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Opinion | How the devastation of Gaza could hurt Israel and the US irreversibly

  • The conflict is the outgrowth of two historical tragedies. Both sides must be persuaded to acknowledge and accept each other’s right to exist
  • A ruthless demolition of Gaza has the potential to turn global opinion against Israel’s very existence and damage the US’ credibility irreparably

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
The trauma and devastation inflicted upon Gaza is likely to take generations to heal. But the widespread global sympathy for the plight of Palestinians might be doing greater, possibly irreversible, damage to the credibility of both Israel and the United States.
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The September 11 attacks thrust the West into a confrontation with the Islamic world. When China re-emerged as a global player, attention shifted towards a perceived civilisational divide between the West and the Confucian East. Then came the October 7 attack on Israel, refocusing the “clash of civilisations” narrative on the West and the Islamic world.

As with the aftermath of September 11, Israel’s ferocious retaliation against Palestinians has ignited outrage across the Muslim world, fuelling mass protests. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has emerged as a vocal advocate, championing a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
During Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng’s visit to Malaysia in November, Anwar made a plea for China’s mediation in the Middle East. This resonates with the commitment made by Anwar and President Xi Jinping back in March to fostering mutual trust among cultures through Xi’s Global Civilisation Initiative.

Indeed, Xi is strategically positioning China as a proactive, bridge-building force in global affairs.

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Earlier this year, Beijing brokered a historic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, significantly elevating China’s stature in the Middle East. With the current war, Beijing signalled its readiness to mediate and called for a ceasefire. During an online summit of the Brics group – comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – on Tuesday, Xi called again for a return to a two-state solution.
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