Quote of the Day: Why No Peace in the Middle East-An Explanation

Everyday, the news media reports on the terrible war in Gaza, frequently failing to mention

how it started and neglecting to mention the innocent Israeli hostages who have been

kidnaped and held in tunnels in horrific conditions for almost two years. Emmanuel Macron

and Keir Starmer, leaders of France and the United Kingdom respectively, have announced

their intention to recognize a Palestinian state in the next month unless Israel bends to their

will. Approximately 140 members of the United Nations have already recognized Palestine

as the insistence for a two state solution grows. An earlier post on this blog demonstrated

that a two state solution is nothing but a formula for perpetual war (Nov.27, 2024). The reader

is referred to that post. Today's quote is from the nineteenth century but is very instructive.

" All we have now is people's war, and any prudent government will hesitate

to bring about a war of this nature with all its incalculable consequences,,,

Gentlemen, it may be a war of seven years or thirty years duration.."

General Helmuth von Moltke the elder to the Reichstag, 1890

Moltke was referring to the end of the age of "cabinet" wars for limited ends. We may infer that Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the PLO, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram and others of this ilk

represent the so called "Arab Street" that sopisticated western diplomats fret about. Their

actions are not prudent and what reactions their actions lead to is unpredictable to all

except the all knowing college teenagers and their unfulfilled college mentors.

Let us review what has happened to Arab leaders who even contemplated making peace

with Israel.

Husni al- Za'im- President of Syria, Overthrown and executed August 14, 1949

Abdullah I-King of Jordan. Assassinated in Jerusalem at the Al Aqsa Mosque July 20, 1951

Anwar El-Sadat-President of Egypt. Assassinated October 6, 1981

Bashir Gemayel-President-elect of Lebanon. Assassinated September 14, 1982

Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt-all have common borders with Israel and are classified as

"front line states". While Jordan and Egypt have made "peace" with Israel, however cold

that peace may be, Lebanon and Syria remain belligerents. The "Arab Street" still rules.

No one can deny that the Middle East can prosper and that peace offers a better life to

all; Macron and Starmer would do well to not be influenced by the various media and

the demonstrating mobs howling for ultimately perpetual wars. They have an opportunity

to behave as statesmen, but are missing the one time opportunity they have. The UN and the

leading powers have never permitted a resolution of the Middle East dispute as it suited

them to let it continue and fester. Will they finally act responsibly?

Moltke's quote remains relevant and is worthy of consideratiion.

Garry S. Sklar

Guttenberg, NJ

August 7, 2025