On the Brink: World War III & The Risk of U.S. Complicity
6:35 PM: In the past 18 minutes, I found myself once again jolted by unfolding events in the relentless Israel-Palestine rivalry.
This time, it was a chilling statement from Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, as reported by Bloomberg Business, that rattled me. Amirabdollahian left no room for doubt, declaring, “The U.S. is running the war, managing it, and this is a proxy war.”
His words spiked my cortisol levels, reigniting a genuine concern, not irrational fear, about the looming specter of World War III.
This unease is compounded as the violent Middle East conflict drones on, leaving outsiders (like me!) with little to no power to mitigate the tensions or arrive at a solution.
As we are aware, the horrors of Oct. 7, which were ostensibly orchestrated by the Palestinian group Hamas, involved shocking massacres in Israeli kibbutzes and rocket attacks that reached Tel Aviv from Gaza. This gruesome episode has reverberated across the globe, leaving us grappling with the daunting task of sifting through biased media reports and a deluge of misinformation on social platforms. These polarizing narratives make it exceedingly challenging to discern the truth or take a justifiable stance.
For example, the voices of Gazans, empowered by the use of digital platforms (a rarity in what some refer to as “the apartheid state”), have amplified the ongoing struggles of the Palestinian diaspora.
This diaspora traces back to the Nakba of 1948, which resulted in their acute displacement. Subsequently, the Palestinian people faced various forms of oppression due to the emergence of multiple, often divisive leaderships. Among these leaders, Hamas stands out, presenting itself as a group of “resistance fighters” against the “Israeli occupation” (also hotly debated).
Conversely, Zionist supporters worldwide frequently dispute the Nakba narrative, emphasizing that the subjugation of Palestinians resulted from their own choices and actions. Many pro-Israel folks also highlight the lack of support from other Arab countries for Palestinians as evidence of their “justified” unpopularity. According to this viewpoint, any existing marginalization and suffering in the region are solely attributed to Hamas (which, unbeknownst to most, was once Israeli-backed).
Furthermore, they assert that Hamas has a “sole mission” that extends beyond the killing of Israelis and aims at eradicating Jews worldwide. Pro-Israel sources also offer their interpretation of the commonly used pro-Palestine slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” From their perspective, this motto implies the complete conquest of Israel, as it suggests Palestine’s control from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, effectively eliminating the Jewish presence in the region.
Nevertheless, the undeniable truth remains: the anguish inflicted by the mass slaughtering, brutalization, and kidnapping of innocent Israelis on Oct. 7, as well as the persistent “extermination” of Gaza and its people, has led to markedly profound and collective grief felt worldwide.
Our hearts are burdened with sorrow, and we yearn for justice, a lasting resolution, and peace in the midst of this ongoing tragedy.
The situation has further escalated since the fluke bombing of Al Ahli-Arab Hospital in Gaza City on the evening of the 17th, resulting in the loss of anywhere from 500 to 1,500 civilians, sparking intense debate as Israel and Hamas blame each other, either refusing to take accountability.
Israel, backed by its most tenacious allies, including the United States, has consistently distanced itself from the responsibility for the substantial loss of Palestinian lives. The United States, serving as Israel’s primary supporter and financier in this conflict, plays a pivotal role in shaping a narrative that downplays the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis taking place in Gaza.
Endorsing war crimes that blatantly violate international humanitarian laws (including Israel’s disruption of critical services like electricity, water, food, and fuel supply in Gaza, and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, such as residential homes en masse, hospitals, refugee camps, bakeries, and evacuation routes resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians) in response to a terrorist attack, however deplorable, has far-reaching consequences, not only for those in the Middle East but also for Americans, especially those of us in New York.
Israel’s recent actions, including the bombing of twenty Hezbollah sites in Lebanon and the call for the evacuation of Israelis on the Israel-Lebanon border, have significantly escalated tensions, especially with Iran in the mix. As the Arab world increasingly perceives the United States as a proxy in the Israeli-Palestinian battle, the risk of retaliatory attacks against America grows.
In such a scenario, states like Kansas and Montana, with less strategic significance, would be less likely targets. New York City, home to the world’s largest Jewish population (surpassing Tel Aviv and Jerusalem combined), becomes a focal point in this global turmoil. Having experienced the Sept. 11 attack twenty-two years ago, New Yorkers are no strangers to the consequences of “terrorism” and the chaos of war.
Still, despite having survived the demolition of the Twin Towers and the daunting challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we want is any involvement with fundamentalist politics that would make us potential targets for needless violence.
Certainly, the situation has the potential to deteriorate significantly, undeniably entangling us in a web of enduring and deeply troubling geopolitical violence. This dramatically heightens the risk of a catastrophic World War III, particularly given the involvement of Russia and North Korea, both of which are currently facing scrutiny for their failure to condemn the recent heinous acts of violence on Israeli soil. Pro-Palestine advocates and protesters worldwide are also under scrutiny for their roles in this ongoing crisis.
President Joe Biden’s position has increasingly aligned the U.S. with substantial financial support for Israel, involving hundreds of billions of our tax dollars. His adoption of Zionist rhetoric, which downplays the war crimes in besieged Gaza, has sparked accusations of us “being complicit in genocide.” In a joint press conference with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Oct. 25 in the White House Rose Garden, President Biden openly expressed his skepticism, stating, “I have no confidence in the figures provided by the Palestinians.”
A critical question emerges: Is President Biden ready to jeopardize our civilian lives, including our substantial Jewish community, in the pursuit of political alliances that appear to disregard our safety on American soil? Will he take corrective action to avert missteps and prolonged public relations fallout? Are we, as a nation, suitably prepared for the impending repercussions? What lies in store for our communities, families, friends, and the illustrious history of our city as the global cultural capital in the face of another catastrophic tragedy or, heaven forbid, a world war?
As a proud patriot with a family legacy in the military, I emphasize the vital importance of pursuing de-escalation as the logical and morally sound solution before we reach a point of no return. Stepping back and examining the broader perspective, we must inquire: What course of action serves the greater good, benefiting not only specific groups such as Jews, Israelis, Palestinians, or Arabs but all of humanity? What path ensures the well-being of innocent lives across the globe? What approach best safeguards our planet Earth, which, like humanity, deserves relief from the turmoil that engulfs it?
While I don’t have all the answers, I do know what I wish for.
I wish for the opportunity to visit Saint Petersburg in my lifetime. I wish that tragic events like 9/11 and 10/7 had never occurred. I wish the world didn’t always inadvertently or in a charged way make Jews feel unwelcomed. I wish for a world where Palestine is granted the freedom it deserves. I wish that religious extremism could evolve and shed its nefarious layers of depravity, across the board.
I wish for a world where we approach life and all interactions with logic, empathy, and kindness. I wish for higher education to reach the masses and for all dreams to flourish before we face the inevitable.
*Editor’s note: the misspelling of “Palestinian” written as “Palestenian” in the 5th graph was updated on Jan. 21, 2024, at 10:14 PM EST.
