Will King Abdullah’s Political Capital Help Gaza?

For those who do not know, Jordan intercepted all the drones that crossed its airspace on their way to Israel. Something that we believe both Israel and Washington are grateful for in helping protect Israel from the Iranian attack. But the question Arabs and Muslims must ask is how does that benefit the region, or peace today. Will King Abdullah’s political capital, newly acquired, help Gaza in ways that no other Arab country has been able to, or will both Washington and Jerusalem just ignore him as when he supported a ceasefire for Gaza?

If he can influence Washington positively, then we believe it was well worth it to stem the Iranian attack. The opposite is true too. If Washington or Jerusalem keep ignoring him on issues that matter to the Arab world, then the king is walking on the wrong side of the street. Sooner or later, he will be facing the music for his hollow stand.

Besides Gaza, there are other considerations King Abdullah must throw into the equation of his calculation. As the Hashemite Custodian of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and as a country that struck a peace agreement with Israel, he is bound by those guarantees that he and his father, King Hussein, made to Israel. One has to understand the precarious position he is in.

Others, might argue, he could have stayed neutral. Again, we will know whether the political capital he earned the night of April 14 will help the region more than harm Iran.

But what if the United States relied upon the advice of King Abdullah and gave it as much weight as those Israeli leaders it will interact with in the future?

NETANYAHU IS OUT THE DOOR

As far as the West is concerned, Benjamin Netanyahu is out the door. Bombing the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, after which the Israelis killed seven European aid workers in Gaza, were the straws that broke the camel’s back. Western leaders now realize they are dealing with a madman who will start a World War III without batting an eyelash.

Others would replace Netanyahu to lead Israel pretty soon.

But what if the United States relied upon the advice of King Abdullah and gave it as much weight as those Israeli leaders it will interact with in the future? Is that not worth a few downed drones? We say, it is. All Arab Americans should welcome any counterbalance to Israeli influence in Washington, especially when AIPAC’s tight control is almost impossible to dislodge. The deep friendship King Abdullah has fostered with the U.S. could only help if he applies it to help the region escape violence, or escape mediocrity.

The same can be said for any other Arab country. With the Gulf, however, their leaders tend to look after their own personal interests before those of their brethren, or Arabs in general.

Let us not rush to judging King Abdullah harshly. He has his good reasons.

MORE MODERATION AND LESS EXTREMISM

The most important question to ask here: Are we done with that Nazi named Benjamin Netanyahu? If the answer is yes, whatever Jordan did to protect Israel is really inconsequential considering the big picture.

Let us not rush to judging King Abdullah harshly. He has his good reasons. Instead, let us all concentrate on bringing back the old Israel that was willing to listen to peace overtures, and was able to restrain itself when Hamas, or Hezbollah, attacked it.

We are not certain it is possible, considering the transformations that took place in Israel in the last 15 years of Netanyahu’s reign. Even more significant than is to support Jordan in the hope it could re-balance the region towards more moderate behavior and less extremism. On both sides.

So, no, we do not agree with the negativity social media expressed upon learning of Jordan’s downing the Iranian drones. Let us see the glass half full, here.

Will King Abdullah’s Political Capital Help Gaza?