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- MASWALI 🌍 | ISSUE 5
MASWALI 🌍 | ISSUE 5
Low Stakes
Uri Ludger & Joshua Musana
November 18, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Uri🕵🏾; Yo man. Saw this earlier this week and I was curious about whether it's true. Although I saw some push back on Twitter. The comments are like “this is the same thing you were saying about the Ukraine War last year.” And at the same time, Suluhu has just announced a reduction in Petroleum prices. Something’s just not adding up.
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️;I see how that could be perceived as an easy scapegoat😅
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️; What would you say are the ACTUAL stakes for East Africa in this conflict though? Everyone is quite caught up in what's been unfolding since October, but it's easy to argue that we have our own problems going on here. For example, this week we saw developments in the peace efforts in Sudan. That conflict isn't showing any signs of dying down.
Uri🕵🏾; I guess to assess the stakes we have to look at how exactly things got to where they are now with Israel and Palestine. Best place to start is with the creation of the Israel state in 1948.
The Quest for a Jewish State
Uri🕵🏾 Jews had been pushing for an official return to what they believe to be their homeland since the late 1880s, and they were able to gather global support, including that of the UK that at the time controlled the area of Palestine.
Uri; When the Jews moved into land designated to them by the British, they were met with hostility from the Palestinians and neighboring Arab countries such as Egypt, Syria and Jordan. These hostilities led to a series of wars, such as the Arab Israeli War, The Six Day War and the Yom Kippur war, each time with Israel claiming victory and annexing more territory.
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️; I see. In Museveni’s statement, he was advocating for a “2 state - solution.” What’s that about?
Uri🕵🏾; Since the Israeli state was created, the preferred solution for the tensions between the Jews and Palestinians has been a “2 -state solution" - for the land to be equally shared between the two groups, and to have two independent states. However, Hamas, a political and militant group from Palestinians doesn’t like this. They view the entire territory as Palestinian land and are prepared to resort to violence to achieve their goals, as we saw with the attract they executed on Israeli civilians in October.
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️; Ooh, so Palestine has historically been the aggressor?
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️; Not entirely. Israel also has crimes to answer for. Fundamentally. A significant section of Israeli Jews are also not open to the 2-state solution because it threatens their existence. As such, for years Israel has implemented what is described as an apartheid system on the Palestinian people living in the Gaza strip and the West Bank. Palestinians are heavily surveilled, not allowed to leave these areas, heavily segregated against and killed indiscriminately.
East African Countries’ Stances
Uri🕵🏾; So, back to your question on ACTUAL stakes. We can start by examining the official stances of East African countries regarding this conflict.
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️; Museveni put out a statement of Twitter (Yes, still call it that. Sue Me!) for the two-state solution and condemned attacks on civilians, reflecting Uganda's neutral stance. Thanks to Museveni, Uganda has a cordial relationship with Israel, collaborating militarily, agriculturally, and also economically; about 7 million worth of export revenue. But that is nowhere near Uganda’s top trading partners.
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️;Kenya's President Ruto, however, faced criticism for standing in solidarity with Israel, condemning terrorism and attacks on civilians, even though the official Kenya position is support for the two state solution. He has since deleted the tweet, and adopted a more balanced stance, acknowledging the right to self determination of Palestine. Ruto had a state visit to Israel earlier this year, in a bid to strengthen trade ties, currently valued at about $6 million
Uri🕵🏾; I also noticed that Tanzania, historically linked to liberation movements, has remained notably silent on recent developments, despite its legacy of supporting Palestine.
“We were fighting for our independence, but the Palestinian plight is more terrible and unjust. They have been deprived of their own country. They are a nation without a land of their own.”
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️; Speaking of historical linkages, East Africa has historical connections with both Israel and Palestine. These connections include Israeli support for Southern Sudan rebels in the 1990s, the infamous Operation Entebbe, and the Palestine Liberation Organization's aid to Idi Amin. The most surprising piece of history, though, is that there was a proposition by the British Government to establish the Israel State in what is currently Uganda. This was quickly turned down by the Jews though.
Seeking a Resolution
Malcolm👨🏽⚖️; Honestly, my biggest hope is that the guns can be put aside and a peaceful means to harmony is pursued. Acts of terror of any form are not something to condone or downplay, but neither is oppressive occupation, indiscriminate killing of civilians in hospitals, and closing of humanitarian windows.
Uri🕵🏾; Indeed. the path to peace involves addressing the root causes, ending illegal occupation policies, and finding a lasting settlement between the two parties.
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