Vision of Hope Blog tagged 'peace'

Don't Laugh: Can Saudi Arabia become the "Mecca" of Green?

Nissim Dahan

Even the title sounds a bit out there. What, the Middle East, the world's largest producer of oil, becoming a center for green technology, and renewable energy? Sounds crazy, doesn't it? And yet, the sheer incongruity of it all may just be enough to make it work. In a world of increasing uncertainty, sometimes it is the unexpected that is to be expected.

Look at the world, and what do you see? A lot of good things, that's for sure. Beauty surrounds us wherever we choo [...]

If you were Barack Obama, how would you Sell a Vision of Hope for the Middle East?

Nissim Dahan

Given the choice, most voters would rather forget about the Middle East. With so many pressing problems here at home, it is hard to keep worrying about that precarious place. But the Middle East is not easily forgotten. In the first place, our oil supply, which continues to fuel our economy until we find feasible alternatives, requires a measure of stability in the region. And in the second place, John McCain has stated repeatedly that the threat of Islamic extremism is the transcendent iss [...]

Talking To Our Enemies: Why Even Bother?

Nissim Dahan

President Bush's recent trip to Jerusalem hinted at what will surely become a contentious issue in the upcoming presidential election. In addressing the Israeli Knesset, the president said something to the effect that talking to Iran's leaders was tantamount to "appeasement," which history has proven to be a failed policy. In fact, the Bush administration has been repeatedly criticized for refusing to negotiate with certain, specifically selected enemies, like Iran and Syria. < [...]

ISRAEL@60: A Light Unto The Nations?

Nissim Dahan

Sixty years have passed since the founding of the State of Israel, and it is fitting, therefore, to look back and to assess. Since her founding, the expectation was that the Jewish State would become "A Light Unto the Nations," in keeping with biblical prophesies to that effect. Has this hope been realized, or has Israel failed to measure up to the hopes of its founders?

In many respects, the light of Israel has shined brightly for the world to behold. Due in large part [...]

A Recipe for Peace Pie

Nissim Dahan

Ingredients: 1 Nanotechnology Research Department at an Israeli University1 state of the art Green Technology Product1 Industrial Zone in the Palestinian West Bank1 mid-size Factory BuildingSeveral Palestinian and Israeli Entrepreneurs (preferably of the male and female variety)200 Palestinian workers (preferably of the "peace-loving" variety)Several Saudi Investors1 Marketing Firm with hunger in its belly1 Public Relations Firm with the guts to think bigSeveral Media Outlets (w [...]

Edwin Just Called Me A "Deist"

Nissim Dahan

In one of his comments on www.mideastyouth.com, Edwin called me a "deist."

A what? A "deist." Well, "them's fighting words," as far as I was concerned, but before reaching for the boxing gloves, I thought I'd better look up what the word "deist" means. It can't hurt to understand the insults, before getting insulted.

Deism is the belief in the existence of a God on the evidence of reason and nature only, with [...]

Is Gaza More Than Gaza?

Nissim Dahan

The Middle East is a symbolic place. One thing means another thing, and nothing is quite as it seems. The recent fighting in Gaza can be explained on its face, but it too could be symbolic of a much wider struggle.

Why did Israel decide to respond, as she did, at this particular time? Let's look for the simple answer first. Since Hamas took over the Gaza strip in mid-June, over 800 rockets and over 900 mortar bombs have been fired at Israeli towns like Sderot. A number of inj [...]

The Hamsa and the Businessman

Nissim Dahan

Most of you probably know what a Hamsa is. Right? For those who don't; it is a good luck symbol, in the shape of a hand, which has been around as part of Arab and Jewish cultures for centuries. Most Hamsas feature an "eye" to protect from the "evil eye." And in recent times, a great many feature a "dove" to symbolize peace.

What would you say is the evil that we need protection from in this day and age? For what it's worth, today's evil i [...]

Will Israelis and Palestinians Buy Into A Vision Of Hope?

Nissim Dahan

You can't talk about peace in the Middle East, without talking about Israel and the Palestinians. While it is true that an accommodation between Israel and the Palestinians will have to be reached for there to be peace in the Middle East, it is also true that such an accommodation, in and of itself, will not bring peace to the entire region. In other words, the issues to be resolved in the Middle East go beyond the issues that divide Israel and a future Palestine.

In f [...]

The Extremists May Have A Point, But Miss It As Well

Nissim Dahan

Is there any validity to some of the claims being made by the ideological extremists in the Middle East? The answer is probably yes. If they look to the past, they can point to the Crusades, and more recently to the injustices wrought by colonialism. If they look to the present, they can point to the accelerated spread of Western culture and influence, and to the reality of Western economic and military power, as posing a threat to their religious beliefs, and their way of life. If they look to [...]