Status Quo Vadis?

Times have changed and the status quo is fragmenting. Turkish-inspired flotilla was the first spell of breeze for starving and caged people of Palestine. Israel was quick to send commandos and kill eight unarmed Turks and one American citizen. One year down the road, the aggressor preferred not to apologize, even at the cost of its relations with the leading friend from the Muslim world.

Now Israel has asserted its ‘authority’ over Egyptian sovereignty, disregarding the international law to claim the lives of twoborder guards. Yes, Tel Aviv did it again, with no remorse. Following night long protests outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Egyptians have pressurized their government enough to withdraw their ambassador in Tel Aviv, a move impossible during the ousted regime of Hosni Mobarak.

For an entity snubbed by 36 member states of the United Nations, losing support of important Muslim nations such like Turkey and Egypt speaks volumes about Israeli care for others’ sovereignty and respect for international law. Leaders and military commanders do err but extending sincere apologies rarely has been as egoistic as has been the case after flotilla killings.

Assailants’ attack on the Israeli bus does not go without condemnation. However, use of gunship helicopters and fighter jets against unidentified criminals becomes a bigger violation of human rights. The interimgovernment in Egypt has taken only the first step so far. The protestors are demanding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Cairo and severing of relations with Tel Aviv. Turkey remains one of the countries in the region but Egypt is a neighboring country with Israel as well as with the West Bank.

The recent string of four events in Israel and ensuing typically unilateral aggression is a wake up call for the Jewish state itself. Nuclear-armed Israel may soon see Syria and Jordan falling to the people, thus fresh questions of legitimacy cropping up.

What happens in the Middle East does have implications for Palestinians and their sentiments for freedom. The role of Egypt and Turkey for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas is only the starting point of future trends. Instead of speaking through its military hardware, Tel Aviv would haveto exercise greater restraint for regional peace. Now is the time to address the core issues and share a table for negotiations with the Palestinian leadership. More attacks of the F-16s or Apache gunships may cause unforeseen lethal consequences not only for Israel but also the world at large.

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