Needless Fighting is Ensured if Threats Dominate Middle East Dialogue

I think we can do better than constantly threatening everybody. If you were walking down the street in a rough neighborhood, do you yell at the top of your lungs, “I’ll kill anybody who messes with me”, raising hell as you pass? Or do you walk confidently giving people their due respect, maybe nod say hello, and just mind your own business?

I don’t understand why we have to constantly mess with everybody. Under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, our State Department is trying to destabilize Iran with propaganda. We just dropped the Iran deal, went back on our word, reinstated sanctions, and let our allies know that they are not allowed to trade with Iran. That’s not even where the story ends! We have also been telling Iran not to sell oil or use the trade routes that they have used for thousands of years.

I’m sure there are reasons for the bad blood between our governments. I bet Iran is sponsoring terrorism, especially with the Palestinians. But really I don’t think we and Israel are doing a good job of diplomacy in this arena. I think if Israel quit expanding into Palestinian areas we would have less resistance. They might also quit polluting Palestinian beaches with sewage.

Prior to the realization that Trump would be President, the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu was looking at a two-state solution, the best idea available for a lasting peace, but as soon as Trump became president this changed. Israel has since backed away from the idea of a two-state solution with the full-throated support of Trump.

From my perspective, it seems Israel should go all in for the two state agreement followed up with humanitarian aid for Palestine. Israel may even gain some friends in the process. I believe you increase your odds of having a positive experience with your neighbor by being good and it seems Israel and the United States are suffering needlessly by having two overly aggressive leaders whom others can rightly perceive as acting like jerks. I’m not a expert in foreign policy but I think honesty, compassion and equally humane treatment of all parties could change the dialogue and even the attitudes of all concerned.