A New International Settlement for The Middle East

The Middle East Conflict is old as hills and they are divergent views on the solution to the Middle East conflicts. The divergence arised from not having the same views on the roots. Ahmed Zewal in his speech at Cairo University in 2009 said “Peace will never be reached with no solution on Israel Palestine conflict.” Others say the Islam divisionism Shia and Sunni is behind all the crisis. The other cause on the list is the oil in Middle the most valuable commodity on earth. The United states since at least 1993 has imported on average almost one third (30.89%) of its oils from neighbors such as Canada Mexico and from the same year US imported oil from Middle East specifically from the Persian Gulf region (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab emirates) almost 22.90%.

Kraemer (2009) argued that American overdependence on oil has led to miserable policy in the Arab World. Different solutions to the Middle East conflict have been proposed some have been agreed upon and implemented some didn’t reach the paper or the signature level. This paper will discuss the new international settlement for the Middle East. Is there a one cure or the Middle East needs a combination of medicine? Which country has the key to the settlement is the Middle East, USA, Russia, all Middle countries or Israel and Palestine?

P.J.O’ Rourke an American political satirist and journalist said that you don't despair about something like the Middle East, you just do the best you can. Maybe one day the Middle East will be tranquil. The existing belief is that any strategy to address the long lasting crisis has to deal with realities of the Middle East as they are all. Any other suggestion is an illusion. A background on the Middle East problem is needed to better understand the problem and there is no one cure for the crisis but each problem needs a tailored solution. Whenever Middle East problem is said, Israelo-Palestino problem is immediately heard or come to mind. But as stated earlier they are many causes of Middle East conflict.

The Islam Divisionism Shia and Sunni

Divisionism is the one of the main ingredient of the lasting conflict. The two sects are fighting and trying to influence each other. Global survey conducted by Pea research center said that though they are tensions and difference between two sects but they have a lot of similarities, regarding religious practices, the majorities of Shia and Sunni share them characteristics of Islamic faith such as believe in one God and the Prophet Muhammad, believe in hell and heaven, an observance of fasting during Ramadan. The findings of the survey show that in five countries surveyed, a sizable percentage both Shias and Sunnis are concerned about sectarian conflict. Two third of Muslims in Lebanon say that sectarian tensions is a very big or moderately big problem in their nation. Roughly 52% of Muslims in Iraq, 44% in Afghanistan, 23% in Iran are all worried. This divisionism should be first solved and Muslims put aside their conflicts and look how they can live in peace.

The Sunni-Shite divisionism has raised many tensions: the civil war in Iraq, the Hezbollah case, the rise of Iran ambitions in the region. Until these sects of Islam find a way for peaceful cohabitation, the Middle East will continue to be a chaos. As they say the root of all evil is money. Money is also part of the Middle East conflict. The Middle East has the most valuable commodity in the world: oil. Researcehrs say that that USA and other western countries dependency on oil undermines their foreign policy objectives and makes America and others relate with hostile regimes. For instance, America is supporting Iran, the country which is using oil revenues to finance production of nuclear weapons and to separate themselves from the economic sanctions that could result from it. Most of Middle East countries are not tolerance of freedom and democracy and the USA is tolerant to oil suppliers. The oil has led to the western countries to have a strong interest to influence the region.

The example is the Gulf war, the invasion of Iraq, the death of Sadam and the Gadaf among others. Gadaf and Sadam both announced that they want to sell oil in their local currency but the oil and dollar make dollar valuable. The USA consumes 25% of world’s oil while it only possesses 3% of World’s oil reserves. Depending on foreign oil particular on Middle Eastern oil is viewed as a threat to America’s economic and national security. The cost of oil is determined by World Market based on the production level agreed by the Organization the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The five countries with the greatest proven reserves are all in the Middle East. Many of the causes of global terrorism arise from the archaic social conditions with Saudi Arabia and the vast stock of oil money that the royal family, the ruling controls. This is the huge problem of the Middle East, will the dictators welcome democracy? Will USA say no to the dictatorship and the oil? It is a dilemma but if the Middle East problem needs to be once of all settled. This problem needs to be tackled in depth. Roots of Middle East conflict can be composed in four sources: The struggle against imperialist control, the frustration of identity by the imposition of borders, the Israelo-palestino and the struggle over control of oil. America is also the major concerned part in this crisis because any action against nations like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain and others may result in the disruption of oil supplies on which US and the global economy rely on. The dependency on oil affect the intention of bringing freedom and democracy in the region. Huge oil revenues have created society led by the wealthy dictators and monarch with no plan of reform.

This paper has not exhausted the all caused and possible new international settlements and it was discussed above no single settlement for the Middle East crisis. For every conflict needs a settlement and the time the international community will recognize that it is the combination of many crisis not only one that is the time the Middle East problem will get settled. Perhaps someday the Middle East will be tranquil. Perhaps someday we will not have to agonize over its unending furor, or long debate with no concrete solution.