Sunday, June 10, 2007

40th Anniversary of 1967 Arab-Israeli War

In my view the 1967 war established Israel as the primary military force in that area of the world, because of their adroit exploitation of their military intelligence and weaponry supplied by USA. It also show-cased to USA that Israel could be their main client to absorb new weapons technology and be their proxy to protect their oil interests. It served a dual-purpose, gave Israel a foothold for expansion of their territory and gave USA a bigger foothold to expand their influence.
Unfortunately Israeli occupation also created a Palestinian Diaspora, which similar to the earlier Jewish Diaspora, stoked the sympathies of the World. Coupled with the raising money power of the Middle Eastern Oil countries, the stage was set for a long-drawn war between two displaced people, both of whom have had tragedy forced upon them. Whose claim is more legitimate, whose history should have priority? Is it not better to draw a line and say that both Jews and Palestinians have a right to live there in peace. The economic benefits to all of a life of co-operation would be awesome.
With the American influence declining and with Israel losing the goodwill of the World because of its inhuman occupation, may be it is the right time for United Nations to urgently get involved in the Region. They could recruit the backing of the rich oil countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran and call upon the leadership of European and Asian powers to work out a plan to give Palestinians a home land of their own. UN should repeat history and create Palestine as it created Israel in 1948. And guarantee its existence till it can stand on its own feet. This is not an impossible task. It just requires a more aggressive United Nations and support of emerging powers of Asia and the established powers of Europe.