The tendency to generalise Western elites – encompassing thinkers, academics, intellectuals, and the broader intelligentsia – under a uniform intellectual or moral banner in the context of crises is a flawed approach.
However, it’s equally unacceptable to condone selective principles and fragmented ethics, especially in the face of conflicts as severe as the current situation in Gaza.
There, we witness a brutal and systematic Israeli genocide, which not only violates all norms of religion, custom, and morality but also eerily echoes the Holocaust, a tragedy inflicted on the Jews themselves.
This dichotomy between historical victimhood and current aggression is startling.
The brutality in Gaza perpetrated by those who once endured the horrors of Nazism, raises profound moral questions, especially in light of the New World Order spearheaded by the United States and its Western allies.
Western and US governments’ stances towards the Arab world, driven by motives like ensuring Israel’s security, securing oil resources, and outmaneuvering geopolitical rivals, reflect a narrow interest-based approach to Arab geography.
This pragmatism is seen as a constant in Western political strategy.
Despite the Enlightenment’s foundational role in promoting rationalism, scientific thought, human rights, and the spirit of revolutions in the West, there remains a stark contrast between these values and the actual political practices of Western nations.
This gap is evident when power and hegemonic aspirations overshadow ideals like justice, equality, and the rule of law.
The varied responses of Western elites to the Gaza war highlight this complexity.
For instance, German philosopher Jürgen Habermas, associated with the Frankfurt School, publicly endorsed Israel’s actions, a stance that was met with significant opposition from other academics.
This includes a group of prominent scholars who questioned the limited scope of solidarity with Israel and the neglect of Palestinian civilians and Muslims facing Islamophobia in Germany.
Contrastingly, thinkers like Noam Chomsky have been vocal against Israeli and Western oppression, while others like Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson have expressed strong support for Israel. This spectrum of opinions extends to the American academic scene, where debates over anti-Semitism and political exclusion mirror the era of McCarthyism.
The international controversy over the Palestinian plight returns the focus from political bargaining to principles, morals, and human empathy.
Despite Western governments’ support for Israel and the staggering Palestinian casualties, there remains a significant disconnect between the Enlightenment’s ideals and the realities of Western politics, particularly in relation to Israel.
The effectiveness of the Zionist lobby in influencing Western decision-making post-World War II starkly contrasts with the less impactful Arab efforts in the same realm.
This geopolitical irony is further highlighted by the closer alignment of some Arab regimes with Tel Aviv than with their Arab neighbours.
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