Tag: Israel

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Conflict & disaster Society

[2635] To boycott Israel, we first need ties

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be an emotional matter to many Malaysians. While there are diverse opinions on the conflict, the pro-Palestinian sentiment is firmly in the majority in Malaysia. Each time the conflict between Israel and Palestine flares up, the pro-Palestinian side will egg the public on to do at least two things. One, they will organize a demonstration in front of the United States embassy on Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.

The other is a boycott against products sold in Malaysia that the pro-Palestinian side believes has something to do with Israel. McDonald’s has been on the receiving end of the call to boycott, but in a brilliant public relations move involving free burgers, I think the boycott died prematurely.

The truth is the demonstrations and boycotts generate more heat than light. It does nothing practical and significant to affect the situation in Israel and Palestine.

The reason for that is this: Malaysia has no traction with Israel because Malaysia does not maintain any significant relations with Israel. There is no real direct leverage that any Malaysian can use against Israel in the conflict.

To Israel, Malaysia is just that little trading country far out on the other end of the world that has little to do with Israel. Malaysia probably does not even exist to most Israelis, maybe apart from that one time when former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad claimed that the Jews ruled the world by proxy at a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference hosted in Kuala Lumpur in 2003.

If Malaysians truly want to have some traction on Israel, then perhaps Malaysia needs to find some leverage on Israel. One of those leverages may involve having an official relationship with Israel, which includes significant trade ties.

The power of a boycott is that it gets to where it hurts when it works, which is the pocket. At the moment, however, there is really no way a boycotting Malaysian can hurt Israel. A successful boycott at the very best hurts those who have ties with Israel and not Israel itself. That has the potential of making more enemies than friends. And influence comes from making the right friends.

As always, the boycotts and demonstrations against Israel are really directed against the United States and anything related to the US. The rationale is that the US is Israel’s greatest ally. Yet, making an enemy of the US is not the best thing to do for Malaysia given how China looms to the north and countries in Southeast Asia sorely need a power to balance Chinese influence in the region. Never mind that the US is one of Malaysia’s biggest trade partners. That means there are a lot of jobs in Malaysia created by US-related corporations.

Look at the boycotters’ favorite target: McDonald’s. Who do they employ? They are mostly Malaysians. In fact, who owns the McDonald’s franchise in Malaysia? Malaysians. So, the ones who would have been hurt by a boycott launched by the pro-Palestinian camp are Malaysians first. Israel itself is probably somewhere down the list, receiving the least brunt of all, if any.

With significant economic ties with Israel, perhaps Malaysians with strong opinions on the matter can do something more practical. With such links, the threat of a Malaysian boycott has a real and direct impact on Israeli interests. With interests in Malaysia which are susceptible to a Malaysian boycott, maybe then Israel may want to take Malaysian voices more seriously.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved
First published in The Malaysian Insider on November 28 2012.

Categories
Conflict & disaster

[2215] Of Israel is shooting itself in the foot

Israel has always been in the spotlight. But rarely have its actions compelled friendly countries to speak out against it. The assassination in Dubai carried out by the Israeli secret service has hurt its ties with a number of important countries which it maintains good relations with; these countries are angry that their passports were forged by the Israeli secret service. Recent attack on an aid convoy to Gaza by Israeli commandos looks to worsen those relationships even further.

The convoy sought to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and deliver aids to Palestinians there. Faced with a hardened military, I doubted the convoy would be successful. Just months ago, another convoy attempted to deliver aids to Gaza. It failed because Israel simply would not let them in. It is hard to imagine how another convoy would be any more successful than the last.

Due to its limited chance of success, a convoy like this is more of a political maneuver instead of a humanitarian one. Let us be honest. Those on board the convoy are not aid workers. They are activists. Not that it is a bad thing to apply political pressure. It has its uses but it is what it is.

A refusal to let the convoy pass, although unfortunate, is a completely understandable action taken by Israel, even if it is a disagreeable one. To attack the convoy however, is beyond comprehension.

The attack that has left at least ten dead. It is senseless. It is a gross overreaction on the part of Israel.

Israel deserves to be criticized harshly for that. An action should be taken against Israel but realistically, that will not happen.

I do not think this would cause a break in Israeli diplomatic relationship with major countries. But the criticism directed at Israel so far has been quite sharp.

Immediately upon learning of the attack on the convoy, multiple countries like France, Greece, Spain and Sweden have summoned Israeli ambassadors, demanding an explanation. Turkey, one of very few countries with Muslim majority progressive enough to have diplomatic line with its southern neighbor, has recalled its ambassador.

In the background, Israel’s relationship with the US ever since Obama came into the Oval Office has not been as warm as it typically used to be. Down under with respect to the forgery fiasco, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, “…Australia would not regard that as the act of a friend“. Australia recently expelled a senior Israeli diplomat involved in the issue. There is popular support for expulsion.

And on Australian TV today, videos of Israeli military storming the convoy boat received front-page treatment. It is on the front-page of the online version of the New York Times and Financial Times. I wonder what this morning dead tree editions will look like.

The result from the attack on the convoy simply cannot be good for Israel. There is already inertia against Israel. The attack adds more momentum in the wrong direction for Israel.

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Conflict & disaster Liberty Politics & government Society

[2001] Of Obama in Cairo:best parts

I am watching President Obama’s speech in Cairo live right now, with his prepared text on screen. This is the best part so far for me:

For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers — for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel’s founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security. [Obama’s Speech in Cairo. Barack Obama. Washington Wire. June 4 2009]

Great to be able to watch the speech online, live:

Public domain

Another great part:

There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments — provided they govern with respect for all their people.

This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.

Next:

I know there are many — Muslim and non-Muslim — who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn’t worth the effort — that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country — you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.

Near the end:

It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion — that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples — a belief that isn’t new; that isn’t black or white or brown; that isn’t Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It’s a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It’s a faith in other people, and it’s what brought me here today

Categories
Kitchen sink

[1873] Of Hishammuddin Rais is my hero!

Watch Astro Awani now!

Yes, Hishammuddin Rais is on TV pawning the BN MP for Pasir Salak!

Categories
Conflict & disaster

[1871] Of there is no angel or demon

Relationship between Israel and Palestine has to be one of the most enduring conflicts of our time. Not one year has passed since I first learned of the conflict without the announcement of a death linked to it. The countless deaths and the dead end of this vicious cycle of hostility repeats itself over and over again, and I am numb. As I read of others taking sides in the conflict, I can only sigh and question, ”Where is the wisdom in all of this?”

There is something almost juvenile about this whole business of taking sides. Many are more interested in pointing out who started the quarrel first when in fact, who started what first is a matter lost in time.

Those supportive of the Israeli attack and invasion on Gaza insist that Hamas had been hammering Israel with rockets, hence threatening the lives of Israelis. Sympathizers of Hamas in return point out that Israel had closed the border surrounding the Gaza Strip to create a humanitarian crisis as supplies ranging from food to medicine run short. In a counterpoint of a counterpoint, the Israeli government stated that Hamas was smuggling weapons into Gaza to strengthen itself.

There is yet another counterpoint to the counterpoint of a counterpoint. In the effort to reach the ultimate counterpoint, I would not be surprised if the argument went beyond the time when Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon first sacked Jerusalem more than two and a half millennia ago, just to prove who first owned that piece of coveted land.

While all the points raised are useful in understanding the conflict better, those who participate in the debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are so engrossed in searching other’s faults that they fail to realize that there are faults on both sides. The saddest part of all, neither side is willing to admit their side’s capability of atrocity and the other side’s capability of goodness.

Sympathizers of Hamas or perhaps Palestine as whole are quick to highlight the unfairness of the current conflict by stating Israel has suffered only one-digit casualties altogether while the Palestinian count lies in the three-digit range. Some juxtapose Hamas’s rudimentary equipment like Qassam rockets against Israel’s modern arsenal which includes the Merkava armored vehicles, F-16 jet fighters and Apache helicopters.

If it escapes anybody, Qassams, Merkavas, F-16 and Apaches all kill. Would it comfort you to be killed by a Qassam rocket instead of a shell fired by a Merkava?

Death is still death. What’s in a name?

The truth is, who is more wrong is a hopeless debate which does nothing to solve the conflict. The solution lies not in playing the game of war of attrition. On the contrary, both sides need to refrain from provoking each other. Both sides need to become more trustful of each other.

I do not pretend that this is easy to do especially when history builds reputation and the reputations of both sides in the past have proven to be far from being impeccable. Shakespeare wrote in The Merchant of Venice, ”If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”

Yet, there is hope in building that elusive bridge.

Hamas, for instance, managed to largely kept its word in maintaining a six-month truce. Israel meanwhile unilaterally withdrew from Gaza and evicted Israelis from settlements deemed illegal. There are other examples.

Then again, this is an easy thing to say for a person sitting behind a desk typing on his laptop with little risk of bullets finding their way to him. If I were standing in a street in Gaza right now, I would sooner be shot dead than be heard there. The desperate shout for peace could easily be drowned by the sounds of flying bullets and missiles and falling bombs.

Whatever happens in Gaza today, I am here and the least I can do is not to compound the problem. The least I can do is to realize both are at fault. The least I can do is to show how there is no angel or demon here. There are only us humans.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This article was first published in The Malaysian Insider on January 6 2009.