I'm aware that this class is a politics of oil class, rather than a politics class, but they do frequently overlap or at least have effects on each other. In class on Tuesday, Professor Henry was saying the Arab states are upset about the US not brokering peace in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This is ironic because though the US is the world's superpower, it is exceptionally biased towards Israel. By virtue of the fact that we send billions of US tax dollars annually not only towards the Israeli military, but to fund the illegal occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands, the US is not in a position of neutrality necessary to be a meaningful peace broker. When this country funds the conflict, we aren't simultaneously in a position to say "stop fighting".
I do, however, think that the laws passed by the UN with the backing of the international community, have the ability to bring about a stable and peaceful Middle East, but they need to be enforced (UN resolutions implemented). Enforcing these laws and resolutions requires the backing of the superpower. I hope that the US government and public realizes that we are all in this together, that peace is in the interest of everyone, and gives the means necessary to implement peaceful solutions from groups trying to do so. ~Sumaya