Tag: #MiddleEast

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Peacemaker or Partner in Crime? Trump’s Failed Gaza Ceasefire Theater

Donald Trump’s recent visit to West Asia, intended to showcase his role in facilitating a Gaza ceasefire, revealed more about his political desperation than diplomatic achievement. What was billed as a victory tour instead exposed strategic failure and moral bankruptcy.Peacemaker or partner in Netanyahu's failure

The Unwelcome Mediator
Trump’s attempt to position himself as a peacemaker was met with widespread rejection. The protocol-bound airport receptions couldn’t conceal the stark reality: nobody sees Trump as an impartial mediator. His historical alignment with Israeli extremism and his administration’s record of escalating tensions made his peacemaker pose implausible to regional actors and international observers alike.

The Newyorker:

Late on Wednesday evening, in a social-media post, Trump finally had something to truly trumpet: “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” he wrote just after 7 P.M. “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

The ceasefire deal, brokered with the help of America’s Arab allies, such as Qatar and Egypt, calls for Israel to stop fighting within twenty-four hours and to partially withdraw from Gaza, and for Hamas to release by early next week all twenty Israeli hostages presumed to still be alive two years after they were taken during Hamas’s October 7th terrorist attack. At a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, as advisers made plans for Trump to fly to the region on Sunday night for a signing ceremony, the President touted his “momentous breakthrough.”

Strategic Goals Abandoned
The ceasefire terms tell a story of failed objectives. What began as a mission to destroy Hamas and return Israeli prisoners without concessions ended as a negotiated exchange of prisoners with humanitarian provisions. This fundamental deviation from maximalist goals represents not compromise but capitulation—a clear admission that initial assumptions about quick military victory were fatally flawed.

Accountability for Carnage
We cannot discuss Trump’s ceasefire role without acknowledging his responsibility for the violence preceding it. With nearly 70,000 Palestinians killed, Trump must be recognized as Netanyahu’s primary partner in this humanitarian catastrophe. His policies—recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, endorsing settlement expansion, and providing unconditional military support—created the conditions for this slaughter.

The New Yorker:

On Thursday, the Israeli Cabinet was on the verge of approving the initial stages of a ceasefire agreement that will at least temporarily end the war in Gaza. That war, which began two years ago with the Hamas attacks of October 7th, and the killing of 1,200 people, was followed by Israel’s bombardment and occupation of the Gaza Strip, and the killing of nearly 70,000 Palestinians. (A United Nations commission recently labeled Israel’s war a genocide.) The initial phases of the agreement, which President Trump announced on Wednesday, will likely include a release of the remaining Israeli hostages early next week, a release of Palestinians held by Israel, a pullback of Israeli troops from Gaza, and a much-needed surge of food and medicine into the territory.
Even with the ceasefire deal, “I don’t know that Gaza is even a place where humans can continue to live in any meaningful way,” Khaled Elgindy, an expert on the Middle East, said.”Almost everything has been destroyed. There’s almost nothing left, even of Gaza City. All the hospitals are basically not functioning. There are no universities. There are no schools. There are no roads. There’s no sewage-treatment plants, and there’s no infrastructure. Everything has been destroyed. . . . It makes me incredibly sad to say that, because we’re talking about a society of two million people. Gaza City is the largest city in Palestine. It’s one of the oldest places on earth. There’s just so much that has been lost. Beyond just the basic immediate subsistence, can Gaza survive? I don’t know.” In an interview with Isaac Chotiner, Elgindy discusses the contours of the peace deal and what will come next: https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/kiRFvz

The Political Cost of Failure
Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy has backfired spectacularly. Rather than enhancing his stature, the Gaza crisis has increased global antipathy toward American leadership and alienated young voters concerned with human rights. The very tools Trump relied on—unilateral pressure and disregard for international law—have undermined his credibility when he most needs it.

A Fragile Future
The current ceasefire represents at best a temporary pause in an ongoing conflict. Fundamental questions about Gaza’s governance, reconstruction, and political future remain unanswered. Without a comprehensive political solution, this ceasefire merely sets the stage for the next round of violence—and Trump has demonstrated he lacks the vision or credibility to help achieve one.

twitterlinkedininstagramflickrfoursquaremail

Posted on by — 4 Comments

The ‘Middle East’ is a Eurocentric Myth: It’s Time to Decolonize the Name

Why does a region spanning from Morocco to Iran get labeled the ‘Middle East’—who exactly is it ‘east’ of?

Here is a briefly explanation; The term “Middle East” is rooted in a Western, specifically European, perspective of the world, and perpetuates a Western-centric worldview by defining the region based on its location relative to Europe rather than its own distinct characteristics. This framing, developed during the colonial era, positions Europe as the central point from which other regions are defined and categorized. (Google search)

Image 1: Map of West Asia
image 2: Middle East

 

1. The Colonial Origins of “Middle East”

  • History: Coined by British imperialists in the 19th century (e.g., Alfred Mahan) to describe the area between “Near East” (Balkans) and “Far East” (Asia). Read British colonialism, Middle East

  • Problem: Framed from a London-centric perspective, ignoring local identities. E.g., How they removed Mossadegh from Iran

  • Quote:
    “The ‘Middle East’ exists only in relation to Europe—it’s time to call it by its own names.”

    Image 3: 19th-century British colonial maps

    2. Alternative Names & Their Meanings

    A. West Asia (Most Neutral)

    • Used by the UN, academic institutions, and many Asian countries.
    • Includes: Arab states, Iran, Turkey, Israel/Palestine.
    • Pros: Geographically accurate, avoids colonial baggage.
    • West Asia description by WikiLeaks

    B. The Arab World (For Arab-Majority Nations)

    Image 4: The Arab World West Asia World Map
    • The 22 countries of the Arab League (Morocco to Iraq).
    • Pros: Emphasizes linguistic/cultural unity.
    • Cons: Excludes non-Arab nations (Iran, Turkey, etc.).

    C. Mashriq (Historical & Cultural Term)

    • Arabic for “where the sun rises” (traditionally the Levant + Iraq).

      Image 5: The levant; source Wikipedia
    • Pros: Indigenous term, rich historical weight.

    D. Southwest Asia (Less Common but Accurate)

    • Used in some academic circles as an alternative to “Middle East.”

      Image 6: Southwest Asia, subregion of Asia, bounded on the west by the Mediterranean Sea, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Red Sea and on the south and southeast by the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The region reaches the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea to the north. Southwest Asia is often, but not always, coterminous with the Middle East; the latter is a more variable term that often includes parts of the African continent, while the term “Southwest Asia” is restricted to the continent of Asia(Britannica)

    3. Why Language Matters: The Politics of Naming

    4. Who Resists the Change—And Why?

    • Western Media/Academia: Habit, inertia, and subconscious imperialism.
    • Local Divisions: Some Arab nationalists prefer “Arab World(1),” while others advocate “West Asia.(2)”
      1. Arab World:

      This term is rooted in pan-Arabism, a nationalist ideology that emphasizes the cultural and political unity of all Arab people. It highlights shared language, history, and culture as unifying factors. The “Arab World” typically includes countries in North Africa and West Asia where Arabic is the dominant language. 

      2. West Asia:

      This term is a more geographically-focused label, often used in international relations and political analysis. It can be seen as a way to discuss the region without necessarily invoking the political and cultural connotations associated with “Arab World”. 

      Image 8: A map of the Eastern Hemisphere from Adams Synchronological Chart or Map of History. “The bright colors denote those countries that are the Subjects of history, previous to the discovery of America”. – Wikipedia

    5. The Way Forward: What Should We Call It?

    • For Geopolitical Accuracy: “West Asia” (includes all nations, neutral).
    • For Cultural Unity: “Arab World” (when referring to Arab-majority nations).
    • For Historical Context: “Mashriq” (for deeper cultural discussions).
    • Call to Action:
      “Next time you read ‘Middle East,’ ask: Who benefits from this outdated term?”

    Conclusion

    • Reiterate that decolonizing language is a small but crucial step in challenging imperial narratives.
    • End with a powerful question:
      “If we can’t even let a region name itself, how can we claim to respect its sovereignty?”

    Worlds Atlas with their own names

    Additional Resources (For Links)

     

twitterlinkedininstagramflickrfoursquaremail