Since 1948, we Arabs have been taught that all we need to do is get rid of the Jewish state, and everything else will go well after that. Our dictators took full advantage of this idea. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser locked up and executed his opposition members using his famous excuse: "No voices are to be allowed except for those for the war with Israel." Iraqi President Saddam Hussein adopted the Palestinian flag and had it printed, distributed and flown alongside his own flag, and even said, "Palestine and Iraq share the same identical cause." In short, we Arabs have put 70 years of our existence on hold while awaiting that "glorious day" when we defeat Israel and "feed the Jews to the fish."
But that day did not come, nor does it seem to be coming, as Jordanian opposition figure Emad Tarifi once told me: "It seems the fish in the sea are not betting on us feeding them Jews."
While Israel made 10 new breakthroughs in cancer and cardiac treatments in the last two years alone, we Arabs developed new execution methods.
In addition, we Arabs have given our dictators carte blanche to impoverish, terrorize, oppress and destroy us all in the name of "the great Arab struggle to end the Zionist entity." The outcome of this has been clear: While Israel made 10 new breakthroughs in cancer and cardiac treatments in the last two years alone, we Arabs developed new execution methods. The latest is death by drowning in a cage, as shown in an Islamic State group video two weeks ago.
We Arabs have wasted seven decades of our existence awaiting Israel's demise. It is time to think of the future, and whether Israel's "disappearance" should be our ultimate wish.
Being the son of two Palestinian-Jordanian refugees, I find myself inclined to fear for the future. Regardless of my stance toward Israel, I have to think: What would happen if, one day, Israel were to disappear? While it does not seem feasible, it is the day around which entire Arab political, social and economic systems revolve.
It is not only Arabs who want Israel gone. There are others who seek the same, for example anti-Semites in the West. Just last week, neo-Nazis marched in London with swastikas and the Palestinian flag. The organizer of the march claimed it was a protest "by all of those who have suffered because of Israel." There are groups calling for a boycott of Israel "for the sake of the Palestinian people." There are countries whose entire foreign policy seems to revolve around opposition to Israel. We Palestinians might have believed that these groups and countries actually care about us, but they take no interest in the fate of the 150,000 Palestinians being starved to death in Syria's Yarmouk refugee camp, nor in an estimated 5.8 million Palestinians in Jordan (as indicated by a U.S. Embassy cable) who live as second-class citizens and are banned from government jobs and any form of state benefits while paying full taxes.
If these Israel-haters got their wish to see Israel disappear, what would happen?
First, Israel is the only reason Iran does not yet have nuclear weapons. Iran could buy the technology to produce them, or could learn it quickly the way Pakistan did. Why has Iran been slow in doing so? Because it learned a lesson from the experience of Saddam's Osirak reactor, which Israeli jets reduced to rubble in 1981.
Then, almost everyone, including George H. W. Bush who was vice president of the United States at that time, was furious with Israel's move. But 10 years later, when the U.S. fought to liberate Kuwait, the situation would have been totally different if Saddam had kept his nuclear program – and the only reason he did not was Israel.
Further, Iran already controls at least a third of Iraq and its resources through a pro-Iranian regime. If Israel were to disappear, Iran would extend its influence into Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain the next day, as it would not have to fear an Israeli reaction. Iran could then bring the world to its knees by reducing oil production.
Iran is not the only evil power in the Middle East: We also have Islamic State, which has now spread across Iraq, Syria, Sinai and Libya, with clear ambitions to enter Jordan. Islamic State has not entered Jordan yet, and this is not because of any fear of the Jordanian army. After all, the Global Firepower website ranks Jordan's army at the same level as the Iraqi army, which Islamic State has defeated many times. Islamic State does not dare enter Jordan for one reason only – its fear that Israeli jets would catch up with it 15 minutes later.
If Israel were to disappear and be replaced by a Palestinian state, the Palestinians would most likely end up with another Arab dictatorship that oppresses them and reduces them to poverty. We have partially seen that with the Palestinian Authority and the "liberated" areas it rules. I regularly visit the West Bank and have interviewed scores of Palestinians there. I can confirm that, as much as they hate Israel, they still openly yearn for the days when it administered the West Bank. As one Palestinian told me, "We prayed to God to give us mercy and rid us of Israel; later, we found out that God had given us mercy when Israel was here."
To those Arabs, Muslims, Westerners and others insisting that Israel must be erased from face of the planet, I say: Don't bet on it, as Israel is becoming stronger every day through its democracy and innovation, while Arab countries are getting weaker through dictatorship and chaos. And be careful what you wish for, because if you were to get it, you too would most likely disappear, unless you yearn to be ruled by Iran or Islamic State.
In short, if the day were to come when Israel falls, Jordan, Egypt and many others would fall, too, and Westerners would be begging Iran for oil.
We can hate Israel as much as we like, but we must realize that without it, we too would be gone.
(12) jackpot, July 18, 2015 6:52 PM
Arabs in Israel
Rarely is it reported that the Arabs living in Israel have the same rights and freedoms as any other Israeli citizen, even serving their constituents in the Knesset, They have a higher standard of living and greater protections. but, having said that, even these Arabs, by a large margin, "hate the Jews". Why? And Israel is not the real answer. Blatent Jew hatred, as far back as supporting Hitler and Mohamed himself is the answer. Peace, maybe when the 'Palestinian" people realize their State is called Jordan..........
(11) Sylvester, July 15, 2015 10:59 AM
ISRAEL IS AND WILL BE PRESERVED
God has in his mercies replanted Israel since 1948. No man or nation can ever again uproot her, though they try.
(10) Reuben Hart, July 15, 2015 4:20 AM
Article brings hope.
If this author gets it, it's to be hoped that other Arabs will too one day. But most of them aren't this bright. They still spout the anti- Israel party line.
(9) H.E.Brown, July 14, 2015 4:30 PM
Israel
It will never happen. God will see to it that it doesn't happen.
(8) jacques villeneuve, July 13, 2015 1:38 PM
An Arab's Objective point of view!
The main character traits of a Jew and liked minded people is:
LOVE, TRUTH, JUSTICE AND ACTION!
HATE, LIES, TYRANNY, LEADS TO HOPELESSNESS, DESPAIR AND SUICIDE!
(7) Anonymous, July 13, 2015 3:08 AM
The Day After
Israel's disappearance would be the day a horrendous civil war would break out amongst those Arabs who call themselves "Palestinians".It would be similar to the one now devastating Syria.Not much hope for peace-no matter what happens.
(6) Rafael, July 13, 2015 1:36 AM
Israel as a free country
Equal rights for all Israelis from all denominations would do the trick . israel is remenicent of White ruled South Africa . No one liked South Africa either . Israel is primarily run by the Askinaze with a religious and racial bias . I am aware the nation was created for that purpose however countries evolve and change to survive . Israel needs non Jewish voices from within to speak on its behalf .
Shlomo, July 13, 2015 8:56 AM
Another Writer Living in Fantasy Land and Slandering Israel
There is absolutely no comparison between Israel and South Africa. All Israeli citizens are allowed to vote and go any where they wish. Sephardi, Askenazi, non-Jewish. There are no Ashkenazi only parts of Israel. The only exceptions to where people can go is actually directed at Jews who are not allowed to go up on Temple Mountain and other religious and historic sites except in small numbers at specific times. There are Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and non-Jews involved in all levels of the government and society. Please stop smoking crack, and if you can't at least keep your ignorance and/or lies to yourself.
(5) Moshe, July 12, 2015 7:45 PM
The author obviously is not totally honest or just simply lacks basic education.
He refers to the mixed Muslim mob living in Israel and Jordan as "Palestinians", while, if we wanted to accept this title, the word Palestinian would rather mean the Jewish people, since in 1920 and earlier "Palestine" was named as the national homeland of the Jewish (and not the mixed Muslim) people.
He is totally wrong in his prediction, too. History teaches us that Muslims never felt any connection with former Israel and Judea. The only time they were interested in it when Christians, or as of now, Jews ruled it.
Thus, while it is possible that some stronger Arab countries would fly at each others throat over the Land of Israel, the end result would be the same: The removal of nearly all Muslim people from the area, to make sure it is underdeveloped and no one wants it.
And that of course after the Muslims fed the Jews to the fish.
Dvirah, July 14, 2015 4:15 PM
Not Quite Accurate
While Arabs have no real emotional connection to the area, remember that the Israeli landmass is the bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe, and therefore was always valued as a commercial route for traders. Even in these days of airtravel, this position has value.
Furthermore, greedy rulers always want to control as much land as possible, regardless of its actual value. This in itself is motive for fighting over who gets the area.
(4) John, July 12, 2015 7:34 PM
The OBVIOUS!
I've been writing about this very subject for more than 2 decades now on various blogs and editorial online sites. The demise of Israel will result in only one outcome. There will be a free-for-all for the land with many Middle East "tribes" fighting it out for the territory that once was Israel.
We will have by then gotten out as many Israelis as possible before the final destruction of course. BUT, as a Christian, I don't believe in Israel's demise. I believe with all my heart the Creator of all the universe will make his presence known to the enemies of Israel and her allies, and then destroy them all once and for all.
(3) nishant verma, July 12, 2015 7:09 PM
ISAEL IS FOREVER
Israel will NEVER disappear but nations have in past and will in future...all jew hating nations...is history is looked upon, one can see pharaoh, haaman, hitler etc....just to name a few...it's easier todestroy sun and moon and pluck the stars than wipe off Israel off the map...Israel is God's chosen and arab terrorists and leftists ''SECRETLY'' acknowledge this but have toooooooo much ego to admit it and risk losing face...the wars of 1948, 1967, 1973 and even the continuing wars by media, progressive leftists, western liberals etc.. have not been able to stop the jewish state and will never be able to...The God of Israel is God of heaven and earth and will defend and protect His firstborn....sounds too radical but is very true...shalom
(2) Anonymous, July 12, 2015 6:59 PM
Insightful
Make this an op-ed in major newspapers. Well done!
(1) Iraina, July 12, 2015 6:46 PM
It is unfortunate that...
the author still cannot bring himself to say he loves Israel and rather resorts to saying, "We can hate Israel all we want...." I agree with his points but he is also a self-serving opportunist who is no friend to anyone. If the Arabs ever became strong enough to function and defend themselves without Israel, he would be clamoring to destroy Israel and take the land that they know does not belong to them.