FORTRESS BESIEGED
Is Israel a miracle or a mirage for the world?
G.P.S. (2/n)
As mentioned previously, this is in continuation of the series I call ‘Geo-Political System or Political GPS’. This is the second article in the pipeline.
WHEN GEOGRAPHY SPEAKS
When you are born in the most treacherous and roughest corner guarded by hostile neighbors by the inverted C path (North-East-South) with only the Western-friendly flank being the [Mediterranean] sea (see picture), you know your whole existence is defined by the perpetual threat of extinction. To survive, the state of Israel became a forerunner in allying with its proximate and far-flung states either by collaboration, exploitation, or by parlaying technological and economic advantages.
Now let’s understand why we are talking about Israel. Recent headlines show that some dialogues flared-up between the Hebrew-speaking nation and other Arab states that might be eye-opening for interested nations.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Being Circumlocutional About Palestine
[1] THE SAUDI EFFECT
“Saudi Arabia was actually the first Arab state to put normalization with Israel on the table.” — Prince Faisal, Saudi Foreign Minister. The third world perceives normalizing relations of Saudi-Israel as some vested interest other than money. Why? History has let down Saudi’s image amongst its vicinus states. To overcome the horrors of Saudi’s past, Mohammad Bin Salman (or MBS) started remaking his own image as a modern leader, planning big for the throne after his father’s pro-Palestine, anti-Israel ideology thus needing “friends in high places”. But with the realignment of the Middle East and a long-drawn Palestinian tension, the Saudi-Israel expected normalization is too good to be true, for now.
These new strategic bonding with Bahrain-UAE, Sudan, States, and Morocco, Commando-turned-PM Benjamin Netanyahu foresees a greater political stance overshadowing its own country. For all, it’s good for business. For some, it means isolating Iran. But for the Palestinians — it’s a betrayal.
[2] THE ANCHORMAN
From the making of Israel to recent peace treaties, there was one entity that led the procession and it is well known who anchors this ship as well. The sole superpower always had an eye on the developments of Israel. The Trump-led US resisted the nuclear deal (2018) and ordered more sanctions on Iran (a common enemy that could befriend Saudi with Israel) thus pushing all these new alliances in the Middle East before Biden gets in. But Cohen, Intelligence Minister, recently indicated that Biden might be interested in Saudi-Israeli normalization and “…progress in negotiations with the Palestinians.”
[3] LOOK EAST, LOOK WEST
India has always been harmonious with the Gulf. Historical India [post-USSR disintegration] started looking West (esp. Israel) for armaments industry influenced by many factors. New Accords (Israel-Bahrain-UAE & Saudi-Israel) showcased India’s welcoming behaviour for the involved states. The two premiers, too, have shared some similar ideologies over many visits. Recent dialogues have reiterated Indian diplomats’ (after the US) unflinching stand on a two-state solution on the Israel-Palestine issue — for Palestine’s sympathy and Israel’s “ethnic ideology”.
DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES
Israel’s traumatic events and the perpetual threat of extinction define its 145th position in the Global Peace Index 2020 (from 163 states) but 20th in Global Military Strength (from 138 states). To further drive my point, it’s the third most educated country between ages 25 and 64 as per OECD 2017 data. This shows how Israelis are more superior in weaponry development and the art of warfare given the fact that most Israelis serve in the military for a minimum of two years after high school.
THE RAGE WITHIN
[1] DONALD-BENJAMIN “COUP”
The advent of Trump’s presidency made a MASSIVE dent in the lives of Palestinians. Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Israeli sovereignty over the occupied [Syrian] Golan Heights, and now peace treaties, sparked fury across the Palestinian-supported Arab world. But as every political criminal claims, “…no wrongdoing and …victim of a politically motivated ‘witch hunt’ engineered by my opponents”, Benjamin said no different. (Source: BBC).
[2] “THE INVISIBLE HAND” THREATENS LIVES
Israel’s diabolic intentions were subdued for quite a long period. But the geopolitics made things strenuous for the victims. Where Jerusalem saw a rise in alliances, technology, and military, Palestinians clamored worsening situations as they felt out-casted during vaccination despite 20% of its population already being vaccinated. The Middle East is indeed considered a place without justice.
Strictly speaking, I feel the current scenario Israel holds for the world is more of a mirage over a miracle purely based on its untreated problem of the Palestinians and the way its premier handles it. Even then, I leave it up to the readers to conclude their rationale behind Israel’s status — do they find it more promising, or is it yet another Middle Eastern issue that remains unsettled.
