In the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Israel’s settlements,
the world expressed sympathy and then solidarity with Israel. Protest voices
also noted Israel’s decades old actions towards Gaza, causing a hiccup in what
the West wanted as a united front in support. Then, Israel’s actions in
response to Hamas ended up being a massive assault on Gaza, including cutting
off food and water to 2.2 million people - a war crime - the use of white
phosphorus, and the call for 1.1 million to evacuate to the South.
This forced displacement is especially jarring. Mass
displacement is one of the hallmarks of the 21st century. The Great African War
(1998-2003; 2 million displaced) Syria (2011-2017; 13.1 million displaced)
Rohingya from Myanmar (2017-present; 1 million displaced) Ukraine
(2022-present; 14 million displaced) Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh
(2020,2023, 120,000 displaced), Sudan (2023; 5.1 million displaced) and more.
In this case, it is swift and planned. In a recent interview, the former Israeli deputy foreign minister said “This is thought
out, there is a huge expanse, almost endless space in the Sinai desert” and
“Egypt will have to play ball”.
However, the replies from Joe Biden, Anthony Blinken, and
John Kirby have been cheering at worst and hesitant at best.
As this unfolds, many Western host states are tired of
hosting refugees, and small states find themselves hosting refugees with
declining support. In a recent interview, Henry Kissinger, at age 100, stated
that Europe made a mistake in hosting so many immigrants. But this is years
after Angela Merkel stated that multiculturalism was a failed experiment. This
weekend Poland holds a tight election with immigration and multiculturalism as
one of the sensitive topics. Far-right parties across Europe are gaining popularity.
Three Things You
Should know
- The declared US policyBiden initially entered the arena swinging hard. He wanted
to obliterate his predecessor's footprint in image, message, and policy. The
White House, the State Department, and the Department of Defense all seemed to
hit the reboot button. In a large step away from both Donald Trump, and the
RealPolitik of Henry Kissinger, Biden declared his administration’s foreign
policy to be human rights centered. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken echoed
this multiple times - the emphasis of this administration would be human
rights. In February 2021 he wrote, “The
United States is committed to a world in which human rights are protected,
their defenders are celebrated, and those who commit human rights abuses are
held accountable”.
- How it has collapsedEvery country has high ambitions and subsequent policy
failures. Politicians always promise more than they can achieve during early
days. As the only superpower which extends foreign policy strength around the
globe, the policy failures of the US garner more attention because they affect
so many more people. The women of Afghanistan certainly understand this, and
the parents of the US soldiers who died in the war likely also do as they read
about the Taliban’s return to power. The retreat from Afghanistan occurred in
Biden’s administration (though Syria, the Rohingya, and the Great African War
occurred under his predecessors). It is perhaps the largest retreat from a
human rights based foreign policy so far. But Gaza is likely to be larger.
Media has reported that Israel has dropped bombs in Gaza in the last week that
equal the amount the US dropped on Afghanistan in the first year. Gaza is half
the size of Singapore -236 km and 2.2 million people - Afghanistan is 652,000
km and a population of about 38 million.
In addition to the large mistakes there are smaller ones.
While Venezuela was being investigated for crimes against humanity, the White
House sent a friendly delegation to Caracas to talk to Maduro about stabilizing
energy prices. The Biden administration first agreed to unfreezing $6 billion
in assets for Iran before blocking it again. Iran’s human rights record did not
change during these periods. Guantanamo Bay prison remains open. Mass weapons
sales to questionable allies continues.
- What does this mean
for the ‘rules-based order’?A united front against Russia and in solidarity with Ukraine
was meant to be a strong show of continued belief in and implementation of the
post-WWII security structure. A common gravitational point for that security
structure has been US leadership - not only as a provider of finance and
weaponry, but as a guide and unifier. One of the stabilizing factors of US
leadership has been certainty and consistency. With some very major exceptions,
this has led to peace and prosperity in Europe and other spots on the globe.
Going from Obama to Trump to Biden has created a lot of waves, rather than calm
waters. European officials complained about George W. Bush after 9/11, but in
retrospect he was much more predictable. US leadership has also become more
uncertain as its political structure becomes more partisan and aggressive. US
performance pockmarked with government shutdowns, contested elections,
gridlocked Congress, and events like January 6 shake partner confidence.
Hypocrisy in government is as old as government itself. But lack of concern for
Palestinian lives seems to be a uniting factor between both political parties.
Finally, mass displacement will become the defining trait of conflict in the
21st century. The solution we currently have does not work. Millions will move,
host countries receive a few billion for a few years, and then they need to
focus on a different crisis. The countries acting as host face burdens. Some,
like Lithuania in 2021, simply use power to push the refugees away. Others like
Germany or France accept but then debate if they should have. Some, like
Jordan, continue to host though the financial cost increases and citizen needs
also beckon. Whether Syrian, Rohingya, Ukrainian, or Sudanese, we know that many
of these displaced peoples will not be able to return (though some might).
A lack of certainty in US partnership and a lack of strategy
on the growing challenge of mass displacement is a recipe for global discontent
and fragmented alliances.
اضافة اعلانMy take“To stand against global politics of fear and coercion; to
defend the sovereign rights of smaller nations as equal to those of larger
ones; to embrace basic principles like freedom of navigation, respect for
international law, and arms control — no matter what else we may disagree on,
that is the common ground upon which we must stand.”
These were the words of US president Joe Biden when he
addressed the 77th UNGA just last month.
Where do Palestinians lives, Palestinian dignity and
Palestinian freedom fit into this speech?
This week has been a lot. In response to the Hamas attack,
Israel’s president said there are no innocent civilians in Gaza. Israeli
military commanders said they will not allow any aid to enter Gaza, even at the
expense of civilian life. Hospitals have been bombed. The population was
forcibly displaced. White phosphorus, internationally banned, has been used.
Fake news uttered from Biden's podium (and then renounced by his team later) -
and this is backed by Anthony Blinken who says Israel has the right.
As a global citizen, it is a disappointing moment. To hear
this so blatantly stated, so happily supported, with such disregard for
civilian protection or following of international law.
In previous pieces I have asked what is the endgame for
Gaza. What does Israel plan to do with 2.2 million people after this is over?
Forcibly move all of them? Collective punishment for years?
But now, my question is for the US - and Europe to an
extent. What is the endgame for all of us? If Israel can say there are no
innocent Gazans, Can Ukraine say there are no innocent Russians? Iran says
there are no innocent Americans? Where does it end?
And will we just adapt to a few million on the move after
every conflict? Once the headlines disappear we can forget them and go back to
doom scrolling the news until the next crisis? What is the international order
that we will design and adhere to?
I don’t have answers for the US or the world order. But I do
live in a small state that is next door to Palestine, and is host to almost 2
million refugees. We have to have our own endgame. We need our own roadmap to
get there.
His Majesty gave us the political practical road map to end
the suffering - a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital. Her Majesty made clear our moral standpoint
“It's not self defense if you are an occupation force”. So now you have it, our solutions, our road
map, our values and moral stand.
As Jordanians and
Arabs it's our turn to say to you - are you with us or against us?
Katrina Sammour was first published on Full Spectrum Jordan, a weekly newsletter on SubStack.
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