Mightier than the sword

It has been attributed to the Apostle Paul of Biblical fame that the tongue is the mightiest of all members of the human body. Surely, it can be more poisonous than the strongest snake venom. And even though the pen may be mightier than the sword, it is often the spoken word that inflames more mischief than the written word. So is true indeed of the president of Iran. According to the BBC and other reports the newly appointed leader has lashed out in brutal manner befitting an autocrat from the Middle Ages. And all the poison is aimed at Israel. One is almost inclined to conclude with "of course", for such is the acerbic rhetoric from Iran against Israel.

But, as always, the story has more than one side to it. The fumbled birth of Israel and her consequent nurturing by especially the USA, have been an enormous thorn in the side of Arab nations. Instead of carefully and sensitively treading their way towards the creation of the State of Israel by the colonial power, Britain, in 1947, there was the most blundering retreat in recent history.

Britain gained control of Palestine from the Ottoman Empire in 1917. Shortly afterwards, the Balfour Declaration stated the intent to establish a Jewish country in the Middle East without prejudice to the rights of indigenous inhabitants. An impossible set of borders were proposed in 1936. Immediate rejection by Arab nations and heated division amongst Jews followed. Ironically, in 1939 the British government realised the dilemma and declared in a white paper that it was not their intent to force a Jewish state upon a region where Arab people were in a significant majority. Rather, the white paper envisioned one country of Palestine inhabited and governed jointly by Jews and Arabs. This view was strongly opposed by Jews in Palestine as well as the British government. Arabs rejected the white paper on a basis of mistrust of ultimate British intentions.

The increasing immigration of Jews from mainly Europe continued to erg Arabs and the preferential and discriminatory pro-Jewish land purchases and employment practices in Palestine further fueled resentment amongst Arabs. According to the census of 1922, conducted by the British under their mandate established in 1919, the population was 752,048, comprising 589,177 Muslims, 83,790 Jews, 71,464 Christians and 7,617 persons belonging to other groups. In 1945 a demographic study showed that the population had grown to 1,764,520, comprising 1,061,270 Muslims, 553,600 Jews, 135,550 Christians and 14,100 people of other groups, according to the Wikipedia. Note the marked increase of Jewish people in Palestine over this period - 6.6 times compared to a mere doubling for Arab and other people.

Fresh from the horrors of the Second World War, Israel commanded huge international sympathy. Unfortunately for global justice, this goodwill capital was soon to be spent and abused on a frequent basis for Israeli interest. In 1947 the UN voted that Palestine should become independent from Britain. An impossible set of borders were drawn and hastily dumped upon the Middle East. The Palestinians and surrounding Arab nations rejected the plan. Britain retreated followed by an unilateral declaration of independence by Israel on 14 May 1948. The UN lamely approved. A year later, the five surrounding Arab nations declared war against Israel, which is understandable if regrettable. After all, here was a newly declared state inhabited by mostly European refugees who suddenly claimed to be a nation and have a heritage in what was for centuries Palestine - a majority Arab region that came under brief British rule through a foreign war not of Palestine choosing.

Later on, the USA had found a very useful strategic ally in the increasingly valuable oil-rich region of the world. The Israeli budget - especially in terms of defense - has ever since been richly sponsored by the US tax payer or supported by generous loans on favourable terms. Arab beneficiaries of US funds have been relatively sparsely supported by the US. [A search of official US Government budgets on the Web will support the forementioned claims. Unfortunately, for technical reasons, these search links are not persistent so that the author cannot store these links in this text.] Strong lobbying in the USA from Jewish groups also adds to the biased attitude of the USA towards the Middle East.

Such scenario as the above is fertile ground for all sorts of extremist ideologies and outrageous outcries - such as the most recent remark by the Iranian president that Israel should be wiped off the map. Such remarks serve no good purpose and is completely out of place in a modern international society. However, it takes one radical to latch onto ongoing international injustice and partisan behaviour by major players and we may have serious consequences.

A self-righteous approach by any party in the international conflict around Israel and Palestine is of no good to humankind. We need to think and talk and act reconciliation. We need to swallow pride and hurt alike. Harsh words will never cure the pain of injustice for anyone. Instead, a bigger hammer leads to bigger wounds. In the end, the fatality will be mankind as a whole when madness finally takes its toll.