Peace and Conflict in the Middle East Final

INTS 240 - 01: Peace and Conflict in the Middle East

normalization definition

full recognition of sovereignty, full diplomatic, security, economic ties between two states

old policy position of Arab states

would normalize relations with Israel in return for a Palestinian state

Arab states with formal normalized relations with Israel

Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco

why are states normalizing with Israel>

Israel has become an economic and security powerhouse

Arab states benefit from trade, tourism, security, and sports competition

what does the Saudi-Israel normalization look like?

some informal ties, but strong security and intelligence sharing

normalization as a cause of the Hamas attacks

stop the normalization process between the coutries because that would mean Israel would have no incentive to give a Palestinian state

who is part of the axis of resistance? (5)

Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria, Houthis in Yemen

5 things Trump’s administration did towards Israel

recognized Israel’s claim to all of Jerusalem and Golan Heights, moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, approved of settlements, cut aid to Palestinians, shut down the PLO offices in DC, support normalization between Arab states and Israel

genocide definition

crime against humanity in international law under Genocide Convention

ethnic cleansing

explosion of a group from a certain area

is ethnic cleansing defined in international law nor considered a crime under international law?

no

five acts that constitute genocide IF done with the INTENT to destroy an ethnic, national, racial, or religious group

1. killing members of the group

2. causing serious bodily or mental harm

3. deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction in whole or in part

4. imposing erasures intended to prevent births

5. forcibly transferring children

lobby definition

coalition of individuals and organizations that actively pursue a policy; attempt to influence policy

main actors of the Israel lobby (2)

Jewish Americans, Evangelical Christians

Israel lobby definition

coalition of individuals and organizations that actively pursue a pro-Israel, anti-Palestine, anti-Iran foreign policy

lobbying strategies utilized by the Israel lobby (2)

financial contributions, influence public perceptions

lobbying strategies: financial contributions

Affiliated individuals and companies with the lobby donate to candidates running for political office

lobbying strategies: influence public perception

use their influence to promote Israel bias in all these industries and take punitive action against actors that don’t support their agenda

use of antisemitism smear

accuse anyone of criticizing of Israeli government or take a pro-Palestinian status as antisemitic

6 ways the Israel lobby has been a success

1. US prioritizes Israel’s success over its own

2. Almost 4 billion dollars in annual aid to Israel

3. Complete diplomatic cover

4. Additional aid/advising/support in wartime

5. Moved embassy to Jerusalem

6. Settlements as not illegal

ICJ’s ruling on the separation wall

wall is in violation of international law, and that Israel must dismantle the portions that cut into the West Bank

Palestinian historical case for a state

Palestinians were living in Palestine uninterrupted since earliest civilization in Palestine

Palestine legal case for a state (8)

1. Mandate for Palestine (legal document): internationally recognized agreement for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and a Jewish state, temporarily under the administration of Britain

2. Resolution 181 (General Assembly)

3. Resolution 242 (security council)

4. Resolution 1397 (Security Council)

5. Resolution 1515 (Security Council)

6. Oslo Accords: agreement signed by Israel and PA; reaffirmed by security council

7. ICJ ruling on illegality of Israeli occupation, settlements, and wall assume the Palestinian right to a state

8. UN GA and SC resolutions affirm illegality of Israeli occupation and assume the Palestinian right to a state

Israel’s options of how to handle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (3)

2 state solution, Greater Israel, indefinite occupation with de-facto annexation

Islamism defintion

contemporary political ideology that is anti-West in orientation and exploits Islam to justify its agenda

when was Islamism created?

20th century

is Islamism a reactionary political ideology?

yes

what was the cause that led to the creation of political Islam?

European influence and colonization in Muslim world after WWI

2 types of Islamist groups

domestic Islamist groups, transnational Islamist groups

domestic Islamist groups focus

politics within state, some domestic objective

do DIGs or TNIGs have popularity within the local population?

DIGs

2 examples of DIGs

Hamas, Hezbollah

Hamas objective

resistance to Israeli Occupation and the creation of Palestinian state; power in Palestine

Hezbollah objective

resistance to Israel, liberate the Shebaa farms

transnational Islamist groups focus

Eliminating western influence in the MENA: targeting pro-West actors and the west directly

2 examples of TNIGs

Al Qaeda, ISIS

are DIGs or TNIGs extremely unpopular?

TNIGs

what is the underlying theme of the contemporary grievances from TNIGs against the US?

US foreign policy

4 examples of the contemporary grievances from TNIGs against the US?

1. Unconditional support towards Israel

2. US military presence in MENA

3. US military interventions in war

4. US backing (alliances) of authoritarian, pro-West governments

Islam definition

Abrahamic religion that both, theologically and historically, advocates for coexistence and protection of religious minorities

political Islam definition

advocates for separation from the West; in many cases resorts to violence

what does political Islam due with Islamic concepts?

exploits them by giving them new, ahistorical meanings to support their agendas

example of protection of religious minorities in Islam and Islamic history

coexistence of Abrahamic religions living together with religious freedom in Jerusalem, Jews seeking refuge in the Middle East during the catholic Inquisitions, religious communities living with autonomy during the Ottoman empire

jihad in Islam

spiritual struggle against one’s weaknesses

jihad in Islamism

use of violence to achieve goals

Iraq sects demographics

shi’a majority, sunni minority, christian minority

Iraq ethnic demographics

arab majority, kurdish minority

what was Iraq like under Saddam?

led the secular-socialist Baath party which favored Sunnis; oppression and marginalization of shia and kurds

who led the 2003 Iraq war invasion?

US

what was the story used to lead to the invasion of Iraq?

remove weapons of mass destruction that Saddam has

what was the transitional government called after the 2003 Iraq war?

Coalition of Provisional Authority

de-Baathification of Iraq

removal of all Baathists (mostly Sunnis) from state positions and the public sector

what did the 2003 invasion of Iraq dissolute?

military, police, intel

how US post-Iraq policies enabled the creation of ISIS

Post-invasion → formation of Al-Qaeda in Iraq → name change: Islamic State of Iraq 2006 → expansion into Syria, name change: Islamist State of Iraq and Syria 2013

terrorism definition

use of violence against civilians or political figures by a non-state actor to achieve political goals

transnational terrorism definition

terrorist activity carried out by groups that operate beyond the boundaries of a single state 

Islamist transnational terrorist groups definition

 adhere to Political Islam ideology 

ISIS goals (6)

1. Overthrow secular governments in Iraq and Syria and create a “caliphate” or Islamic Empire

2. Under the dictatorial rule of self-proclaimed leader al-Baghdadi

3. Under their exploitative and completely corrupted interpretation of Islam

4. Attack Western targets (military bases/troops)

5. Attack Western governments and people

6. Attack MENA people not supporting ISIS

ISIS objective today

destabilize MENA governments through car bombings, assassination, kidnapping, guerilla warfare

operation inherent resolve definition

US-led military campaign against ISIS which began in 2014 – ongoing; US declared victory against ISIS in 2019

when did operation inherent resolve start?

2014

ISIS main targets today

civilians, western bases and troops,

losers of the 2003 US invasion (2)

Sunnis, Baathists

winners of the 2004 US invasion (2)

Shia, Kurds

2 types of conflict

interstate and intrastate

interstate conflict definition

between states

example of interstate conflict

Iran-Saudi regional conflict

intrastate conflict definition

within states, civil conflict

examples of intrastate conflict

Iraq, Yemen, Syria

sectarian conflict definition

tension and/or outbreak of violence between different sects/ethnic groups or states

proxy war(fare) definition

war/conflict either instigated or made worse by states that are not directly involved in the conflict

2 assumptions of international relations

1. States seek to maintain survival and security at a minimum

2. States seek to expand power and influence within the region and the world

reasons for heightened sectarian conflict between Saudi and Iran

1. Iran has grown as a regional power, causing them to compete for dominance in the region

2. increased internal state instability and chaos within states after Arab spring

why is there sectarian conflict between Iran and Saudi in the first place?

political motivation and clashing sectarian identities

how is the conflict between Iran and Saudi sectarian?

Saudi is extreme Sunni and Iran is extreme Shia

Syria proxy war explanation

fighting between Assad regime, in power, which is supported by Iran and Shia militant groups and the Sunni militant groups which are supported by the Saudis

who does Iran support in the proxy wars?

Assad regime

who does Saudi support in the proxy wars?

Sunni militant groups

2023 Iran-Saudi Restoration of Relations

conflict still remains, but slight de-escalation due to restored diplomatic ties which were brokered. by China because both states were experiencing high economic costs of the proxy wars

In his resignation letter to the UN, Mokihber writes “what Israel is doing not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank and E. Jerusalem is a textbook case of genocide.”  How does he defend this argument in his interview?

He states he is getting his definition from the UN Convention of Genocide and from that definition, each element is evident in the case for Palestine. Although intent is often hard to prove, in this case it has been explicitly stated by many leaders in Israel there want for the destruction of Palestine and lives of their people. He gives example of one of the acts of genocide shown by the Israeli government is preventing Palestinian people from living dignified lives through bombardment and the open-air prison of Gaza.

Mokhiber argues that countries that are party (contracting members) to the Geneva Conventions (the bulk of International Humanitarian Law) have a responsibility to ensure that other countries that they have influence over respect the rules of the Geneva Conventions. He then posits that countries like the U.S, U.K. and other European countries who are supporting Israel are not only in breach of their responsibility to use their influence over Israel to ensure that it does not violate the rules, but even more that these countries are actually also in violation because they are enabling Israel to commit war crimes.  Give three examples that he identifies that amount to these countries also being in violation of the Geneva Conventions.  

Three examples of these countries being in violation of the Geneva Convention include arming Israel, giving economic support, and providing diplomatic cover like vetoing a humanitarian ceasefire in the Security Council.

According to Mokhiber, why has the two-state solution become an “open joke” in the UN, even though it remains the official position of the UN?

He gives two reasons. The first being there is nothing left for a Palestinian state that would be sustainable. The second reason is that the solution does not address the human rights of Palestinians.

Mokhiber argues that the international community “lost its way” with resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict when the Oslo Peace Process began.  What happened then?  Hint: it has to do with the international community subverting international law for something. Explain what happened.

He states that “international law and international standards became subverted to notions of political expediency.” Essentially, the rules and guidelines set by international law and global standards were manipulated or undermined in favor of what was politically convenient at the time. There is the colonizer and the colonized power balance gave Israel a leg up in this process.

Why is Mokihiber’s only hope for an end to the Conflict in civil society?

He hopes that the conversation about the conflict will expand out from how it is currently talked about. He wishes the UN to take a principled approach to this matter and shake loose from the failed paradigm, as he calls it.

What is the first step to genocide according to Mokhiber?

The first step is dehumanization.