Security and stability in the Middle East or any other region cannot be ensured if the appropriate foundations are lacking. Above all, these include a clear vision of the future and inspiring hope in people. This principle applies above all to the conflicts and chaos that prevail in our region, the causes of which are known to all.
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Indeed, everyone is paying a high price for their silence in the face of the growing role of the rabble-rousers in various trouble spots in the region. At the forefront of those responsible is the US, which has failed to recognize the consequences of its actions and policies.
Washington deliberately ignored the potential escalation by militias and Iranian terrorists and prioritized the attempt to appease Tehran and buy time through the ill-fated nuclear deal, which has been brain-dead since 2015. The current reality is that the Middle East has become a global staging ground for the spread of chaos.
Nation-states are collapsing in several areas, and the influence of militias is increasing. These militias vie for roles and power and threaten global security and stability. They even disrupt one of the most important international maritime trade routes in the Red Sea.
These rogue militias have turned into a kind of school that teaches rebellion, disregard for the law, and confrontation with armies and nations. Their struggle for supremacy has become a nightmare for everyone in our region, turning it into one of the most dangerous epicenters of global chaos.
The signs are that the foreseeable future holds more of the same, given the factors of tension, conflict, and proxy wars. Amid unprecedented international division, it remains a challenge to build a unified global stance against this immense violence, chaos, and instability. The real crisis in the Middle East is that the region has become a major battleground for settling disputes.
Borders are blurring, and the influence of the US - the pre-eminent world power - is rapidly diminishing. The region has become a direct target for a number of regional and international actors seeking to engage in a decisive strategic conflict with Washington. All of this is taking place in a regional environment that is teeming with explosive elements.
Everyone in our region and in the world must realize that the current events are detrimental to the interests of all Middle Eastern countries, including Israel.
It is Israel's duty to take into account the positions, circumstances, and interests of the regional parties that share the desire for security and stability, in order to prevent creating ideal conditions for forces aiming to spread chaos and undermine peace.
Given the current international divisions and the complete lack of effective international institutions, it is impossible to find a way to calm the situation without the active involvement of regional parties. These parties should work together, develop common visions, and devise a realistic approach to tackle this unprecedented crisis.
Dialogue and cooperation based on common ground are essential, while opportunities should not be squandered by conspirators seeking to escalate violence, fuel wars, and spill blood. Evidently, the foggy horizon looming over the Middle East harbors considerable dangers. It brings with it the likelihood of a new wave of extremism, radicalization, and terrorism - possibly even bloodier than before.
Whether it is heightened anger and incitement or the historical pattern of successive generations competing in extremism and radicalism, the threat goes beyond any one nation. Current reality and historical experience suggest that everyone is paying the price for the spread of the terrorist plague.
This threat affects maritime trade in the Red Sea and is exemplified by missile and drone activity in the Middle East. What is happening in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza may not be the biggest threat in the Middle East.
The situation in the region has reached a level where any mistake or miscalculation by one party could lead to a major regional conflagration and a major war, the extent of which is unknown. Assessing the outcomes or recognizing the involved parties proves challenging for any observer.
The more critical dilemma is that the plotting forces are almost succeeding in achieving their goals, especially in terms of hostility between the regional states. These forces are undermining the atmosphere of peace, escalating tensions, expanding the volatile border area, ending the state of cold peace, and re-creating an environment of mistrust, conflict, and confrontation.
This threatens to undo decades of efforts by the countries in the region to achieve development and a better future for their people.
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