The Middle-East Crises – Can there ever be a truce?
The Middle-East crises did not start with September 11, 2001. It started some decades before and the current violent trend started after the Second World War when the geographical area referred to as “Palestinian land” (modern day Jordan, Syria, Saudi-Arabia, and Israel) was divided by the British and the United Nations. Also many Arab countries moved to secular moral postures after gaining political independence from European colonial masters and many sects (Wahabism in Saudi Arabia, Moslem Brotherhood in Egypt among many) rose to challenge the secularization of Islam.
Many Arab countries have had to fight the growing discontent among their citizens for many years. September 11, 2001 was a boil over of frustration in the middle-east and the United States of America being seen as the great Devil influencing the moderate or liberal Arab states from the true practice of Islam, exporting lose morals and supporting the state of Israel,
Genesis
God promised Abraham at age 75 that he was going to make him the father of many nations, at this time Abraham’s only wife Sarah was 65 years old. Ten years later after the promise, Sarah approached her husband about helping God out because God was becoming late on His promise. As it was the culture in their day she gave her husband her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar to be a surrogate mother. This arrangement went well until Hagar started to act differently to her boss because she was now pregnant.
In Biblical account, Sarah convinced her husband Abraham to send Hagar away. Hagar left with her heavy pregnancy and was met by an angel in Beer Lahai Roi, who prophesied the following to her “you are now with a child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers”
Sarah eventually had her own child named Isaac, after which she convinced her husband again to send Hagar and Ishmael away for the second time. Abraham did it reluctantly. Ishmael and Isaac were brothers. Ishmael is said to be the father of the Arabs, while Isaac (and his descendants through Israel or Jacob) is the father of the Jews. Jews and Christians believe that the son Abraham almost sacrificed was Isaac, while Moslems believe that son was Ishmael.
The seed of hostility was sown this far back between this two brothers before both of them could even count 123 or say their ABCs.
The Jews
A true Jew is a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and he/she serves only God – Yaweh. A Jew believes in the Law of Moses given to the Israelites through Moses after leaving Egypt following 400 years of slavery. Those laws (and other prophetic pronunciations) and the history of Israel as a nation now constitute what is called the Torah. A gentile (non-Jew) can convert to Judaism but that does not make such a person a Jew. The Laws of Moses believes in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, meaning their “must” be vengeance for an evil act committed (Read the books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus in the Bible for a breakdown of the Law of Moses).
When God chose the Jews as His people (Sovereignly) through Abraham, He made several promises to him (read the covenant in Genesis 15), but significantly is the real estate promise that God made to Abraham, Genesis 15: 18-21 “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham and said, to your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great, the Euphrates (in current Iraq)” many scholars believe this is a promise yet to be fulfilled and God being one to count His word more than His name will fulfill this promise He made to Abraham after the rapture and 7 years of tribulation. Another major promise of God to His people the Jew is that regardless of what they go through His hands will always be on them and they cannot be made extinct or wiped out (read Jeremiah 31 particularly verse 36).
The history of Israel as a nation points to the facts that a Messiah would come and save them from their misery, many scholars believe that every book in the Old Testament portion of the Bible and the Torah predicted something about the Messiah. Daniel in a vision that God gave him (Daniel chapters 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12), gave a prediction of what would happen to Israel as a nation, how they will be defeated, held captive and scattered from their homeland.
The period generally referred to as Inter-Testament or silent period saw the dispersement of Jews all over the then known world because of persecution, in the words of a scholar “During the exile, Israel was cut off from the temple, divested of nationhood and surrounded by pagan religious practices. Her faith was threatened with extinction. Under these circumstances, the exiles turned their religious focus from what they had lost to what they retained – the Torah and the belief that they were God’s people”. Please read Zechariah 8: 1-8 (promise of God to Israel through Prophet Zechariah while they where in captivity in Babylon away from their homeland).
The Church Age
This is a period not foretold by any of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus Christ brokered a different covenant between God and mankind, offering himself as a sacrifice for everyone’s sins (John 3: 16). Jesus was referred to as the seed of Jesse (King David’s father), meaning he was to come from the lineage of the Jews and He was also to be the Messiah the Jews are expecting.
The new covenant of Christ ushered in the Church age with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, whereby many of us gentiles can be grafted into the lineage of God’s chosen by GRACE, through Jesus Christ being offered as the sacrificial lamb for our sins. We are now in the church age or grace dispensation as many refer to it, and the significant thing about this period is that the age of God dealing with the Jews alone is on hold and the Holy Spirit (rarely seen) under the Old Testament covenant is now available 24/7/365 to lead and direct a believer in Christ.
The church age will end with “the rapture” and the covenant with Israel will resume. Many Jews today do believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah being expected but many don’t. Christ followers in the church age are referred to as “Christians” (they come in different shades – from the real deal to money maker, from black to white to Arabs etc), many Christians who study the Bible and understands it’s content (prophecies) have sympathy for the state of Israel not because they are perfect people but because of God’s promise to them, knowing that God’s promises are always true (regardless of what we think of the promise).
The Arabs
I am not aware of much history of the Arabs from Ishmael. In Genesis 25: 12-18, the bible gave the names of the 12 sons of Ishmael and their tribe affiliates. However, there are robust and numerous information about the Arabs from the time of Prophet Mohammed (sws). Muslim scholars have traced the roots of Prophet Mohammed (sws) back to Ishmael and Abraham (see
www.Muhammad.net/biography)
Mohammed was born in 570 AD and was orphaned by age six, his grandfather took custody of him and he died two years. Young Mohammed went to live with his Uncle Abu Talib.
Abu Talib was a trader who taught young Mohammed business. Young Mohammed soon earn a reputation as a trustworthy person with an impeccable Character, hence the nickname “Al-Amin”. Some literature postulates that his upright reputation brought Khadija (a rich multiple widowed woman and 15 years older) into his life as first wife. Mohammed hated the polytheistic beliefs of the Arabs. There were many gods among his people and this was of great concern to him. As a young man of 35 years he will take time out at a particular time of the year to pray and fast. After 5 years of praying and fasting in a cave (Hira), Arch-Angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared to him and told Mohammed to write the revelations he (Gabriel) will be giving him (Mohammed), beginning what is now compiled as Quran, the Holy Book of Muslims.
The revelations of the Quran started in 610 AD till about 632 AD (or 22 years). After the first revelation from angel Gabriel, Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) started to preach about one God called Allah and that he was the prophet. His wife Khadija was his first convert, then his cousin, Ali ibn Abu Talib, then Abu Bakr (a prominent trader), very soon many people started to convert to his teachings and believe in one true god.
For three years prophet Mohammed (pbuh) taught the new religion quietly not wanting conflict with his people the Quraysh tribe in Makkah (now Mecca), then he decided to share the revelation and the belief in one true god with the people of Mecca. This brought persecution on him for many years (about 13 years) some of which he spent in exile with his wife. During this period in 620 AD, Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) lost his Uncle Abu Talib who protected him and his wife Khadija who supported him morally.
The revelations from angel Gabriel to Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh) during this 13 year period was more of cooperation, living at peace with neighbors and tolerance of people persecuting them (Muslims). Many of this revelations or part of the Quran are what most secular or moderate Islamic countries quote and are shared mainly with western world.
With him enduring persecution in Mecca, Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) entered into an agreement with two tribes from Medina (Aous and Khazraj) for protection and for him to be their ruler and spiritual head. While in Medina, Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) not only became the spiritual leader but also a political leader. With the protection and military might of the tribes in Medina, they soon conquered surrounding tribes and villages, forcing people to accept the new religion. The revelation from angel Gabriel to Prophet Mohammed (sws) at this time became more daring and forceful and Jihad soon became a word used many times in the revelations.
In 624 AD the Quraysh tribe of Mecca attacked prophet Mohammed (sws) and his men in Medina called the battle of Badr. The prophet and his men, though smaller in number soundly defeated the Meccans, the victory made him a powerful political and religious leader in the Arabic land with more than 10,000 fighting men. This victory further emboldened the spread of Islam forcefully and through Jihad (see Surah 8: 38-39, Surah 8: 65).
After this conquest prophet Mohammed (pbuh) received a new revelation from angel Gabriel regarding Jihad, Surah 9: 29 “Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His messenger (Mohammed) (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah (tax) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued” The Noble Quran. The above Surah interprets that Muslims fight
Those who don’t believe in Allah
Those who don’t believe in the last day
Those who do things that Allah and Mohammed (sws) forbids
Those who don’t acknowledge Islam as the truth i.e. “the people of Scripture”, who are the Jews and Christians.
Options for those who do not believe in Allah
Accept Islam
Remain a Jew or a Christian but pay Jizyah, typically levied once a year (many Christians minority in Egypt or other Islamic majority countries are forced to pay Jizyah today or they are killed).
Death
The principle of Naskh
There are 114 verses in the Quran that speak of peace, love and forgiveness, especially in the Surah “The Heifer” (Surah 2: 62, 109, 256) most of these revelations came when prophet Mohammed (sws) was in Mecca and being persecuted by the Quraysh tribe (his own people). However subsequent revelations such as Surah 9: 5 taught exactly opposite what Surah 2: 62 taught.
To deal with these contradictions, the principle of Naskh was put in place. It basically states that new revelations overrides older revelations, meaning new revelations given to prophet Mohammed later on in Mecca when he was now a religious and a political leader (60% of which includes teaching on Jihad) cancels out the earlier revelations the 114 verses of love, peace and forgiveness. More like when Christians argue that the new covenant with Christ (in the New Testament) has fulfilled the civic and ceremonial laws of the Old Testaments – such as the Civic or Ceremonial laws in the Laws of Moses.
Interpretation of Jihad
The word Jihad means “Holy War” for the Religion (lexicorient.com). There is no doubt about the fact that the Quran and the Hadith (writings about prohet Mohammed sws, by others – also considered a Holy Book but not by all Muslims) teaches about Jihad, the argument today is the interpretation given to the word Jihad.
To understand the different interpretations of Jihad by Muslims, we need to differentiate between Muslims (just like the Conservative and Liberal Christian identification). There are Secular Muslims – they reject the call for violent Jihad, they practice the 5 pillars if and when convenient and nothing more. The Traditional Muslims – can be divided into two, those who believe all the tenets of Islam but consider Jihad to be a spiritual battle rather than a physical battle (e.g. the Muslim Sufism Movement), the second traditional Muslim believe that Jihad is a physical war but would not do it personally (might contribute financially) because of family and life itself. The Fundamentalist Muslims – are the ones who have chosen to interpret the Quran literarily and call for the spread of Islam by force, and the elimination of the Jewish state (this has nothing to do with the giving back land by Israel) and instilling the moral standards of Islam worldwide (See Dr. Mark Gabriel’s materials).
Most moderate governments like that of Jordan, Pakistan and Egypt have more secular views of Jihad (meaning it is more spiritual than physical), but they have to contend with the fundamentalist among them.
Understanding the Fundamentalist Mindset
To understand the state of mind of the fundamentalist groups and how they can strap “bombs” around themselves and kill many people along with themselves, we need to understand what they believe beyond the natural.
Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) taught that going to heaven (paradise) is entirely based on Allah’s choice after He (Allah) weighs the good works of the believer. In one of the Hadith, prophet Mohammed (pbuh) included himself among those Allah will judge and consider their good works before being granted access to heaven.
However, a Muslim has an assurance of paradise with death through Jihad (Martyrdom). Angel Gabriel gave this revelation to Prophet Mohammed (sws) in Surah 61: 10-13 “O you who believe! Shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful torment? That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Mohammed), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know! (if you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in And (Eden) Paradise; that is indeed the great success. And also (He will give you) another (blessing) which you love, - help from Allah (against your enemies) and a near victory. And glad tidings (O Mohammed) to the believers”
Many fundamentalist groups (those who believe the teachings of Jihad as a physical battle and literal interpretation of the Quran) groups psyche up their followers with hatred for infidels (Jews and Christians) and quote the Quran to them on the promise of direct access to paradise.
It continues to amaze me why the leadership of the fundamentalist groups hide from being Martyred (in caves and other places), when death through Martyrdom guarantees access to heaven, instead of leaving Allah to Judge their good works which is up in the air or subjective?
Contemporary History
The Europeans went on a rampage colonizing the world about a century ago and the Middle East was one of their colonial territories. The Foray into the Middle-East started with Napoleon in 1798 and very soon European powers carved up the region. The British took Egypt and Sudan, while the French took Morocco and Algeria.
Most of the Middle-East was under the Ottoman Empire (the last set of Caliphs to rule in Islam) until after the First Word War. In 1916 control of the southern portion of their Ottoman Empire was "mandated" to France and Britain under the Sykes-Picot Agreement, which divided the Arab region into zones of influence. Lebanon and Syria were assigned (mandated) to France, and "Palestine" (today's Jordan, Israel and "West Bank") was mandated to Great Britain.
In 1923 the British divided their Middle-East territory up for administrative purposes and in effect created problems in the region (see
www.masada2000.org/historical for details). This geographical division, created problems among the Jews and the Arabs leading to the 1929 Hebron Massacre and Arab Revolts in 1936-1939. The constant conflicts between the Jews and Arabs led to the formation of various organizations defending each individual’s rights. Menachem Begin formed Irgun later to become IDF (Israeli Defense Force).
Unable to have a head-way, the British in 1947 handed the issue over to the United Nations and UN Resolution 181 approved a Jewish state with some land. The resolution was accepted by the Jews but rejected by the Arabs. On May 14th 1948, Israel declared independence and called the new state Israel.
Seven Arab states (Egypt, Trans-Jordan, Saudi-Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq) invaded the new state on May 15th 1948 and the war lasted 19 months. Israel survived and actually gained more land than the UN resolution gave them. The Palestinian Arabs that stayed in Israel during the war became Arab-Israelis and those who left became the first set of Palestinian refugees. In 1950 Trans-Jordan co-opted the Palestinian Arabs and the West Bank territory with its own territory and gave Jordanian citizenship to the Palestinians-Arabs. The name Trans-Jordan was also changed to Jordan (modern day Jordan).
In May 1967, the armies of Egypt, Syria and Jordan mobilized to attack Israel (this attack was the second aimed at eliminating the state of Israel). Before May 1967, Egypt ruled Gaza, Syria ruled the Golan Heights and Jordan ruled the West Bank. Why none of these Arab governments caved out a state for the Palestinian Arabs from their territories from 1949 – 1967 when they had possession is a question that is baffling?
In what is now called the six day war, Israel defeated all three armies and took possession of Gaza, Golan Heights, West Bank (with 850,000 Palestinian Arabs) and most important to Israel is the return of Jerusalem in their possession. It is important to note at this point that the Palestinian Arabs offered to move into Jordan after the six days war but General Moshe Dayan encouraged them to stay, hoping they’ll get all the amenities the Jews are getting. Yasser Arafat formed the Palestinian Liberation Organization about this time to fight for a homeland for the Palestinian Arabs.
On March 26 1979 Israel signed a peace deal with Egypt and gave back some land they got during the six day war. On October 26th 1994 Israel signed a peace deal with Jordan.
Sunni and Shiite division and the Middle-East Crises
Sunni and Shiite are the two major divisions of Muslims. The Sunnis are about 85% - 90% of all Muslims while Shiites are about 10% - 15%. The Shiite are concentrated in Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq and then spread worldwide, while the Sunnis are obviously the vast majority. The main reason for division among the two groups is that the Sunni branch believes the four Caliphs after prophet Mohammed (pbuh) are legitimate leaders and their heirs are recognized as legitimate religious leaders, while the Shiite branch recognizes only the fourth Caliph Ali and his heirs as the legitimate religious leaders. There are other subtle differences in religious operating procedures.
It is important to note that there is no love lost between the Sunnis and the Shiites and their differences have resulted in many wars in Islamic history, in-fact Iraq is currently embroiled in this sectarian rift that has lasted many decades.
The rule of Caliphs descendants was abolished about 1924 (shortly after the First World War) when the then leader of Turkey dissociated his country from the Caliphs. Europeans backed more secular governments in the Middle-East when they came on as colonial masters.
Contemporary and Modern Fundamentalist Groups
Founding fathers
Hassan Al-Banna 1906-1949 founded Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
Abdul Ala Mawdudi 1903-1979 founded Jema’at e-Islami and was instrumental in creating the nation of Pakistan from the colonialist.
Assid Quth 1906 – 1965 member of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
All the above men are said to be great thinkers (in-fact two of them memorized the Quran by age 10) and they wrote many influential books.
The fathers of the Muslims fundamentalist groups impressed many Muslim youths with their writings and teachings; they got a lot of followers. It is important to note that their aim was not international, but to unseat secular Islamic governments and instilling practice of Quran to the letter as it was in the days of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh).
The Next Generation
The belief system of the founding fathers has spread far and wide among Muslim communities worldwide largely through their followers, but we’ll stay with the known names.
Dr. Salah Sariah 1933 – 1975 started Islamic Liberation Movement
Shokri Mustafa 1942 – 1978 started Emigration and Flight
Abdul Salam Faraj 1954 – 1982 co-founded Egyptian Al-Jihad (militant arm of Muslim Brotherhood)
Osama bin Laden 1957 - started Al-Qaeda in 1988
Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri 1951 - led Egyptian Al-Jihad
In 1996, Osama bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri joined forces under the name Al-Qaeda and issued the following Fatwa (a Fatwa is a legal opinion of an Islamic religious leader). The two men met in Afghanistan when routing out the Russians. They left for the Sudan thereafter and returned to Afghanistan when the Taliban took over the country.
1996 Fatwa from Al-Qaeda (summary)
(
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html)
By establishing military bases in Saudi Arabia, a Holy Land for Islam, the United States has affronted the Islamic world.
By waging war against Iraq and Saddam Hussein after Iraq invaded Kuwait, the United States has dealt with a brother.
By supporting the survival of the state of Israel and weakening other Arab states (as they defined weakening), the United States is against Islam.
To implement the Fatwa, Al-Qaeda bombed US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Attacked USS Cole in October 2000 tried sinking the ship and attacked the United States on September 11th 2001. There have been subsequent attacks in London, Italy, and India.
Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda were the first fundamentalist group to take Jihad beyond secular Islamic states to attacking western powers that they consider as morally deficient and supporting Israel.
Secular Islamic states like Saudi Arabia is taking the Jihad to western countries as well using legitimate ways, they have reportedly donated over $420 million to Australian Muslims (
http://www.australian-news.com.au/Saudi-Arabia.htm), more money is being pumped into England (
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/4172000.stm), France (and other European countries) and America. It is very important to note that while they are free to evangelize western countries, Islamic countries are closed “shut” to evangelization of any sort from any other religion (Guest are allowed to practice their religion within certain framework without evangelizing the host citizens).
Where we are today
Peace will continue to elude the Middle-East if the following areas are not sincerely addressed
Recognition of the State of Israel. Only two Arab countries recognize the state of Israel (Egypt and Jordan), the Arab League (a 23 state union) does not recognize Israel. Islamic countries, not just the fundamentalist groups are still calling for the elimination of the State of Israel.
The Islamic fundamentalist groups have to be confronted ideologically by the secular Moslem states with the truth of the Quran on Jihad. Eliminating them might work for a while but convincing a human being always works better than force (except they are right in their interpretation?).
Philosophies of the Sufism movement and men like Karam Zohdy, Hamdi Abdul Rahman and Najah Ibrahim, all Al-Gama leaders in Egypt later to renounce violence (without cohesion) need to be examined closely and used to appeal to the mind of Islamic fundamentalists.
Secular governments like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia must stop the growth of fundamentalist groups that they bank roll in their countries (for their own survival). The support of fundamentalist groups by its citizens also need to stop, those money can be channeled to humanitarian helps for the Palestinian Arabs.
While defending its right to exist, Israel should still actively seek peace with willing Arab states and continue to make life bearable for the Palestinian Arabs.
Iran and Syria should stop supporting Hezbollah (a Shiite militant group) and using them to fight their own war against Israel (why did Hezbollah attack an Israeli Army post and took two soldiers hostage?). Lebanon should be left to have and run its own government without interference from Syria or Iran.
There need to be some solution to the plight of the Palestinian Arabs. Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu blew off the Clinton brokered peace deal of October 1998 (land for peace). I’m not sure the Palestinian Authority leadership really wants peace with Israel when they still don’t recognize the right of Israel to exist as a nation in their charter and books. (I believe Mahmoud Abbas – current P.A. Chairman, does recognize the right of Israel to exist).
There is also the issue of Jerusalem, I don’t have a clue as to the solution but as a Christian, I’m commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Fundamentalist groups are now all over the world, not just in the Middle-East (or just Osama bin Laden). Western countries need to be on alert but they also need to confront the fundamentalist in their own countries ideologically (especially Britain and France). The aim of the fundamentalist groups still remains to establish Islamic states worldwide, to achieve this they plan to attack western economies (through oil and other means).
Secular and Traditional Muslims need to be engaged and their help sought to flush out the fundamentalist in their midst as it happened in London with the tip of bomb plot on airlines.
All of my suggestions are not new but there has not been the will to implement any of them, there has been numerous UN Resolutions (
http://www.cfr.org/publication/11233/) that has been ignored because many people pay lip service to the resolutions rather than implement them.
As I researched to write this article, I came to the conclusion that the lasting solution to the Middle-East crises is more ideological than any other reason, in the words of President Clinton as he watched his peace plan dissolve in December 1998 “everyone need to have an attitude change”, as humans changing our mindset and belief system is always a struggle especially when we believe we have a mandate to do what we do.
May God help us all as we seek lasting peace in the Middle-East?
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