American, nor have I really sensed any anti-Americanism directed at me. Lately, in the town outside my village, there have been protests hundreds large against America and Israel, projects have been canceled because of “American” involvement, and a few friends have started snubbing me. I can understand anger and frustration, but it does feel like it’s become somewhat of a negativity-fest rather than a showing of solidarity with the Gazans. Nobody I know here has donated money, and it’s disheartening to see the negative effects without any tangible aid.
Bigger Arab support to Palestinians is only possible when the Arab leaders are sure of them being heard and respected by Hamas. That is not happening. Hence, no wonder, why some Arab leaderships think Hamas should be destroyed.
Arab Indifference to Gaza Inexplicable
TEHRAN – Iranian state owned media has repeatedly commented on Arab indifference to Gaza conflict. The public is outraged and stunned by the continuing violence in Gaza. The Saudi line seems to be that Hamas lacks legitimacy. Egypt is safeguarding its solid accord with Israel, and must keep quiet.
Qatar has proved the exception within Arab ranks and repeatedly called for a ceasefire.
Tehran, Damascus and Ankara have voiced their opposition to the carnage in Gaza but so far, their pleas have, fallen on deaf ears.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BBC PERSIAN TELEVISION.
SUPERB VIEWING. EXCELLENT COVERAGE. GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
The idea of one Arab world is nonsensical. Same as one Slavic world. There is striking diference among Arab states. This is not only normal but much more indispensably. Israel can’t unite Arab world.It’s stupid idea.
The Arab Leaders are the biggest hypocrytes on earth.
Even when they are not comfortable with Israel’s actions, they do not have the guts to come out and condemn. They are bootlicking the Americans. No leader(with the exception of few) wants to offend America and their so called allies.
That said, I dont equally think this should be between Arabs and the rest of the west. That is a recipe for a bigger war.
On a nutshell, I think Arab Leaders should come to the aid of the innocent people that are being killed in this conflict. Their intervention is long overdue regardless of any grievances they have with Hamas. Even if this means sanctioning Hamas’s actions!!. They could intervene by way of forcing Hamas to stop Shelling rockets to Israel.
They have to live with certain realities of life and move on.
After years of watching professionally orchestrated protests, I’m a bit cynical about this so-called “Muslim rage.” Even the people whipped into a frenzy on Friday evenings in the mosque calm down after they’ve vented, and go on with their daily lives.
The comments by Kate in Morocco bolster my belief that you don’t get a true picture of reality from radio, television or written news articles. You have to listen to the man or woman on the street. Her post reveals that the Muslims she knows are not concerned about the Gazans, but rather they are concerned that Israel–and by association, America–are making the Muslims look bad. It’s really about ego rather than compassion.
Yes the leaders of the Arab world are letting down the Palestinians. I use the word “leaders” cautiously because they are not really leaders, they are dictators (some of which the West happily funds and protects). The anger is mostly targeted at Egypt.
Egypt controls the Rafah crossing and could easily open it to allow food and medicine in, but instead it is collaborating with the US and Israel in the starvation of the people of Gaza. That is a mind-boggling decision that could only be explained by Mubarak’s obedience to the hand that feeds him; the US.
The likes of Hamas and Hezbollah are gaining more and more support in the Arab world. They have the legitimacy of being selected by the people. They have the legimacy of representing Arab resistance and opposition to the occupation of their lands by Israel and to Israel’s dominance of the Middle East. They have the romantic status of a hero standing up to injustice against all odds. The Arab world is looking for heros, for leaders to rebuild their pride. Dictators living on handouts from “the enemy” is a far cry from that.
i am sorry i see only a bunch of kings and dictators like husni mubarak,
one family from one house are the rulers of all Saudi arabia almost thousands of towns in saudi arabia the mayors the governors are all from one family.how could that happen? this family buys and buys billions of dollars of Arms, fighter jets, last transaction was 70 billion dollar
husni mubarak is the ruler of egypt 30 years a notorious dictator but the western countries they like him, but they don’t like Mr Mugabe of Zimbabwe ok ,what is the difference between this two dictators the answer is easy , Mubarak is A puppet and Mr OK, BUT mugabe he is not and is a critic of the western world so they don’t like him. forget arabs,they understand. palestinians understand who they are.
its not new.
I don’t know if I would agree with Steve in Boston… most people ARE angry, and very angry at what they see on television here- atrocities, children dead and dying, civilians dying. I haven’t heard anyone vocalize or even come near expressing that they are upset about the image of Muslims. People truly believe, and I’m speaking generally (of mainly young, uneducated people on the street I’ve talked to in a Berber area of southern Morocco, not the Arab world) that America and Israel are anti-Muslim and killing innocents. That is where the anger stems from.
I think the question is backwards. It should be: Have the Palestinians let down the Arab world?
From Arafat’s refusal to make peace with Israel to Gazan’s election of a terrorist group to run their government to the use of suicide bombers and firing of missiles into Israel has made it difficult for Arab governments to support their cause.
As someone once said “they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity”.
They’ve let themselves down, four ways:
1. By descending into a petty turf war with the Israelis.
2. By not rising above all that and growing as individuals and as a people.
3. By letting themselves be used by other Muslims as proxies to fight the Jews.
4. By trying to justify their squabbles with religious nonsense.
Again we see more western ideology applied to a Middle Eastern problem. Think about it this way. Not too long ago there was this small “mom and pop” hardware store that had been in business for nearly 60 years and 3 generations. “Pop’s hardware” experienced a Home depot moving in less then 2 miles away from it. Every small store owner fears the day one of the “big boxes” with all their money and resource support from the conglomerations move in next door. Eventually “pop’s” is struggling to stay alive. They have all the drives the “big box” success? Sure. But those are different questions to be answered.
Arab nations are to fractured and weak to do anything about Palestine, and Jewish state is trying not to look like the monsters they accused of oppressing them.
Has the Arab world let down the Palestinians ?
YE !
THE UNEQUIVOCAL YES !!!
bjay
Hi WHYSers!
Well, first thing’s first, I think we often overstate the importance of these monolithic definitions of “brothers and sisters” as used to characterised the relations within the “Arabic World”, or “street” as you call it. This is incorrect on several fronts, not the least among them being that, as your blurb so effectively points out, before, the politics of relations within the “Arab World” does undermine the conventional thinking regarding these presumed blood relations. Even then, families have been known to war desperately with each other. I am not sure if this is the case with Hamas and her neighbours. However, one thing is certain the heavy hand of US political relations and the need for dominance are two very important considerations here. That added to the international community’s own efforts to seek a ceasefire are all considerations in the mix. Has the Arab World let down Hamas? I am not sure, but I do know that the constitution of the so-called “Arab World” might well be a major part of the crisis in this instance.
Hi gang !
… Well, I am a young Baghdadi college student who’s Arab and also practicing Muslim… Since the Israeli aggression on Gaza and its people started, I put all of my Iraqi fears, concerns, hopes, and dreams temporarly on the hold, and now to me, it’s all about Gaza and its people, now only Gaza occupies my heart and mind… The thing that hurts me the most is that I am totally helpless and useless, I just want to help out my Gazan brothers and sisters but I can’t, I just can’t… My only mean to help them out is words, words, and only words, plus prayers… I watch the events in Gaza on TV everyday and what frustrates me the most is that I do not have a real power of change, I cannot stop the massacre there, and that hurts me loads, I wish there’s something I can do to end their ordeal and sufferance, but unfortunately there’s nothing I can do, nothing at all… With my love… Yours forever, Lubna…
On another note, the Osama Bin Laden audio tape posted today could not have come at a more opportune time in this crisis, intending as it does, to foment further tensions, especially now that there seems like the war is at its end. What this does is to add salt to an already open wound, almost as a way of undermining any such possibilities. While, I could never agree with the use of force to achieve peace, I can certainly see where it might tame the ‘terrorism’ of Hamas, for the moment. It remains to be seen, however, whether that will be sufficient to prevent future attacks of this or greater magnitude. That, I think, is what this tape aims to do – to undermine likely possibilities for real, or even lasting peace in the region, by further polarising the parties involved.
Everyone is tired of fighting and thus the Arabs just want to sell their oil and enjoy their profits without the thought and stress of dealing with conflicts.
@ kate in morocco,
Increasingly, as you speak about the death toll in the Gaza Strip and the seeming complicity of American foreign policy with the tragedy unfolding there, there is a way that this element of the war cannot be missed. The expendability of Arabic lives seems almost as a matter of course. This is not the equivalent of saying there is no legitimate (?) premise on which to defend oneself, or even one’s country, however, the appearance of unconcern towards poor, innocent people in Gaza is especially telling.
Even if the characterisation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation is successful, there is no amount of damage control that can be done to alter the perceptions, in many quarters, that the extermination of Arabic peoples seems a matter of course in this major international conflict with strong links to oil, ideology and religion.
This is not to say that there cannot be a solution, or that Israel is, by necessity, wrong/ bad. Instead, it is to say that the track record of the West in the Middle East leaves much more to be desired in many areas.
I think the lesson to be learned by the Gazans, which has already been learned by the “Arab world,” is that it doesn’t pay to throw your lot in with a violent extremist group like Hamas. They’ll just drag you from one violent conflict to another.
Anyone who truly wishes to help the people of Gaza–and this includes the “Arab world–needs to start putting pressure on the leaders of Hamas to come to their senses ASAP.
Oh stop with this human shield thing please. it’s nothing but a mantra supposed to explain the ongoing massacre but it’s wayy too easy.
It was the same refrain in Lebanon : the enormous civilian toll was due to Hezbollah taking human shields.
However after their investigation, Human right watch, Amnesty and others NGOs declared they found no proof of that.
The problem is we have only the voice of the IDF public relation service here. this blockade imposed on medias is soo unfortunate…
I believe that the seemingly weak Arab support for the people of Gaza may have something to do with the alienation that may follow any state who stands strongly against a U.S. backed country such as Israel. I agree with RAWPOLITICS that the Bin Laden tape could not have come at a more opportune time. Any Idea who was responsible for its release? My supposition is that it may not be Bin Laden at all, but, a tactical maneuver by those who do not wish to see unity and/or peace in the Middle East, because they would then be out of a job…………..Any Guesses who? The list is short……..
If the Arab world supported the Palestinians, then the problem would have been solved long ago. Arab countries are as united as a herd of cats. They are not unified because they are all theocracies.
@ portlandmike
Nope. They are united generally in that they want Islamist groups to lose. Hamas is an islamist group, and is a threat to the the dictatorships. And Islamist groups aren’t good for peace either, as they will be at war with Israel, and many people will get killed. So I think basically if Arabs were to elect their leaders, they would choose Islamists if given a democratic voice. But would that be good for saving lives or for peace? I don’t think so.
Lubna,
It saddens me, and I think this is often the core of the problem, that you only identify with the Gazans and the challenges they face, and not the Israelis and the challenges they face.
Your heart goes out to the Gazans facing invasion by the Israelis, is it cold to the Israelis being terrorized by rockets falling in their country every day?
It seems your empathy is only for fellow arabs, and not fellow humans in general. That disapoints me considering how you’ve spoken in the past on this show.
Funny thing about this concern with the “Arab Street” is they seem to have relatively little power to do anything about anything, except maybe get more stuff blown up. If you believe the conventional wisdom the “American Street” may have more ability to do something by pressuring elected officials to convince Israel to stop the attacks, remove the blockade of Gaza, and do a variety of other things supposedly conducive to peace.
There have been news stories suggesting the US populace is far less pro-Israel than its politicians, but the US Street isn’t exactly making this an election issue. And I can think of a very good reason why. By making heros of Hamas and Hezbollah, the “Arab Street” is putting an extremely ugly face on the Palestinian cause. When choosing who to support: Israel at its ugliest (bombing civilian areas and causing mass civilian casualties) or Hamas, the best I can do is “a pox on both your houses”. When choosing between Israel just behaving badly (checkpoints and settlers) vs Hamas the choice is easy: Israel.
And I’m relatively liberal. I remember when Bush announced the invasion of Iraq I was at an NBA game. They delayed the start to put Bush’s big head on the arena screen to say whatever nonsense he said. I recall thinking of all the innocent lives that would be lost as “collateral damage,” and putting my head down and nearly crying. I was shocked and dismayed when most of my fellow Blazer fans stood up and cheered.
Point is, if the Muslim world cares about American public opinion they’ve got to find less odious standard bearers. I know this will be met by many with accusations against America and Americans – many of them quite justified IMHO. Perhaps if you could find a Muslim Gandhi or Nelson Mandella you’d get more Americans agreeing with your assessment of our behavior in the ME.
1991 Iraq invaded Kuwait and Palestinians came out in support of Saddam. I believe Arab establishment is skeptical of Palestinians ever since.
I think that the entire world has failed this region and, above all, has failed the innocents whose lives are being sacrificed. I think that there are many diplomatic and economic resources at hand to at least stall this conflict. I think that the U.S. has not applied sufficient pressure on Israel to stop. A few phone calls from Condi Rice telling them to cease fire and an abstention at the UN certainly cannot do it. But we’ve already seen and heard the distorted and inaccurate perspectives of US elected officials. In the meantime an entire generation of Palestinians is being traumatized and annihilated. Another generation of Israelis is being immersed in the culture of violence and revenge. When will this end?
Dr. Ana Maria Sierra
Tacoma, WA
U.S.A.
Your guest seems to think That Israel has occupied Gaza since 1948. Actually Egypt Occupied Gaza from 1948-1967, something many like to ignore.
What do we mean by “Arab World?” It is hard to separate “Arab World” from “Islam.” Or God? Religion has certainly let down the “Arab World.” And by proxy God has let down the “Arab World.”
Muslims killing Muslims, Muslims repressing Muslims, never the fault of Islam, always the fault of outsiders. It’s boring, it’s tiresome, everyone is terribly sick of it. What absurdity to even have these discussions. It’s a religion. It’s unicorns in smoke and mirrors. We are sick of it. We don’t care anymore. What can you ever expect from millions of people whose lives are rooted in religious lies. It will never change, religion is rotten from the core—not just Islam, all of them.
The additional billions and billions and billions that the arabs made when oil was at $150.00 a barrel could have helped Gaza build hotels and businesses to employ all Gazans and turned Gaza into a tourist paradise with it’s 40 kilometers of fantastic coastline.
Had all Arab countries embraced Israel in 1948 instead of trying to eliminate it. Israel would not exist today.(at least not with a jewish majority)
they are the political pawns .
they can be used as a trump-card on by each side.
bjay
Why would anyone expect Arabs as a whole to automatically support what the Paletsinians do? Certainly, the killing going on now is appalling. But this latest miitary action didn’t start from nothing.
Would anyone expect Europeans to automatically support what every other European country does? Of course not. To assume that Arabs have to stand all as one, totally against the existence of a state of Israel, all marching to the same tune, ought to be offensive to any moderate Arab, I would think.
By the actions of the Arab Nations towards Gaza Palestinians, i get the feeling that they think that Gaza has brought this bloody war upon its self by supporting or keeping silent on Hamas actions against Israel. However my heart goes out to the people in Gaza.
the arabian world hasn’t let down the palestenaians. It is the international press that has let them down. instead of concentrating all efforts to help stop the fightng all I see is diversionary tactics of discussing related topics to this conflict such as today’s on the BBC. Instead of highlighting and discussing the personal roles/efforts by the UN Secretary General, the french PM,Egypt etc and encouraging other other world leaders to join in the crussade to force both sides to STOP fighting in the first place, we make only brief mention of them and spend the whole time on secondary issues such as today’s topic. Even when Mugabe banned all foreign press from zimbabwe the international press managed to sneak people in to tell the whole world what was happening during their elections. Why can’t that be done even if the palestanians/israel don’t want journalists to cover this their madness. The silent world is watching this shameful complicity of the international press. I am using this chance to say a big thank you to the UN Secretary General, the French PM, Mubarak of Egypt, Tony Blair etc who are doing all their best to STOP the fighting. Better late than never. God richly bless you gentlemen. You know the value of human life especially children.
Terrorist acts cannot unite the Arab world. If the Arabs are to unite behind the Palestinians it would have to be done through diplomacy and brotherhood , not by being led into a war created by a militant group. Arabs are known to be people of peace. Until diplomacy becomes the only weapon on the table, other Arab countries will not line up behind the Palestinian leadership. .
The majority of Arabs (and Muslims) look upon Israel and the Jews as Satanic enemies. They believe that Jews are plotting to destroy Islam. Even if the West-friendly Arab leaders do not believe this, they encourage this view to be taught to their people. If they do not spread the truth and allow their populations to understand the roots and the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict there will never be progress. It is the reponsibility of everyone to challenge these beliefs whenever they come across them and not let people get away with repeating the same lies. For example, I heard on a BBC news report a Palestinian BBC correspondent in Gaza state that Israeli soldiers are shooting Palestinians at random. This statement was not probed by the studio anchorman. I ask you, if there are say 5,000 Israeli troops in Gaza each shooting Palestinians at random at a rate of one Palestinian per hour for 10 days there would be one million dead Palestinians. Either the correspondent was fabricating or Israeli troops are very bad at shooting. Yet, if you were to carry out a poll of Arabs, how many would say “yes”, Israel is deliberately targetting Palestinians.
Arab Leaders have always used the Palestinian to gather public support – providing only Lip service – The whole world actually have let down the Palestinians – by letting Israel get away with its atrocities against the Palestinians shame on all of us .
No it wouldn’t! Darfur is sstill going on and it has been for years. Your guest is the one singling out Israel. She asks why isn’t the world doing enough? Why didn’t the world stop Darfur or the rockets being launched on Israel?
The Palestinians have let themselves down by firing rockets indiscriminately into Israel and provoking Israel to defend itself. Egypt is an Arab country and the country appears to be working harder than any other for peace. If peace is what Palestinians really want, they are not being let down by Egypt, but they can achieve peace without Egypt, by simply stopping the rocket attacks. It really is that simple. By continuing to fire rockets, they are teling the world that they want Israel to continue to kill Palestinians.
Yes. because the Hamas in Gaza and other arm group of Islamic does not understand Diplomatic only arm. So the good Islamic World has comes to understand that they do not want to follow such arms group from the past.
The Arab world has let the Palestinians down by letting Hamas drag them into a war that they could not win.
If the Arab world had put the heat on Hamas to accept a peace deal three weeks ago, 1,000 Gazans would still be alive.
So far I only see Egypt trying to get Hamas to see the light.
When you start saying, “Well the Israelis did this first.” or, “it was the Palestinians that started it by doing that.” You start a battle of matching progressive history. Then the question comes to how far do you go back, last week, last year, 20 years, 60 years, 200 years, 2000 years? Nobodies hands are clean, and it all started by people who no longer exist for reason nobody knows. People with bias or agendas will cite differnt agreements made by differnt groups that support their cause, but not the reality.
So are the other Arabic nations letting down the Palestinians? Depends on what cause you are referring to for their support?
Why should the world care? They couldn’t stop Myanmar, Darfur, Congo–why complain if they can’t help Palestine. Let the Palestinians sort themselves out with Israel, and if they want to kill themselves by antagonizing Israel, that’s their choice. The world has enough problems like a world Depression and epidemics to deal with.
Who attacked who?
The Israelis or the Palestinians?
It’s like the chicken and the egg.
Ask 100 people why they are fighting and you get 100 answers. They probably don’t even know why they are fighting anymore. I can’t listen to coverage of all this mess. We’ve heard it before, and we’ll hear it again. It never changes.
@kate
did you donate any money to the people of gaza
and if you did thats very good
but in your country you can be charged for supporting a terrorist organisation
and all your assets will be frozen.
then only terrorist organisation one can support in the USA without being charged is the JDL (aka hewish defence leage)
haider
@ Nate, Portland, OR
The closest spokesperson to a “Ghandi” that the Palestinians have produced is Hanan Ashrawi. Fluent English, Female, Christian. This appeals to the American Street more than the Arab Street who want rousing leaders. Her message is the same as the rest of the Palestinians but delivered more eloquantly: End the occupation, remove the settlements, remove the walls, remove the checkpoints, end the blockade on Gaza, allow the refugees to return etc.
Here is also a quote from Ghandi himself (For more google “Ghandi on Palestine”):
“Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and in-human to impose the Jews on the Arabs. What is going on in Palestine today cannot be justified by any moral code of conduct. The mandates have no sanction but that of the last war. Surely it would be a crime against humanity to reduce the proud Arabs so that Palestine can be restored to the Jews partly or wholly as their national home.”
“I am not defending the Arab excesses. I wish they had chosen the way of non-violence in resisting what they rightly regarded as an unwarrantable encroachment upon their country. But according to the accepted canons of right and wrong, nothing can be said against the Arab resistance in the face of overwhelming odds.”
Ask yourself also, why does the West always demand that it’s enemies act like Ghandi, but never demand that itself or it’s friends act so.
Arab countries have their own problems, they are not immune from the global economic downturn. Gaza problem may not be high on their agenda.
I am an Egyptian – I don’t understand why Hisham is taking it so personal – Egyptian government of the day is doing what Israel and the US is telling it to do – the fact we are not or can not put any pressure on Israel to stop killing the Children
yes the arab leaders have let down the palestinian people.
most of their leaders are bloody dictators kept in place by the support from the USA.eg egypt, jordan, saudi,kuwait,saddam till he disobeyed his masters, to name a few.
haider
RE “” Egypt and Jordan’s leaders have been attacked for being – as they would see it – too close to the USA and not supportive enough of Hamas. “”
—————————————————————————————————
—————- Time for all these Islamic apologists to terror to get with the program and move to Gaza and let Hamas run their business.
If not for Islamic racism, there would be no conflict. Fairplay, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt have made concessions to each other and have no such conflict. Abbas currently has the West Bank somewhat soothed. Meanwhile, Israel is getting hammered by missle fire on north and south borders by Hezbollah and Hamas.
Stop firing missles and sending in waves of suicide bombers, sign a peace agreement, and things reset back to 2000 when travel and trade were routine and this area was safer than most large cities around the globe. You Islamists restarted the violence, now, are you men or are you mice?
If you got no stomach for a fight, don’t start one. Nobody but you dears asked for this.
The west do not want a united-front.
you kiding me. bjay
@kate
i meant jewish defence league
haider
Gaza, is a symptom the sickness is Hagar verses Sarah. How long does this war have to go on? Even the cave men and human fought over this place. What is in the water that makes the people living there have psychotic episodes and break out in violent conflects? There is a deeper question here, what is so important about this location that has caused blood shed for many thousands of years?
Yes, Arab World fail and not because Hamas does not understand diplomatic. Who will live will live
Could you imagine if Saudi Arabia decided that they wanted to support the Palestinian cause and refused to sell oil to anybody who lent support to Israel? There are those with the tools, but not the will to help them. The reason is that they really are not concerned with Palestine. Dear god help the energy dependant west it the Aribic countries did unite and stick to it. Thank God that is not socially possible.
Yes, they have let down the Palestinians. They will not show them in clear inequivocal terms that they have to be evidently trustworthy and possessed of goodwill before Israel will, or indeed, can negotiate with them. Will anyone ecourage them to cease all violence unconditionally and pursue negotiations unconditionally? I personally would have a hard time(read impossible) negotiating with someone who refuses to acknoledge my right to exist.
In the case of Arab countries, they waste of Arab peoples time nad belief. they are too frighten to unite to face muslim repression by the Allies and the western world in general. Astatement was made that ISLAMis the next great threat to democracy
Somehow I can’t get interested in expending any time or energy complaining about Israel going in after Hamas. Hamas, represents the will of the Palistinian people. The very same people who were dancing in the streets when the idiot terrorists killed 3,000 of our civilians.
Hamas had no business launching rockets at Israel. Palistinians have got to work on their image. They still are remembered for killing innocent young athletes at the Olympics. Sorry, I can see why the Arab world can’t seem to get interested in Palistinians, especially after they accept support from the Persians.
Hamas needs to be defeated. They virtually asked for it and they knew full well what the ramifications of launching rocket into Israel would bring upon the Palistinian people. Sometimes people have to learn the hard way.
troop on the oregon coast
Hi Ibrahim, Ghandi, of blessed memory, did not have a complete picture of the Jewish situation in Palestine and the Middle East. I am sure that he never realised that more than half of the population of modern Israel would be composed of Arab Jews, Jews who fled from Arab countries to the only country they longed to live in, with full rights and free from persecution. Was he aware that, even before partition, more Jews lived in Jerusalem than Muslims or Christians? Was he aware that, up until the Arabs tried to destroy Israel, all the land on which Jews lived, had been bought or rented by them and not stolen from Palestinians?
All this tough love talk from half a world away sickens me. Israel is wrong to continue with this incursion into Gaza, but, they know that they will see no resistance so long as the current administration supports them. Hamas has made it’s own choices, which do not reflect the will of the Palestinian people. Who in Gaza would seek to challenge them? Poor, starving, families and their dying children?
Get a grip, war mongers, Hammurabi has been dead a long time. It’s easy to be macho when it is not you who feels the sting of battle with no options other than to lay down and pray for deliverance.
We were asked to consider the role of Arab Governments ,
Well the Egyptian Government has a lot to answer for .
They were complicit in allowing the ” smuggling ” or rather the free transport of arms ,missiles, and rockets from Egypt into Gaza both across the border and through the literally 100s of tunnels . .
This allowed Hamas and Islamic Jihad to continue to bombard Israel with rockets for 8 years . The Israeli “street ” found this situation to be intolerable and felt that Arab govenments did little to stop Hamas .
This fuelled the present dreadful war .
On the other hand at least THREE times in December the Egyptians called Hamas leaders to Cairo and pleaded with Hamas to renew the 6 month cease fire .
Instead Hamas gloated and taunted Israel -in December – saying in effect we can bombard you with rockets and you will NOT dare to attack us .
How tragically wrong they were .
“Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and in-human to impose the Jews on the Arabs.”
Does “Palestine” include Israel?
For what it’s worth, the Battle of Hastings was won by the Normans (i.e. French)in 1066. The English of today do not comprise of Normans and Britons blowing each other up, suicide bombings in crowded markets, suicide bombings inside churches, rockets falling on each others neighborhoods.
I would agree that Jewish settlements in Gaza and the West Bank are provocative, and should not be allowed. But still, more fundamentally, playing the apartheid card as done above doesn’t play well in the West any longer.
I don’t see how Westerners can possibly be convinced by such rhetoric. It illustrates, on the contrary, just how different our perspective is from that of Middle Easterners, and just why Western support is at best for the civilians being killed, and not for any other Cause.
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Egypt is on the dole from the US 1 billion dolllars annually Saudi Arabia needs the US vs discidents at home and as a protector to insure survival of its’ ‘fuedal system Jordan and Egypt have long abandoned any Pan Arabic policy toward Isreal since the Jews have nuclear arms and full scale war like 1967 would bring nuclear horror..These countries are fundamentally unstable and their political leadership are more concerned with domestc control thus giving Isreal a free hand along with US complicity to ravage a defenseless population on the pretext of self defense.Tthis Gazan attrocity can only strenghten the extremists and one day could bring down the regimes in Egypt,Jordan and Saudi aArabia.as the people are inceasingly radicalized .This is not a theological conflict but a standard brutal repression of an occupid people who refuse to submit to foreign domination. Hamas should reflect on the experience of India where Gandhi defeated the Briish Empire with a black furlled umbrella ,no shoes and wearing an old white sheet. Patience is a powerfull weapon/
Ibrahim, “Ask yourself also, why does the West always demand that it’s enemies act like Ghandi, but never demand that itself or it’s friends act so.”
In case you hadn’t heard, the politically correct and politically popular catch-word in the West these days is “diversity.” Diversity means being accepting and tolerant of all manner of peoples in your own midst, not just those that agree with a certain parrochial point of view.
Those in the West assume this same general attitude would exist everywhere. When they are asked to “take sides” with those who do not share these basic beliefs, I think yoiu can appreciate that taking that side will not come easy.
Has the Arab world let down the Palestinians ?
Does anyone really need to ak this question?
From the day in 1948 when palestinian refugee camps were established on ‘Jordanian territory’ (actually the remnant of land earlier earmarked for the fledgling Palestinian State by the UN).. From that day when palestinians were cynically used as a propaganda weapon by surrounding Arab states in their obsession with removing Israel from the map…. allowed to rot in camps and their subsequent anger and resentment encouraged by those living in comfort in Bagdad and Amman and Damascus etc…From that day the palestinians have been let down cruelly by their … ‘arab brothers’ . The shame is theirs.
On the day an Egypt-brokered deal is attempted to end the fighting, should Palestinians expect more from their Arab brothers and sisters ?
i think that the arab brothers and sisters have been letting down the palestinians for many years….
~Dennis Junior~
There is little the Arab governments can do to stop Israel daily deadly attacks on Gaza as they have little influence both on Hamas and Israel. In the name of the Palestinian cause, the majority of Arab states have no, diplomatic relations with Israel.
As the majority of Arab countries have no official trade relations with Israel, it’s hard what economic sanctions they can impose on it.
For the man in the street, there should be military intervention through the borders with Egypt , Jordan and Lebanon to stop Israeli aggression. But this s unrealistic. The Arab countries don’t have an army like NATO with regular common training and a board of command to mount joint military operations. There are the political calculations which make many countries hesitant about this sort of venture.
The Arabs have shown solidarity with the Palestinians through protests, condemnations and the sending of humanitarian aids.
It remains up to the Palestinians to show unity among themselves before asking the rest of the Arab world to unite with them. Differences between them just reinforces division in attitude towards the way their cause should be supported.
As long as Hamas and Fatah are at odds, the Palestinians will remain the victims of their leadership, Israel policies of blockade and attacks as well as apparent cold practical responses from the Arab world gloved with apparent heated emotions and token humanitarian gestures.
The Arab world and all other oil producing countries have the moral obligation of swithing off the oil tap in order to stop the genocide, massacre and injust of the helpless population of Palestine against the brutality and arrogance of Israel, the US and their allies. It is a shame that they give preference to econimic interest above human lives. God has provided them with the most powerful and peaceful weapon in the world.
we could as well wonder whether european peoples are letting down the Palestinians. I personally think and feel that we all should be ashamed of the way violence is still being used in what essentialy is basic struggle for life . We should stop making and selling weapons to everyone everywhere NOW
The Arabs have always used the Palestinians since the creation of Israel, they don’t realy care about them. If the Arabs have not acted as they did in 1948. things would definatley different now, than they are at present.
Arabs and other people who misinterprate the scriptures wrongly have let down everybody, palestinians included….when shouting God is great,they must also remember to shout GOD IS MERCYFULL.
creamium boy
THE LAST DAD
tambua,hamisi,kenya
I read almost all the comments
The problem about this blog is that it really uncover the inconsistencies that western people have about the whole idea of the Muslim-Israeli conflict. Before we talk about who let whom down, we need to know who is to be blamed
Some people say that Hamas is a terrorist movement, without giving any reason for their classifications, some say that Israel is a democracy, also without thinking of it..If somebody said the contrary his opinion is disagreed with in he will be a part of the “axes of evil” ..etc
The term “Terrorist organization” doesn’t criminate Hamas or Jihad, simply because for many Arabs it is used against them only. They recall terrorist groups like Hagana who was turned later to the IDF.
That terrorist group was responsible for Deir Yassin massacre and so many other massacre, it forced the Palestinians from their lands to Gaza strip, and now Hagana is the official army of Israel… the IDF who is fighting them now
Ongoing war now is taking place in Jabalia refugee camp. Nobody asks himself “refugee of what?”
Those people who are refugees in their own land where living in the same places that Hamas is sending it rockets to now. Ashkelond, Sderot , Ashdod and Beersheba were Palestinian villages from which the Palestinian were forced out.
I believe by not looking at the big picture, the whole world let the Palestinian down.
When any Palestinian street man reads comments about “Hamas the terrorist organization” compared the IDF or previously the terrorist organization “Hagana” which has the right to defend the Israelis who are living on the occupied lands of the Palestinians , he will only close internet explorer and goes back to his weapon to get his rights back by his hand.
I don’t see any hope in dealing with one side as a criminal and the other as a victim all the time, and then ask for peace!
Yes, all of us let the Palestinians down,
The Israelis have their press running the stories of the dead Israelis on the headlines with the captions that ignites the patriotism in them. Headlines of their piece of cake in the war, day after days, and this is done because , as the journalists there says ‘the people like it’, reflects how perfectly the Israelis nation is blended about the war. Just how strong headed the ordinary citizens are and how much they feel about their sufering. The papers on the other side of the fence reflects how unprepared the startes are! The fired rockets might not be ‘nodded at’ by the Hamas heriarchy but by some ‘worthless debautches’. My pity to the Palestinian civilians who died or suffer for what the unorganised guerrellas did and I wish the Israeli Govt address their plight and compensate them duely.Ireally wish.
I’m really going crazy seeing my brothers and sister been slaughter like goats,what are other Arab looking at,i’m not an Arab im a Nigerian muslem.Arab are realy sleeping and Hamas and other Jihadist which the west call terrorist,hope they will come to there senses and help they Islam cause Allah will ask them.Salam
If Muslims want peace let them make peace .
Bombarding ones neighbours with missliles daily for 8 years will not bring peace
Hamas should have learnt a long time ago that the IRA and Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland realised after years of bloodshed that the UK was not going to go away and that the armed struggle was pointless.
To some extent Fatah realised this but Hamas did not .
All this talk about martyrdom becomes self fulfilling
Praising suicide bombers will not bring peace
Real leaders are needed to calm everyone down and get to a negotiating position which takes in to account where we are now .
Without being offensive I do think Ibrahim in Nigeria should be more concerned about the 1000s more murders going on nearer his home in Africa on a daily basis for many years -there have been many more than in Gaza in 40 years .
I think u can see bias in the UN,the gave Eritra 5weeks to get out of their neigbhouring country forgoten there name now and even there is no fighting there,here is Gaza were there is bloodshed everyday,so how many weeks are they going to give them.They can just do it ’cause they are allied to them.But i swear by Allah if they refuse to get out of Gaza the worst is coming to Isreal,cause Allah will surely fight his people even if no one care about them.
By starting this unnecessary war, Hamas has let the Palestinian people down. Shame on them.
It’s simple, stop the rockets, then hold people responsible.
If Canada/Mexico,(how about Cuba) sent rockets into the USA, WOULD THE USA HOLD BACK?
People on both sides are affected, does hamas worry about children and elderly, not that that is an excuse for them to be injured, it happens. hamas has declared war and so the innocent suffer, is it Israels fault? Israel just happens to the one with more weapons.
SO STOP THE ROCKETS AND STOP THE WAR. Israel is being used as the escape goat.
I am not a jew, I am not a natural born US citizen, my lifestyle is platonic, I have served in the military(South Africa) during the Angola crisis, and I am of the opinion that the majority of the world has it against Israel because they succeed.
It is no wonder Arab leaders are reluctant to endorse Hamas. Hamas is an embarrassing fraud! Hamas leaders, lounging in the comfort and safety of Syria, urge Gazans on, advising them to keep a stiff upper lip, and to keep fighting. But for what? Hamas can’t reasonable achieve a peace with Israel, a country which they despise and avow to destroy. Negotiating peace with Israel is tantamount to recognizing Israel’s right to exist.
Hamas’ charter creates a catch-22 paradox for Hamas. How humiliating! I wonder why the citizens of Gaza don’t reject Hamas and get a real government who will serve their interests?
America and Israel have the right to ignore the UN, so America must stop supporting this attack. When America tells Israel to stop, it will obey. But America will not, and therefore the Arab states can do nothing, without American support, unless they all want to go to war. Let us not forget, that all the Arab governments and rulers were put there by the Brits and Americans and therefore as governments they can only act with American support too! Of course Obama, will do something about it, and that is why America will be popular again with Arab countries:) But by that time the death toll will have reached 2000 or more, but hey, only 14 Israeli’s will have died (some of them Palestinian Israeli’s) so it is ok.
It is not the Arab world, but Hamas. What did all of those rockets cost. Hamas is the worst thing for the Gaza people, Hamas should do more to help them, not ensure their destruction. Any other country in the world that had rockets fired on them would react the same, what would any of the EU countries do if they were shot at daily. GO ISREAL.
The world has let down the Palestinians.
It’s becoming harder and harder to describe their condition as of yet. ‘Downtrodden,’ ‘the most unfortunate people’, ‘abused’, ‘laden’, ‘bedeviled’, don’t do justice.
Is it politically incorrect to ask where are Arafat’s millions? This money was for the infrastructure – the mains water, the sewage… where did it go?
The Parable of The Good Samaritan is operative. The passers-by are obvious and the Palestinians are still waiting for said Samaritan.