Mohamed Chebaro
The unprecedented Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel not only caught the Israeli political establishment and military by surprise, but also the far-off countries and governments that have long been directly and indirectly implicated in the 70-plus years of conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Events in the Middle East have been dropping off the list of priorities of many Western governments for many years. This is particularly true in the UK, especially since the ruling Conservative Party decided to take a sharp right turn and adopt a populist stance. It adopted austerity measures nationally and reduced the size of its government and armed forces, likely as a reaction to years of less than successful British interventions in crises like Iraq and Afghanistan. But the crisis between Israel and Palestine has quickly revealed the contrast in Britain between the government and political class on the one hand and the feeling of the general public on the other.
During the debate on the violence in Gaza and Israel in the House of Commons this week, one could sense the limited power of the UK and its observer status, at best, as events have unfolded. But a change of tone appeared in the government line, unlike the first 10 days, with a more measured and statesmanlike position; one that expressed both horror and condemnation of the Hamas attack and also compassion for the victims on both sides. It begged for a humanitarian response, but this remains in the realm of prayers rather than reflecting the ability of Britain to induce it. The events in Parliament offered an opportunity to redress what looked like the crisis being used as a tool by the struggling Conservative government of Rishi Sunak to prop up its sinking popularity in the face of a rising Labour opposition that is tipped to win the general election next year. Nowhere was this more evident than in how the prime minister personally rushed, in the early days of the crisis, to voice the UK’s “unequivocal” support for Israel. He promised to stand by the Israeli people and shunned any mention of the Palestinians. Sunak did not even allude to the need for restraint and calm on all sides, which is the least that is needed in the highly volatile region called the Middle East.
As more than 1 million Palestinians were ordered to take cover away from northern Gaza, the people of Britain stood divided, even more so as a result of Sunak’s shortsightedness and readiness to play politics with the last gasp of power he has. In his early statements, Sunak told the Israeli people and the Jewish community in the UK that they would have his government’s unstinting, unqualified support in the face of evil and that it would do everything in its power to address a surge in antisemitism since the start October 7th. Many in Britain felt, therefore, that the country was willing to turn a blind eye to Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Palestinians in Gaza, which flouted basic international law, particularly as fuel and water supplies were cut off and the seriously ill advised to leave hospitals in the north of the territory.
The nation has felt more divided than ever, as the fault lines have been exposed by this conflict. This was most apparent in the vigils, protests, marches and flag-waving events on the streets of major cities across the UK, some supporting the Palestinians and others expressing solidarity with Israel, increasing the tensions between communities. Some Jewish schools in London closed their doors, citing security fears. Sunak quickly paid one such school a visit in a bid to offer reassurance, while announcing that he had ordered a greater police presence and that the government was dedicating a few million pounds to help beef up the Jewish community’s security. The UK government is also now realizing that, in addition to the 10 dual British-Israeli nationals thought to be among the near-200 hostages taken by Hamas, there are hundreds if not thousands more British-Israelis and British-Palestinians who live in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza and are currently in the eye of the storm.
It was clear from day one that Sunak’s government could not factor in the historic weight and role of Britain in the region. The UK continues to be seen by the Palestinians as the author of the Balfour Declaration, which was behind what some in the Arab and Muslim world have come to call the “forever war” between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Leadership – or the absence of it – is usually noticed in times of crisis and, instead of playing power politics domestically, Britain, like the US, should assume its role and push for peace, even while underlining its support and pledges to defend Israel. Defeating Hamas, as Israel is pledging will not happen unless the Palestinians of Gaza are driven out of their homes, cannot happen as the result of a revenge military operation.
After its initial message of unparalleled support and sending of two aircraft carrier battle groups to the Mediterranean, even the US is now trying to restrain Israel’s military action in Gaza in the hope of preserving the dim path toward peace. It is inconceivable for maps to change at this juncture in the Middle East, just like in the case of Ukraine, where war is raging and the world is divided between the West and its allies on one side and Russia and its allies on the other.
For years, many people have tried to ignore the fact that settling the Palestinian question is one of the keys to stability in the Middle East and that peace in the region will be hard to come by without continued diplomatic efforts, regardless of how fruitless and uncreative they might seem at times. Israel never tires of pointing to Iran as being the sponsor of its two main rivals, Hamas and Hezbollah, but it has never held Tehran accountable. Instead, civilians in Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere have been bearing the brunt of this real but forever shadow war.
