Tensions in the Middle East have been simmering all summer. Starting in late May, the Istanbul protests over the fate of Taksim Gezi Park were met with violent suppression. In mid June, the White House reported that the US Intelligence Community had "high confidence" that Assad had used chemical weapons multiple times over the past year. In late June, Cairo erupted and continues to roil. In July, terrorist activity in the Sinai intensified, building off an officer hostage crisis in May. Then on 21 August, in the course of a Syrian government attack to oust rebels from Ghouta region (east of Damascus) chemical weapons were used: reports suggest more than 1000 noncombatants were killed.
We're off simmer, tensions are rising. In Hebrew, you might say we have a "balagan gadol" - a big mess - on our hands.
We have Cameron, Hollande, and Obama saying lots, much of which hasn't been all that coherent. Although frustrating, it is reasonable that Obama has sounded contradictory. It's a clear violation (no blurred lines here!) at international law to use chemical weapons. If you're going to belong to a system (global governance) that sanctions particular acts, then you have to be willing to enforce the rules. And Obama is willing to enforce, but he doesn't want to engage in the Syrian civil war. In the global system it's the UN Security Council that is meant to enforce the rules, not individual states. (What happened in Iraq was the global equivalent of vigilantism and illegal under the current rules of international law.) With the Iraq War still fresh in everyone's minds, we're seeing a more cautious approach (asking the people's representatives) to taking action against Syria. The mounting evidence seems clear that chemical weapons were used, it's difficult to prove who used them but experts say that only the government in Syria has chemical weapons capacity. Will Obama go with or without the approval of his legislative branch? Will Obama go with or without a UNSC resolution? Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, Syria has said that if the US attacks it, Syria will aim missiles and God knows what else at Israel. Why? Well, it's part of the Middle East geopolitical game. How real is the threat? I have no idea: among the pundits there's a spectrum of concern. The Israeli Ministry of the Interior has decided the threat is significant enough to warrant the issuing of gas masks. If you are an Israeli citizen you are meant to queue at the Post Office and get your gas mask. In a CBC story yesterday (Sept 3) about the illegality of an attack without a UN resolution, it was reported that:
Do I have a gas mask? Funny you should ask. As a non citizen, the Israeli Ministry of the Interior has not invited me to collect a gas mask. I contacted the Canadian Embassy to see if they had a gas mask for me. I had pointed out in my email request that as a non-Israeli I had not received said invitation from the Ministry of the Interior (or any other Israeli ministry). Here's part of the response I received:
This left me wondering: GWN Embassy can you help me at all? Well, they did tell me where to buy a gas mask. And, they have suggested I check the IDF Home Front Command website. I'm feeling a bit like the State of Israel might be feeling -- stuck in between. Anyway, gas mask shopping will have to wait until the stores open up after the holiday. The veterans all maintain that Jerusalem will never be a target. Insh'allah.
And with that, I'm off to celebrate Jewish New Year. And, a year by the Jewish Calendar, of living in Israel.
Shana Tova!
We're off simmer, tensions are rising. In Hebrew, you might say we have a "balagan gadol" - a big mess - on our hands.
We have Cameron, Hollande, and Obama saying lots, much of which hasn't been all that coherent. Although frustrating, it is reasonable that Obama has sounded contradictory. It's a clear violation (no blurred lines here!) at international law to use chemical weapons. If you're going to belong to a system (global governance) that sanctions particular acts, then you have to be willing to enforce the rules. And Obama is willing to enforce, but he doesn't want to engage in the Syrian civil war. In the global system it's the UN Security Council that is meant to enforce the rules, not individual states. (What happened in Iraq was the global equivalent of vigilantism and illegal under the current rules of international law.) With the Iraq War still fresh in everyone's minds, we're seeing a more cautious approach (asking the people's representatives) to taking action against Syria. The mounting evidence seems clear that chemical weapons were used, it's difficult to prove who used them but experts say that only the government in Syria has chemical weapons capacity. Will Obama go with or without the approval of his legislative branch? Will Obama go with or without a UNSC resolution? Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, Syria has said that if the US attacks it, Syria will aim missiles and God knows what else at Israel. Why? Well, it's part of the Middle East geopolitical game. How real is the threat? I have no idea: among the pundits there's a spectrum of concern. The Israeli Ministry of the Interior has decided the threat is significant enough to warrant the issuing of gas masks. If you are an Israeli citizen you are meant to queue at the Post Office and get your gas mask. In a CBC story yesterday (Sept 3) about the illegality of an attack without a UN resolution, it was reported that:
Tensions are high among Israelis despite calls for calm from the government, according to freelance reporter Irris Makler. The country's military has noted there is a chance Syria, if attacked by the U.S., might then retaliate against Israel. People in the street are nervous. They're lining up to get gas masks, which are government-issued. They're fighting each other in the queues," Makler told CBC News.It's true there have been reports of people lining up to get gas masks and fights in the queues. Still, I suspect the fighting may be due to two factors: the "reason" (substance) people are lining up and the "doing" (process) Israelis truly despise queuing. In other words, I am suggesting that the two operating together are piling up the stress. And, I'm not being trite here: queuing and waiting doesn't bring out the best in anyone and Israelis are particularly good examples of this.
Do I have a gas mask? Funny you should ask. As a non citizen, the Israeli Ministry of the Interior has not invited me to collect a gas mask. I contacted the Canadian Embassy to see if they had a gas mask for me. I had pointed out in my email request that as a non-Israeli I had not received said invitation from the Ministry of the Interior (or any other Israeli ministry). Here's part of the response I received:
1. Please be advised that your inquiry goes beyond the mandate of The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFADT). The Canadian Embassy is not distributing gas masks to Canadian citizens. The Embassy of Canada understands that the Government of Israel is providing gas masks exclusively to Israel citizens at this time. As your inquiry relates to the local Israeli Authorities, you may address your inquiry to the nearest office of the Israeli Ministry of Interior for the most up to date information.
This left me wondering: GWN Embassy can you help me at all? Well, they did tell me where to buy a gas mask. And, they have suggested I check the IDF Home Front Command website. I'm feeling a bit like the State of Israel might be feeling -- stuck in between. Anyway, gas mask shopping will have to wait until the stores open up after the holiday. The veterans all maintain that Jerusalem will never be a target. Insh'allah.
And with that, I'm off to celebrate Jewish New Year. And, a year by the Jewish Calendar, of living in Israel.
Shana Tova!
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