give your opinion on the west asian crisis
Answers
West Asia (referred to also as the Middle East by the West) comprises of the Gulf nations and other countries like Iran, Iraq, Israel and Palestine. This article will trace the West Asian Crisis and India’s position in the said crisis, specifically with regard to the Gulf countries. The Crisis is characterized by three major issues being the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Saudi Arabia-Iran rivalry and the Qatar diplomatic crisis.
The Israel Palestine conflict is about land and identity. The root cause for the conflict can be traced back to biblical times. However, the modern-day dispute emerged in the late 1800s and early 1990s when the then region of Palestine (which included the territory of present Israel) was occupied largely by the Arabs. After the second world war, a large number of Jews fleeing persecution arrived in West Asia and began to settle in Palestine. The Arabs saw this as an invasion of their space which eventually lead to the rise disputes against the Jewish idea of Zionism (movement for the establishment of the Jewish homeland).
In 1947, the United Nations advised in the splitting of the territory into three parts: one for the Jews, one for the Arabs and the Special International Regime for the city of Jerusalem. Though the Arabs rejected the deal, in 1948 the State of Israel was established as the home for the Jewish people. Violent wars broke out with the Palestinians demanding the right of return of the lands. Jerusalem became a contested territory with both regions claiming it as theirs. While there are many attempts at peaceful settlement, matters escalated in 2018, when the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, upsetting the Arabs.
The rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran is largely relating to power and influence in West Asia, with both countries wanting to be Islamic leaders in the region. One of the major differences between the two nations is the religious schism. While Iran is largely Shia Muslim populated, Saudi Arabia is home to large Sunni Muslims. Both countries have extended their support to their own sects in international affairs, further escalating the divide.
For instance, in Syria, Saudi Arabia is seen supporting the rebels (largely Sunni) while Iran is backing the regime of Bashar al-Assad. There is also a pattern of other nations picking teams, especially with the US being a Saudi Arabian ally and opposing Iran on many fronts, and Pakistan, another Sunni populated nation having closer ties with Saudi Arabia.
The Qatar diplomatic crisis is the result of 9 countries cutting off relations with Qatar over its alleged support for terrorism. The countries issued a 13 point list of demands to Qatar which it refused to abide by stating that it infringes its sovereignty and international law. Another reason for Saudi Arabia’s contention with Qatar is the close relations it has with Iran with which it shares the world’s largest gas field. This move by Qatar’s neighbours has seriously affected the tiny nation as Saudi Arabia has not only closed off the land borders it shares with it but ships and planes flying the Qatari flag are banned.