Radicalism and Peace in the Middle East
It was written in the news that, during her latest visit to the Middle East, the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, asked the Israeli government to take effective measures to improve the living conditions of Palestinians. She also asked the Israeli government to commit to the removal of 61 barriers that restrict the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank. She also characterized the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank as “problematic” and pressured Israel to afford Palestinians greater freedom of movement in the West Bank.
Coinciding with Rice’s remarks, the group of four (United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia) met last Friday in London and called on Israel to halt building new settlements in the West Bank, also asking Palestinians to stop their military attacks on Israel.
The promises are sweet. But is it possible to fulfill them? Can one still share in the hope of Condoleezza Rice that it is possible for Israelis and Palestinians to reach a peace deal prior to the end of the present year?
When we examine the news more carefully, we realize that peace in the Middle East is not attainable under current conditions. Radicals feed on war, not on peace. Radicalism is reigning supreme across the globe, with every corner of the earth breeding the conditions suitable for it. In the absence of a powerful state in Israel, radicals have not left any space for democracy, upon which peace can be built. Palestinian radicals have also become successful in turning into an influential force and weakening the Palestinian Authority.
Radicals in the world have decided to use their differences as a ploy to promote and empower radicalism all over the world at the expense of peace and human rights. Iranian radicalism, whose symbol currently is Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has empowered the Israeli radicalism. Israeli radicalism, with the aid of Iran’s political mistakes, has supplied the American radicalism with armor. Palestinian radicalism has legitimized actions that are considered to be against human rights in Palestinian territories. The result is what you see.
The global community does not see that the Iranian population is battling inflation and oppression, and widespread human rights violations have limited the opportunity to criticize the government’s (economic and foreign policy) performance. The condition of human rights in Iran is not covered much in the news because so much attention is focused on the nuclear issue and sanctions against Iran.
Iranians are living with the nightmare of possible military attack and their difficult and terrible economic condition has become unbearable. Nevertheless, the Iranian society is alive and active and is working hard to find a way out of the present dead-end.
Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s performance, particularly his handling of the economy, is gradually becoming the subject of criticism of people from his own camp, and the Majlis has begun the process to impeach his ministers. As is often noted in certain circles, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not the only decision-maker in Iran.
The very same words that have empowered radicals across the globe, however, also have turned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad into a hero in certain parts of the world. Researchers and academics must examine the roots of this popularity and unravel political failures that have derailed the peace process in the Middle East and contributed to the popularity of figures like Ahmadinejad.
One cannot believe that peace and stability will be achieved in the world and Middle East by destroying Iran. Achieving peace requires dialogue.