RESPONSE TO WHY THE FOCUS ON ISRAEL

Submitted by Ameer Labeeb Hassan (United States), May 20, 2014 at 22:59

Why does the US and Western Europe focus their foreign policy in the Mid-East on Israel? Let me present some benefits to politicians that do not assume Israel is the key to every conflict in the region.

If America has a legacy in the Middle-East, it began with the Sykes-Picot Treaty which basically laid the foundation for the establishment of the State of Israel. Since 1948 there has been constant conflict between Arabs & Jews. This led to the Camp David Accords between Sadat and PM Begin. The promotion of Peace between the Arab world and Israel is in America's interests so as not to appear biased in favor of the latter. Several wars, incidents like Sabra and Shatilla in Palestine, and the social maltreatment of Palestinians in general are the basic reasons why the U.S. & Western Europe focus Mid-East foreign policy on Israel.

However, some of us know that Israel IS NOT THE KEY TO EVERY CONFLICT IN THE REGION. Saddam Hussein, for example, was recruited by CIA in 1958 as Baathists were considered anti- Communist. In 1968, Saddam became head of Iraqi intelligence as an "agent-in-place." In 1978, Saddam became President of Iraq as an "agent-of-influence." During his presidency, Dow Chemical Co. gave him the material to manufacture chemical weapons. Saddam was essentially CIA's "guy in the middle-East." The 8 year war between Iraq and Iran was essentially a "proxy war" in retaliation for the taking of American hostages during the Iranian Revolution, which Israel had nothing to do with. Had Saddam not been removed from Power and executed, the political instability we now witness in Iraq would not exist. Moreover, Desert Shield/Storm had nothing to do with Israel. But there is still enough Israeli involvement in the region to raise valid "political concerns" by the U.S. and Western Europe as regards the "human rights" and the "human dignity" of Palestinians.

Is it mere coincidence that 9/11 occurred some eleven days after Israel was declared a "racist state" at the Durban Conference in August of 2001 over the issue of Palestinian Autonomy? Is it mere coincidence that Arafat was killed shortly thereafter, or that the GWOT was declared in the same time frame?? Personally, I do not believe that there is any such thing as coincidence in matters such as those abovestated. Both the U.S. and Western Europe support Israel economically and by other means. Policy on the part of both as regards Israel is only "smoke & mirrors" to give the Arab world a "false illusion" of friendship & fair play.

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