Osman Pashayev: Israel and the Arab Paradox

Key Takeaways from the Israel Discussion

1. The Arab nations have the right to self-determine by creating up to 20 states across an expansive 14 million square kilometers. In contrast, the Jewish people can't have only one state encompassing less than 30k square kilometers.

2. Despite a population of 200 million Arabs, the outcome has been the establishment of either 6 wealthy despotic regimes or 15 failing states. In the first case, an excessive amount of oil wealth allows emirs, kings, and sultans to enjoy opulence while providing for the basic needs of the Bedouin population. In the second, 90% of the population struggles in poverty, and the fate of the remaining 10% hinges on the whims of dictators, that can be overthrown in bloody coups only. In stark contrast, Israel operates as a functioning democracy akin to Western European nations. Given the choice, a significant portion of the Arab population would prefer to live in Israel rather than in their own "anti-Zionist jamahiriyas."

3. Despite claims of Muslim or Arab solidarity, there is a noticeable absence of support for millions of refugees from Syria, Iraq, or Yemen in the wealthy Gulf countries. These refugees are simply not allowed to enter these prosperous nations. Solidarity often seems limited to social media or controlled rallies in underdeveloped societies, typically marked by the burning of the Israeli flag.

Therefore, it's unlikely that we will persuade each other to change our perspectives. Your support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and similar groups reveals more about yourself than I'd like to actually know.