|
|
January 23, 2004
Oil blamed for conflict
Outsiders prevent Mideast peace, says researcher.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Neither Palestinian terror nor Israeli "occupation" is
at the root of the Middle East conflict, according to a provocative
Israeli commentator coming to Vancouver this month. Economics –
and the intervention of outside forces – is where the blame
lies, according to Joel Bainerman.
Bainerman was born in Toronto and made aliyah in 1981, at the age
of 24. He is an independent researcher who has a bachelor of arts
degree from the University of Toronto and describes himself as free
from association with well-known media agencies. Describing his
20 years of research on the Middle East and economics as "contrarian
and unconventional," the Zichron Yaacov resident claims to
have the key to understanding the continuation of the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
At the root, he claims in online writings (www.joelbainerman.com),
is an entrenched desire of "Foreign Elites" to control
Middle East oil by encouraging continued conflict, which forces
both sides to spend vast quantities on military equipment. The conflict
is fanned by interfering states and corporations who view an unstable
region as being in their own economic interests. Tying oil prices
to the American dollar is one way the United States maintains its
supremacy in the region, claims Bainerman. International media plays
into the conflict by reporting incessantly on every development
in the region and reinforcing the idea that this flashpoint is a
top foreign policy priority for western states. Amid all of this
is a plethora of regional and international think tanks, magazines,
organizations and professional activists whose livelihood depends
on perpetuating partisanship.
"So the entities that are sending special envoys to 'help the
two sides make peace' are at the same time the main providers of
weapons to the region," writes Bainerman.
"Is it merely a coincidence that there [are] vast oil reserves
in the Middle East, while at the same time the region is home to
a seven-decade-long conflict?" he asks. "If there were
no oil, would there have been an Arab-Israeli conflict? As long
as the Arabs and Jews are blaming each other, the foreigners' role
will go unnoticed – as will their profits."
In 2002, Arab states spent $52 billion on the military, according
to Bainerman, with $18 billion of that going to foreign materiel
providers.
In an e-mail interview with the Bulletin, Bainerman maintained
that religious extremism and political fanaticism are not the core
problems.
"If there was no foreign involvement in the region, if there
were no arms sales, if there was no oil in the region for foreign
elements to desire, if, if, if," he said, "then economics
[alone] would be the major issue – and it would bring co-existence.
"So my argument is correct that economics will bring peace,
but only if the foreign elements get out of the conflict and let
the two sides alone to deal with their conflict," Bainerman
explained. "Of course, in today's world, with all the vested
interests the foreigners have, they won't do that, and thus peace
won't occur."
If one assumes that a lack of Palestinian statehood is at the root
of Arab anger, and assumes further that foreign powers desire peace
in the region, then the United States and other powers would have
forced Israel to accept a Palestinian state long ago, he claims.
Similarly, they would have put a stop to the corruption that saw
$4 billion in aid to the Palestinians squandered by Yasser Arafat
and his associates over the past decade, said Bainerman.
"The western powers did none of that, and despite Arafat's
total failure [at nation-building], they still support him."
Bainerman insists that if western governments ignored the conflict,
it would go away.
Bainerman will bring his ideas to Vancouver in a series of Shabbat
events hosted by the Ohel Ya'akov Community Kollel that include
a lecture on Settling the Middle East Conflict from an Economics
Standpoint, on Friday Jan. 23, which is preceded by a Shabbat service
at 7 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. The next day, Jan. 24, Bainerman
will discuss Economic Morality and Business Ethics According to
Jewish Law, an issue Bainerman sees as particularly relevant now
that corporate leaders in the United States and Canada are under
scrutiny for dubious ethical business dealings. The Saturday event
is preceded by services at 10 a.m. and a lunch will be served at
noon. There is no charge for either event.
The Kollel is located at #109-2182 West 12th Ave, near Arbutus.
For more information, call 604-267-7060.
Pat Johnson is a native Vancouverite, a journalist and
commentator.
^TOP
|
|
