By Anjan Roy
Donald Trump, now used to roiling the world of politics and diplomacy on a daily basis, has turned his attention to strife-torn Gaza Strip. He now promises the US Imperialist Eagle to fly over the disputed area.
The Trumpian proposal for Gaza however scarcely hide his persona as a real estate promoter, developer of luxury spots and condominiums. Trump says US should take long term “ownership position” in Gaza. This reverses long established US position on the Palestinian crisis. The USA had long held a two state solution for the disputed territories, which he has banished at one stroke.
This is the problem with oligarchies. The ruling oligarch would inevitably seek to aggrandise his oligarchic ambitions in the guise of public policy. In this case, the ambition of a promoter has transcended into global diplomacy. These could set forth very dangerous consequences of immense geo-political implication.
The objective situation of this announcement is acute. Trump announced from his White House Oval Office, with Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, sitting alongside, that if necessary US troops would roll in and clear the Gaza Strip of its inhabitants. The Gazans should be moving out to some other places, maybe, Jordan, Egypt and where not, and let the Americans re-develop the area.
In this proposal, Donald Trump, was in his best as a real estate promoter and builder image. He could see the possibility of developing the razed land into a Middle East Riviera that should attract the elites from around the world. What will happen to those who had lived in these lands for generations, for centuries if not many centuries, does not really matter. They will have to move.
This bizarre proposal has been greeted with angry retorts and total rejection by countries in the Middle East. Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Jordan have all differed and spoke against the proposal. The neighbouring countries have come out with immediate restrictions on border movements against any people coming in from the embattled Gaza Strip.
Ever since Israeli move against the Hamas’ atrocities against its citizens in October 2022, Israelis have pounded the Gaza Strip with every kind of bombardment and missiles. The local population have already moved south in the face of massive assaults. The result was that Gaza was now completely ruined, really unfit for human habitation. Trump is right saying that it was no longer a place where people can live.
Major hospitals have all been razed, buildings are only stark facades, roads have been turned up, and even basic facilities like water supplies and electricity have been all destroyed. Trump is right in saying that the area is not fit for people to live. Hence, he suggests the inhabitants should move out.
The question is where and for how long. No country is ever willing to take on others burdens. More so, when America itself, which until now offered home to world’s displaced, refuses to take in immigrants and deporting immigrants.
Rebuilding Gaza is perfectly the right thing to undertake. But then, rebuilding should be for the people. It cannot be rebuilding it into something like a Riviera where the displaced local shall have no place. Even a new Middle East Rivera would be fine, provided that it should at the same time accommodate those who lost their lands in a time bound manner. Trump has remained completely silent on this point.
He was asked the question repeatedly in course of his press briefing. He ignored the persistent question and brushed aside. He abruptly ended his press conference and left all the uncomfortable questions unanswered. That can be alright for him. Not for the world.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has condemned the move saying the Palestinians should not be displaced. Others have said that people should live where they belong to traditionally.
Meanwhile the Israeli hard rights groups have voiced support for the idea and even welcomed it. A plan like this could permanently stop creation of a separate homeland for the Palestinians. Many western countries have also come out against the idea, saying that people should live and prosper where they have been living. (IPA Service)
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