Silent Lonesome Man

When the conflict in Gaza broke out, it appeared that most Arab countries would state solidarity with Palestinian people, in line with the majority of the Muslim world. Yes, it is. The Arab states have to love, defend and respect Palestine, no? Well, if you're not a Palestinian, nor even an Arab who have insight about the Arab states, then it will be a problem. Actually, the reaction between Arab nations do not show any sight about unity - it is rather, a conflicted, if not saying deeply sectarian situation among the Arab states. But why Arab countries are unable to find a common solution? And how does it affect its status? Palestinians burning portrait of UAE leader Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2018. Unfortunately, relations between the Palestinians and other Arab nations are not so wealthy. There is a deep disgust and resentment against the other Arab entities from the Palestinians, a tribute to the infamous Arab-Israeli War of 1947. Before Israel became a nation like today, t...

When Israeli military and Palestinian militants clashed over the decision by the Israeli court to evict six Arab families from Jerusalem, little expected it would escalate into a full-blown conflict, with Israeli military now tries to flatten entire Gaza strip in accusation of the Hamas militants firing rockets to the country. Usually, Israel's actions would always receive condemnations from the majority of Muslim world. This time, no exception. But one country, once being Israel's strongest ally in the Islamic world, has now instead only expressed reservation. This was Azerbaijan, the Caucasus Shiite Muslim nation bordering Russia and Iran. The country's strange silence is abnormal because, in the past, Azerbaijan played an even more active role: it mediated between Israel and the Muslim nations; being one of only a few Muslim-majority states to not condemn Israel. So what happened? Israel and Azerbaijan have a unique relationship that made Azerbaijan the best Muslim ally ...

  Israel and Russia are two totally contrasting nations. Russia is a dictatorship with Vladimir Putin in charge of Russia from 2000 onward. Israel is illiberal democracy, which has a rightfully elected government, but conservative and right-wing, a legacy of Arab-Jewish hostilities dated back to 1948. Moreover, Israel is an ally of the United States and a major partner of NATO; Russia is neither. Under that circumstance, Russia and Israel have to be enemies. But it doesn't go that way. Instead, Israel and Russia enjoy some of their best in relations, in particular since the fall of Soviet Union. But this may not be examined without understanding how. Yet when I read an article an Israeli Institute, say, Moshe Dayan Center, I was aware of the resentful attitude against European Union among Israeli population. It still prevails to even today, maybe spearheaded than their once resentment against Russia. So the question comes through, why? I think it needs to be addressed. A different ...