All
Are Equal, Middle East Included
By Sonia Nettnin
24 July, 2006
Countercurrents.org
The fundamental problem behind
the crises in the Middle East is that not all the people who live there
are viewed as equal. The US-Israel political, military and financial
alliance protects the human rights and dignity of Israeli-Jews, but
qualifies and selects the human rights and dignity of the Middle East’s
indigenous and multifarious ethnic, religious and sectarian peoples.
The root-causes of violence in the Middle East are the devaluation of
human life, oppression and occupation.
When US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice travels to the Middle East
she should present, not dictate, a diplomatic package to all, not selective,
Middle East parties involved directly and indirectly. In doing so she
addresses the US-diplomatic crisis in the region. If the US selectively
addresses the underlying causes of the violence and ignores the multifaceted,
Anglo-involvement in Middle East history; and if the US does not acknowledge
all Middle East peoples, there will not be peace in the Middle East.
There is a Middle East war on many fronts and no country or state is
safe.
Media Coverage Absent from US Media Coverage
There are media reports claiming Israel has been allegedly interfering
with Palestinian airwaves and that the world is apparently not receiving
the complete story of what happened in Nazareth earlier this week. In
Gaza, Palestinian photographer Mohammad Az Zanoun, was shot by Israeli
forces in Gaza. Of course Americans do not see the gruesome images of
the war in Lebanon. I have seen a few dozen images. Scorched pieces
of torsos, with remnants of organs, legs, limbs. Here is an IMEMC link
to a graphic, AP photo of a dead child. The mass destruction of high-level
apartment buildings is unbelievable.
And yet the US media does not cover the devastated, civilian infrastructure
for Palestinians, especially in Gaza, and the ramifications Israeli
occupation has on the Palestinians and potentially the Palestinian Authority.
Moreover the humanitarian crisis affects the medical situation within
Palestinian hospitals, especially in Gaza.
Although Lebanon’s Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has called for
humanitarian assistance and an immediate cease-fire, I am not sure what
humanitarian corridor Israel will provide considering the damage Israeli
F16 warplanes have done to roads and bridges leading to Syria. Naval
ships in Beirut ports are evacuating internationals, how that will help
Lebanese citizens and Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon is another
matter.
Washington has chosen to delay travel to the Middle East to prevent
the appearance of “shuttling.” Yet calls for an immediate
cease-fire by political leaders, have gone unanswered.
Of course, Hezbollah’s attacks on Northern Israel with Katyusha
rockets continued throughout the week also.
Both Israel and Hezbollah may face war crimes-charges by the UN. Here
is a link to a recent BBC interview with UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights Louise Arbour.
Several US media sources have reported that Hezbollah used Iranian-made
missiles in their attacks in Northern Israel, and that Syria enabled
transport access to Lebanon. Stateside the Muslim American Society is
pursuing potential legal action with respect to the United States Arms
Export Control Act and Israel for “…using American weapons
to attack Lebanon and Gaza’s civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
International media sources Aljazeera, Maan News Agency and the Palestine
News Network, along with US media source the Wayne Madsen Report, which
contains an interesting photo and detailed diagram, have reported that
Israeli forces have allegedly used poison gas and depleted uranium in
Southern Lebanon, and they have allegedly used chemical ammunition in
Gaza.
US Congress and the American Public Minority
On Thursday, Congress passed H. Res. 921 and S. Res. 534. The bill’s
title, “Condemning the recent attacks against the State of Israel,
holding terrorists and their state-sponsors accountable for such attacks,
supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, and for other purposes,”
passed with a staggering 410 yeas in the House and a unanimous voice
vote in the Senate. Here is a link to H. Res. 921.
An ADC press release responded to Congress’ vote by explaining,
“These resolutions give unconditional American support to Israel’s
military siege on civilian populations in Lebanon and Gaza.”
For the past, two weeks several demonstrations have taken place across
major cities in the US, as reported by workers.org. Protesters called
for the end of Israel’s attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. In Chicago,
the demonstration was met with a counterdemonstration.
More demonstrations in the US and worldwide are scheduled today and
in the weeks ahead.
The World’s Future
War brings social, economic and psychological devastation, as well as
disintegrates society. It kills people and turns the world against its
own humanity. Since power, greed and control is the master whatever
gains the superpowers think they will have are short-term, including
their potential plans for the region, but the destruction of civilization
is the long-term consequence.
Iraq is the cradle of civilization and on its way to becoming the grave.
What is happening to Iraqi women is heartbreaking. When Iraqi women
toured the US in March 2005, they gave their first-hand accounts. Even
though all Iraqis face grave danger on a daily basis and thousands of
Iraqis have sought refuge in neighboring countries, the plight of the
Assyrians has been for the most part, ignored by Western media. Media
coverage of Iraqi suffering and devastation is absent from Western media.
One of the many challenges the public faces in relation to the Middle
East crisis is the one-sided media coverage. Moreover, a lack of historical
context exists, as war journalist Robert Fisk explained in his 2005
book tour in the US.
After listening to US media reports of the Middle East crisis there
is a sidestepping of the non-Israeli narratives, as if the Middle East’s
indigenous people existed in a vacuum. When some Arab, Middle East experts
are interviewed the line of questioning places interviewees in the defense
position. At best, they are free to talk more during controversial discussions
with pro-Israel, Middle East experts.
At the end of the day, everyone who inhabits the Middle East is equal.
The fact that inequality exists and it has not been resolved will always
breed conflict and violence. In the multiple equations that explain
the Middle East, which show the effects of occupation, oppression, power,
greed, the prospects for a diplomatic solution are grim.
Instead of destroying bridges we should be building them.
Sonia Nettnin writes about
social, political, economic, and cultural issues. Her focus is the Middle
East.