This Insight is provided by Mike Davis, a Christian who has spent a decade working in the Middle East, principally Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt as a migration agent. He also lived in the 1970s and 80s in Jerusalem, after several years on a kibbutz near Gaza. As the world watches the terrible conflict in Lebanon continue, he reflects on the convictions he developed over that time…

It can be very difficult to understand the Middle East situation. However, if one can grasp a few very unhappy facts, the situation can make more sense, although it remains unhappy for all involved.

The loss of Palestine in 1947 to the Islamic "Ummah’ (the community and lands of the "Faithful') was a religious and psychological shock, from which Islam has not recovered to this day. The Western nations basically do not care a fig about this shock to the Muslim sensibility. The United Nations split Palestine between the Jews and the Palestinian Arabs, so the division remains valid in International Law. The Muslim nations opposed this split but due to the economic weakness of the Islamic countries (despite oil at $70 a barrel) they can do nothing about this.

The Islamic claims made to the Muslims include the promise of "success'. But even blind Abdullah can see that Islam cannot produce this success. This endless litany of failure has led, in this generation, to the frantic outburst of terrorism and the growth of fanatic groups - al Quada, Hizbullah, Hamas being the leading trinity of actors.

The Arab sentiment is to not accept the existence of Israel. The Jewish and Western sentiment is for Israel to continue existing. The immoveable object of Arab rejection meets the irresistible force of Western and Israeli determination. In this case, unlike in the song, nothing will give. Arab rejection won't go away; neither will Israel. This will lead to a war in each generation as the two forces of culture collide. The current conflict is the clash of this generation. There will be another one around 2030.

What is to be done?

My personal view, based on having lived and worked in Arab countries in the Middle East for about ten years all up, is for the West to recognize that Islam is most likely dying. It cannot seem to make the necessary Reformation that all groups need on a slow but steady basis. While not part of the Reformed Christian tradition myself (by choice), I fully recognize its importance, vital importance, to the ongoing well being of the Christian Church, to which we all belong. Islam needs a Reformation, but cannot produce a Luther or Cranmer or Knox or Calvin or anyone.

What hope is there for a religious group which has absolute control of the education of the Muslim children and teaches them that the Sun revolves around the Earth, because it says so in the Koran?

What next?

Jesus told the Apostles to preach and convert those in need of the Gospel. This injunction should be returned to by the Christian churches, without any nonsense about political correctness. Islam no longer functions well whenever Muslims encounter the Christian West. The Muslims are the first victims of a dying Islam. Conversion to Christianity is the mandated duty of all the branches of the Christian church. Muslims with spiritual needs (‘Islam as Politics’ is another article) cannot continue eating the stones of the Koran. They should be informed that here is available to them, Bread.

Anyone with any love for the long-suffering Arabs could not wish anything better for them.

Photos courtesy Arabist
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