The Middle East For Dummies

Jordan followed suit in 1994, becoming the second Arab nation to establish peace. The 1990s and early 21st century continue to show other encouraging signs.

Egypt normalized ties with Israel in 1979.

But even these opponents cite the despair that led to this attack, and often quickly follow their denouncement with a blanket criticism of Israeli oppression (see Chapter 8).

Approaching the Fire with a Cool Head

Other Muslims have denounced the suicide element or the civilian casualties component (or both) of suicide bombings as inhumane or un-Islamic.

Because Palestinians are restricted with limited funds and an inability to mobilize and train forces in the Occupied Territories, they have relied on suicide bombings as the weapon of choice.

Israel has the technology, an advanced air force, and a whole array of modern weapons including air gunships, tanks, rocket launchers, armored vehicles, and well-trained soldiers dressed in IDF uniforms. Palestine has only armed militants and suicide bombers, dressed in everyday clothes

Israel and Palestine are at war. The sooner the West accepts this war, the easier the West can understand the struggle. You can’t let all this talk of peace efforts cloud the fact that all the players in this conflict recognize the value of using violence to achieve certain goals, even if the ultimate goal is peace.

When I asked about what I had seen, an Arab explained to me that I’d witnessed maskhara,or a farce or joke.B