Are there American values / principles that we are ignoring in the Middle East?
re·cuse
riˈkyo͞oz/
verb
NORTH AMERICAN
- challenge (a judge, prosecutor, or juror) as unqualified to perform legal duties because of a possible conflict of interest or lack of impartiality."a motion to recuse the prosecutor"
- (of a judge) excuse oneself from a case because of a possible conflict of interest or lack of impartiality.
Have thousands of lives been lost and trillions been wasted in the Middle East because we put economic interests ahead of our core American values? Are we seeing the fruits of our misguided efforts coming home to roost in the ugliness that is unfolding in the Middle East? Let's focus on the Israel / Humas conflict.
In previous blogs I have blamed the U.S. and Israel from blocking any long term settlement that would give self determination to the Palestinians. But, after further reflection, I realize that it is mostly fault of the U.S. that there is no settlement in the Middle East. One of the necessary traits of a professional negotiator is impartiality. They listen to both sides and try to help the two sides find common ground. A negotiator that has bias in the case because of his relationship with one or more of the sides in the dispute should recuse himself from the case. This is just not a practical guideline based on the ineffectiveness of a biased negotiator (or judge, etc.), it is a moral issue. It is just not right to pretend to be impartial when you have a long relationship that would cause you to be unfair to one of the two parties. Could anyone deny that the U.S. is biased for Israel? Then what is the U.S. doing in the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians? If the U.S. is in favor of an issue, any wise Palestinian should be wary. Just by being in the negotiations, we undermine their legitimacy.
Another principle in our courts is whether someone has standing in a given case. Of course, the whole world has something to gain if the Middle East is more stable, if Israel and the Palestinians learn to live peaceably together. But, what besides our military might (might is right?) gives us standing in the Israeli / Palestinian conflict? It is the Israelis and Palestinians that must live with what they craft or more likely live without a viable agreement.
And taking this logic one step further, our continued contribution of money and weapons to Israel undermines any settlement. Our gridlocked Congress just failed to pass a bill giving Israel $250 million to restock its Iron Dome missile defense. Shouldn't the Israel people pay for this and feel the cost of war on their own shoulders. Wouldn't this just be another incentive to reach an equitable settlement.
Should the U.S. have the courage to withdraw all aid from the Israel until the Palestinians have self-determination. Can we claim to be just if we support a country that denies self-determination to those in its care?
And taking this logic one step further, our continued contribution of money and weapons to Israel undermines any settlement. Our gridlocked Congress just failed to pass a bill giving Israel $250 million to restock its Iron Dome missile defense. Shouldn't the Israel people pay for this and feel the cost of war on their own shoulders. Wouldn't this just be another incentive to reach an equitable settlement.
Should the U.S. have the courage to withdraw all aid from the Israel until the Palestinians have self-determination. Can we claim to be just if we support a country that denies self-determination to those in its care?
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