BMORENEWS.com

BMORENEWS publisher Doni Glover (L) in Jordan on mountaintop.

(BALTIMORE – December 28, 2008) – I recently received an email suggesting that President-elect will continue to support Israel – as he has stated in his campaign. The email suggested that Obama should not continue US support of Israel and that without US support, the Israeli war machine would be out of business.

The Arab-Israeli conflict is a terribly complicated one that goes back to the days of the Bible.

It is not a conflict that is going to be settled overnight, despite the fact that we have some of the most educated people ever in the history of mankind.

Personally, I don’t think it is fair for people – black, white or otherwise – to expect Obama to be a miracle worker. I do think that he will make every attempt so as to encourage peaceful resolve. Again, he is only one person. He is not the Messiah. He is not God.

The Arabs and the Jews, truth be told, will have to work out their own problem.

As for foreign aide to Israel, I learned back in graduate school that Israel gets more money than all of the other countries in the area combined.

Is that fair? I am no expert. I say, let the facts speak for themselves.

I do find it interesting that part of the conundrum is the US dependency on oil. If it were not for this dependence, the US quite possibly would have no interest in the area whatsoever.

Again, the Arab-Israeli and moreover, the Arab-Israeli-US triangle is a very complicated one.

For instance, one must remember too that the Jewish lobby in the US is very powerful. The Jewish people are very organized and target their dollars in a tremendous way so as to boost US support of Israel. The Jewish people, ever mindful of the Holocaust, are determined to never allow such a repeat.

Could you imagine what black America could accomplish if we targeted our dollars in a similar fashion? After all, we are possibly the biggest consumers in America - even in a recession - even during Christmas 2008. 

Having many African American Muslim friends and family members, I am very aware of the otherwise traditional Afro-centric view of the situation. Quite often, Muslims who are black view Israel as oppressors, particularly to the Palestinian people.

Having visited Jordan’s refugee camps back in 2002, I have seen what happens when economic warfare is waged on a population. And there are no easy solutions. These peoples hate each other. And there is not always accord within the two groups.

I am aware also of the history of modern day Israel as they sought a homeland in the first half of the last century.

I am aware of the love for Arab heroes like Yasser Arafat. During my visit, his compound was being bombarded.

Arab disdain for this act of war was very high.

I am aware of the killings done by both sides. And I am aware of suicide bombings, quite often enacted by those who feel they have no other options and/or by those who have lost loved ones and/or those who send others to die in hope of 70 virgins in heaven.

Personally, I’m not blowing myself up for anyone. I don’t care what they say. And yes, I am historically aware of oppression - especially in black America.

Those who are willing to kill themselves just to kill a number of their enemies are virtually impossible to defeat. Their faith is extreme.

In conclusion, to think that Obama is going to resolve a conflict that goes back for centuries is ludicrous. Prayerfully, he can help bridge some communication.

That conflict is in dire need of healing. And that will take a very long time. The fact is, it must start from within. Even more, for Obama critics to put this issue out there as if he is supposed to have an answer easily relieves the responsibility of the 43 presidents before him.     

Tags: Arab-Israeli, Politics