I liked the attitude of the presidential candidate Howard Deanwhen he expressed that the United States shouldn't take sides inthe Middle East conflict. But I didn't like the response of Sen.Joseph Lieberman to Dean's attitude. Lieberman tried to mix orangeswith bananas.
Lieberman grilled Dean because Dean thought Israel should getout of the West Bank. But one of the most significant points in theOslo Accord between the Israelis and the Palestinians is theIsraeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories. Ten yearsafter the Oslo Accord was signed, Israel hasn't fulfilled itsobligations.
In fact, many people feel the United States should be an "honestbroker" and put more pressure on both the Palestinians and theIsraelis to stop the cycle of violence and resume negotiation.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman opposed any shift in the U.S. policytoward the Middle East. He claimed that the American-Israeli"special relationship" is based on "shared values." Lieberman'swords are no more than a big lie.
It is not true that the relationship with Israel was based onshared values. This country was built on justice and tolerance. TheIsraelis have never been just or tolerant to the Palestinians. Theonly language the Israelis speak is the language of violence,destruction and discrimination. Future American policy should notturn a blind eye to all these crimes.
The United States has more significant political and economicinterests with other countries in the Middle East. More Americanswork and make good livings in the Arab countries in the region thanin Israel. American oil companies have multi-billion dollarinvestments in the Gulf States that should continue.
This is the right time for U.S. policy makers to be brave enoughand make the interests of the United States a priority. Americantaxpayers lose millions of dollars in the name of supportingIsrael.
Biased media made marketable the propaganda that Israel, "theonly democracy in the region," is in danger. The propaganda wentfurther and pushed the idea that it is the responsibility of theUnited States to protect "the true friend."
It is not true that Israel is a democratic country. Christianand Muslim citizens in Israeli are deprived from the rights thatJewish citizens enjoy. According to the Israeli constitution, thepresident of the country and the prime minister has to be aJew.
I don't know why Sen. Joseph Lieberman ignores this fact. He isa Jew and at the same time he can be the president of the UnitedStates. A Christian person can never have a leading position inIsrael. What kind of democracy is that?
By turning a blind eye to all the atrocities Israel committedagainst Palestinian civilians, the United States is abandoning itsethical responsibility as the only superpower in the world. Whatthe Israelis are doing goes against all the great values on whichthis country was established. Therefore, supporting Israel shouldbe re-evaluated.
There is a need to change policy in the Middle East. Many peoplearound the globe are not happy with the radical position thatfavors Israel. The reputation of the United States will benegatively affected if Lieberman becomes the president.
Write to Fahad at fahad765@yahoo.com
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