Wider Implications of Real Peace

Submitted by Dave, May 20, 2017 at 21:20

Should the day arrive when Israel is truly accepted by her neighbors, the entire region will be transformed, way beyond the confines of Israel and Palestine. The present balkanized mess of antagonistic countries, a nuclear arms race with Iran and internal civil wars featuring ghoulish Islamist monsters will be replaced by a far more open and interconnected region characterized by security, religious pluralism, civil rights, the free movement of people and goods, a protective regional government and an end to foreign interventions.

That's because the root cause of the Israeli-Arab conflict is but a symptom that finds its source in the same sort of poisonous intolerance and religious supremacism that has torn apart the entire region and oppressed its people. It's a vast problem that can only be solved by a broad shift in cultural memes, especially as they relate to religion and human rights.

Since Muslims are by far the largest group by geographic weight, they must lead the way for positive change; the small Jewish minority is almost irrelevant. And when will that happen? Don't hold your breath.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".