Question: Should the U.S. be involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict?
Vali Nasr: Well because historically it’s been involved for a very long time. It also is a major supporter of key Arab governments and Israel. It is not as if the United States has no role in the Arab-Israeli issue, and all of a sudden getting involved in mediation is a major step.
The United States provides military support to Israel, financial support to Israel. It also provides military support and financial support to Jordan, Egypt, Palestinian government, to other Arab governments. So the United States is part of the picture.
The only question is, does the United States use its participation to also get the protagonists together? Now there are benefits for the United States, because in terms of the perception in the Muslim world, the Palestinian issue matters. For whatever reason after 60 years, it has become the signature issue in American relations with the Middle East and the Muslim world. It is a corrosive issue.
I don’t think peace with a resolution will change larger issues in the Middle East, such as Iran’s power, such as U.S.’ other interests in the region. But it will have an enormous amount of symbolic value.
Let’s put it this way. Not trying at all was quite detrimental to American image, much more so than trying and failing.
Recorded on: Dec 3, 2007
Discuss
eileen fleming on May 5, 2008, 12:21 PM
Of course America is already involved and while still Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted that 70% of the world's problems with terrorism can be directly traced back to Israel Palestine.
IF AMERICANS ONLY KNEW:
Israel has been targeted by at least 65 UN resolutions and the Palestinians have been targeted by none.
Chart showing that the United States gives over 26 times more assistance to Israel than to Palestinian development organizations.
During Fiscal Year 2007, the U.S. gave more than $6.8 million per day to Israel and $0.3 million per day to the Palestinians.
119 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinians and 982 Palestinian children have been killed by Israelis since September 29, 2000.
1,044 Israelis and at least 4,719 Palestinians have been killed since September 29, 2000.
6,845 Israelis and 32,213 Palestinians have been injured since September 29, 2000.
KNOW MORE:
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/
Eileen Fleming, Reporter and Editor WAWA:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Author "Keep Hope Alive" and "Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"
Producer "30 Minutes With Vanunu" and "13 Minutes with Vanunu"
eileen fleming on May 5, 2008, 4:21 PM
Of course America is already involved and while still Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted that 70% of the world’s problems with terrorism can be directly traced back to Israel Palestine.
IF AMERICANS ONLY KNEW:
Israel has been targeted by at least 65 UN resolutions and the Palestinians have been targeted by none.
Chart showing that the United States gives over 26 times more assistance to Israel than to Palestinian development organizations.
During Fiscal Year 2007, the U.S. gave more than $6.8 million per day to Israel and $0.3 million per day to the Palestinians.
119 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinians and 982 Palestinian children have been killed by Israelis since September 29, 2000.
1,044 Israelis and at least 4,719 Palestinians have been killed since September 29, 2000.
6,845 Israelis and 32,213 Palestinians have been injured since September 29, 2000.
KNOW MORE:
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/
Eileen Fleming, Reporter and Editor WAWA:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Author “Keep Hope Alive” and “Memoirs of a Nice Irish American ’Girl’s’ Life in Occupied Territory”
Producer “30 Minutes With Vanunu” and “13 Minutes with Vanunu”
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or Register