Our AFU/WOFI group was lucky enough to hear a lecture by Sheldon Shulman. Shulman used to be Director of a department under Yitzhak Rabin, and worked at the foreign ministry. The two main topics that he talked to us about were the Palestinian Israeli Conflict, and Israel’s struggles with Iran.
The first thing that Shulman taught us was to “Put aside everything we know about the world when talking about the Middle East.” This will help us see it through their eyes. In America you can make choices, but in Islam the Koran tells you how to live your life. That is just an example of how different the situation is there. Another example of this punitive mentality is seen in the treatment of Baha’i leaders in Iraq . Bahai is a rather pacifistic religion with a strong focus on helping others in this world. These leaders were hung for not trying to convert the Baha’i people into Muslims.
All of the countries in the Middle East, who have all at one time hated Israel, have found ways to be at peace with Israel except for Iran. Iran used to have peace with Israel about 30 years ago. Right now Iran’s goal is to develop nuclear weapons and to kill many Jews. The Muslim religious/political leaders seem to hate Jews and the United States in almost equal measure. The U.S. is trying to make sure that Iran never gets those nuclear weapons as Israel weighs heavily and positively in the United State’s foreign policy.
Shulman also believes Israel is also trying very hard to make peace with the Palestinians. Israel keeps offering the Palestinians 95% of the land that they want, but they keep refusing. This shows how hard Israel is trying for peace. The Palestinians have consistently refused any proposal that doesn’t turn 100% of the land back to the Palestinians.
Finally, Shulman was asked about Iran’s nuclear capacity. He believes that Iran could have a bomb in 6 to 9 months. He also believes , however, that Iran might be willing to march right up to the brink of producing a nuclear weapon and then retreat. This would allow them to gain prestige in the international world for having peaceful intentions.