The World on the Brink of Disaster?

Zelensky and Netanyahu hold the world to ransom

 by Alexander Christiani

It might not be an exaggeration to fear that these two gentlemen, with their incredible and inexcusable stubbornness, could bring the world to the edge of a global conflict.

While it is undoubtedly Ukraine’s inalienable right to defend itself against Russian aggression, insisting on the supply of long-range weapons for the sole purpose of striking deep into Russia could result in a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO, thereby posing an enormous threat to the security and well-being of all European countries.

I am by no means a Russian sympathiser – on the contrary – but all of us in Europe will ultimately have no choice but to co-exist with Russia. As the well-known saying goes: “America (for Europe) is indispensable, but Russia is immovable.”

Both sides will have to make painful compromises to achieve a ceasefire and a reasonably durable coexistence. On the basis of credible safety assurances for Ukraine, Russian troops would need to leave the Donbas in exchange for regional autonomy, and Ukraine would have to forfeit its claim to Crimea once and for all.

In the Middle East, it is horrifying to witness Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s determination to stay in power at all costs, in part to avoid criminal proceedings against him.

By including extremists and criminals such as Smotrich and Ben-Gvir in his Cabinet, Netanyahu appears indifferent to peace and the fate of hostages in Gaza. These two individuals seem solely intent on inciting hatred and promoting conflict, thereby pushing the region towards the abyss.

The United States, Israel’s long-term protector and weapons supplier – without which Israel would cease to exist – has been shamefully made irrelevant. All efforts by the US President, his Secretary of State, and others to bring Netanyahu to his senses have failed.

Of course, it goes without saying that Israel has the indisputable right to defend itself against aggressors, be they from Hamas or Hezbollah. However, its government has made no tangible effort to de-escalate the conflict. Quite the opposite: as I write these lines, there is even talk of a full-scale invasion of Lebanon, with tragic and unforeseeable consequences for both sides.

We in Europe can only watch with horror and helplessness as events unfold in Ukraine and the Middle East. May fate protect us all from an uncertain future.

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