Reflecting on the Palestine-Israel Conflict: Challenges, Complexities, and Lessons

Emotions and sympathy run high when discussing the unresolved 70-year Palestine conflict, and understandably so. However, 70 years of modern history involving land annexation, ethnic cleansing, the world’s largest open-air prison, apartheid, and genocide present a profound challenge in finding practical and acceptable solutions.

Global Resolutions, Local Realities

The international community has made numerous attempts to address this conflict through the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), passing countless resolutions. Yet, these efforts remain far from resolving the underlying issues. Recent verdicts from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) further illustrate the complexity, revealing that these are not straightforward processes with simple judgments.

Understanding Beyond Superficial Opinions

A major question arises: We talk so much about the conflict, but how deeply do we truly understand the reality on the ground, the issues, and the complexities? It’s important not to treat this like the local politicking conflicts of UMNO vs PAS, where everyone seems to be an expert in giving opinions, criticisms, and pointing fingers. Worse still, we must avoid politicizing the Palestine issue for party political mileage, using the crisis for political gain rather than offering genuine, honest help to Palestinian suffering.

The Importance of Informed Discourse

Following global news daily on the Israel/US-Palestine conflict since October 7 and prior on the Ukraine/US-Russia war, one sees the intersection of global economic, financial, and trade crises. I enjoy the mental exercise of:

• Problem analysis
• Strategic solutions

The Strategic Nature of War

War is, in many ways, the ultimate strategic game of survival:

• Military battles end wars with clear winners or losers.
• Economies and businesses fight perpetual battles in an unending war.
• In nature, survival games often favor the fittest, not necessarily the strongest.

Analyzing Global Commentaries

There are countless daily commentaries from world-class institutions, experts, and seasoned professionals on foreign policies, wars, and strategies. Similarly, there are many insights on economic, business, trade, finance, and technologies from experts, researchers, and analysts. Understanding the weaponization of economics, trade, and finance—such as sanctions and embargoes on Russia, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, Angola, and Cuba—is crucial.

Shifts in Global Power Dynamics

Significant shifts are occurring, such as:

• The rise of the BRICS bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), which now surpasses the G7 in GDP.
• Economic crises in Argentina and Turkey, marked by high inflation and debt issues.
• Trade wars between the US, EU, Canada, and China.
• Predictions that China will soon surpass the US as the world’s largest economy.
• The dedollarization trend and the impact of the US’s $34 trillion debt.
• The selling of US bonds by China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and others.
• Potential triggers for a global recession.

Political and Military Alliances

On the political front, we see new elections in key countries like the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine, Israel, and the US. Militarily, strategic alliances are forming:

• US, NATO, and allies including Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia.
• The opposing bloc of Russia, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Iran.
• Turkey’s mixed alignment between East and West.
• Countries like Spain, Ireland, and Norway recognizing the Palestinian state.

The Fall of Hegemonies

Commentaries frequently highlight the declining hegemony of the US and the struggles of Israel on multiple fronts. Israel’s intention to escalate the war and draw the US into the conflict contrasts with the US’s resistance and its coordination with Arab countries, including Iran.

Lessons for Malaysians

To Malaysians: open your eyes and minds to the global stage. Move beyond the mindset of politicking and local heroics, such as the UMNO vs PAS infighting. The world stage is far more complex than Malay political party conflicts and racism. Understand the major issues and complexities involving global politics, military strategies, religion, economics, business, trade and finance, the new world order, the rise and fall of civilizations, economies and powers, and nuclear threats.

In Summary

The best way to help is through genuine understanding and informed actions. If you wish to contribute meaningfully, study the world players and audiences first. Avoid outdated and irrelevant ideas and suggestions, and recognise Malaysia’s small role in the global economy. Understanding and awareness are crucial in thought and action.