Normalization A Cover for Netanyahu's Authoritarian, Expansionist Agenda: Analyst
“These moves regarding al-Quds represent US-Israel's diplomatic front to bolster Israeli claims on al-Quds as its capital city while undermining Palestinian rights in the city. For Netanyahu, who is intent on justifying his authoritarian ambitions, they signal support for his renewed war of terror and territorial expansion on the Palestinians and anyone who sides with them,” Beau Grosscup, a retired professor emeritus of political science at California State University, said in an interview with IQNA.
Following is the full text of interview:
IQNA: Last Tuesday, Papua New Guinea inaugurated its embassy in al-Quds, becoming the fifth country after the United States, Kosovo, Guatemala and Honduras to open a diplomatic mission in the occupied city. Also, on Monday Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen attended an official ceremony to open the diplomatic mission during a visit to the Bahraini capital of Manama. The moves have sparked widespread condemnations from the Palestinians as well as nations and human rights advocates across the globe, especially within the Muslim world. What is your take on this?
Grosscup: These moves regarding al-Quds represent US-Israel's diplomatic front to bolster Israeli claims on al-Quds as its capital city while undermining Palestinian rights in the city. For Netanyahu, who is intent on justifying his authoritarian ambitions, they signal support for his renewed war of terror and territorial expansion on the Palestinians and anyone who sides with them. For US officials, they provide more evidence of support both regional and global to encircle Iran.
IQNA: The UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco signed US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel in 2020, drawing condemnations from Palestinians who slammed the deals as "a stab in the back of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people." However, support for the US-brokered normalization deals between the Israeli regime and Arab countries has plummeted in Persian Gulf Arab nations. Why?
Grosscup: That the US-brokered normalization process has run into trouble reflects the historical and current competing interests and perspectives among Persian Gulf Arab Nations on many issues, but especially on Israel. Building an anti-Iran alliance which includes all or most Arab nations has long been an US-Israeli dream. Treating Arab nations basically as the same, particularly with regard to their relations with Iran, has long delayed that effort, even if the big Arab countries (Egypt-Saudi Arabia) have signed on for the time being.
IQNA: Some experts have described normalization with Israel as “political suicide”. Do you believe so?
Grosscup: It also depends on the influence the US has at the time in the Middle East, if it is waning and pro-Palestinian-Iran sentiments are on the rise then it would be politically troubling. It also depends on the nature of their Israeli 'partner.' At the moment, Israel (backed by US) is showing its extremely aggressive intentions toward Palestinians and Iran. As always, the Middle East is a constant puzzle in flux.
IQNA: What might the future hold with respect to the status of Israel taking into account its ongoing domestic crisis?
Grosscup: The future status of Israel is linked to the larger global rise of rightwing fascism, as the battle over the character-nature of Israel's government is mirrored in many countries including the US. Throughout the nations of the world, questions remain, will tolerance for diversity, the principle of 'richness of religious, cultural difference,' different notions of democracy, win out? Or will the opposite forces of religious fundamentalism, political authoritarianism, strict enforcement of patriarchy, racial-ethnic-class segregation be enforced? It is the question Israel the alleged "only democracy in the Middle East" now faces.
Beau Grosscup obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts in 1973 and taught at several universities before joining CSU, Chico in 1988. He specializes in international relations, US foreign policy, terrorism, and political economy. He wrote several books on terrorism and the militarization of America, such as “The Explosion of Terrorism” and “Terrorism and Strategic Terror: The Politics and Ethics of Aerial Bombardment.” He also appeared on various national media outlets, such as MSNBC, NPR and the Bill O'Reilly Show.
The views and opinions expressed in this interview are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the view of the International Quran News Agency.
