The preliminary agreement to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon ushered by John Kerry, diplomats from the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia is a courageous step toward easing tensions in the Middle East.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said, “We will stick to our promises on a nuclear deal.” And, conservative, supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s support for the concept gives it significant credibility.
Republicans and some Democrats in the House and Senate ironically favor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vehement opposition to this agreement instead of supporting President Barack Obama’s push for it. Netanyahu argues that this agreement would legitimize Iran’s nuclear program, Israel’s destruction and increase the risk of “horrific war.”
My father survived the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. In a March 1948 talk at Bowdoin College, where he taught, he warned against the United Nation’s formation of Israel. As a Zionist, an independent Jewish state, it would be “bitterly opposed” by the Arabs, “built at their expense” and deprive them of self-determination. Israel would forever have to rely on the West for support.
My father was correct. With the establishment of Israel, the Palestinians were forced into exile from their Promised Land. And the United States yearly sustains Israel by more than $3 billion. The United States should continue to support Israel, while at the same time negotiate for a Palestinian state.
As benchmarks are reached toward accomplishing the treaty, the deeply rooted mistrust on both sides has a chance to recede. Iran accuses the United States for helping to bring Shah Reza Pahlavi to power, and supporting this corrupt dictator until he was overthrown in the 1979 revolution. Iran also accuses the United States for supporting other dictators such as Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, who attacked Iran in1980 using weapons supplied by the United States in that devastating eight-year war. On the other hand, the United States fears Iran, a Shia Muslim state, since it supports the Shia in Syria and Iraq. This fosters international instability exacerbated by ISIS.
In an increasingly interdependent world, it is imperative to overcome the factors of religion and nationalism (glorified tribalism) to which we all adhere. These, which include beliefs, languages and political systems, give us a sense of self-righteousness, which generates a perception of otherness.
In the words of the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, “for that safety, comfort, we are willing to kill others who have the same desire to be safe, to feel protected, to belong to something.” Those opposing the preliminary agreement to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon need to take to heart Krishnamurti’s wisdom. For the security and comfort of us all, the United States must support all efforts to make this preliminary agreement become a reality.
David O. Solmitz is a retired teacher, author, and artist residing in Waterville; dsolmitz@gmail.com
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