THE ROAD FROM TEL AVIV TO KANDAHAR

When the ISIS criminal organization took advantage of the corruption and chaos in Iraq, capturing Mosul and advancing into other Iraqi cities in 2014, we worked diligently to demonstrate, with clear evidence, that the ideologies espoused by ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and previously by Iranian clerics do not reflect the beliefs of the people in the Middle East and North Africa. These groups are essentially criminal organizations, akin to the Mafia in the United States and Italy. This is evident in the fact that their leadership has criminal backgrounds, and the ideologies they promote lack acceptance among the general population of these regions.

In reality, many communities are frustrated with corrupt authorities and the silence, or even international support, given to these oppressive regimes. Some individuals may succumb to the influence of these groups, viewing them as a potential solution to the lack of Rule of Law and pervasive corruption that afflicts governments in the region. Our concern was that the Americans and the West might come to accept this troubling situation and respond by aligning with these corrupt quasi-leaders and resorting to military intervention rather than seeking judicial solutions.

Instead of holding these regimes accountable for their actions that foster terrorism and corruption, America and its allies have chosen to support them with weapons, information, and funding. This includes backing initiatives such as the Alhurra Media Network, which has been funded with hundreds of millions from American taxpayers. Unfortunately, this network has become a tool for ingraining the power of militia leaders and facilitating corruption. The few projects they have implemented aimed at promoting societal peace are trivial at best, failing to reduce the hypocrisy, lies, and corruption present. Instead, these efforts have contributed to increased complacency and corruption within the security, government, and civil organizations that traditionally play roles in managing and organizing relationships within Iraqi society.

To prevent the situation from becoming even more complicated for both Iraqis and the broader region, we reached out to several foreign offices and the American National Security team via email. I also raised awareness by displaying weekly banners in front of the White House and personally visiting Congress to present evidence of our experiences as Iraqis. Additionally, I contacted Senator Tim Kaine’s office and sent his team a summary of the factors that led to the rise of ISIS, along with potential solutions that they may not have considered. I stressed that endorsing the failed, corrupt militia authorities would only serve to benefit Iran and the corrupt factions, allowing them to continue their gains at the expense of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. 

Our message emphasized that the solution lies not in military action, but in reestablishing a system governed by the rule of law accompanied by accountability and punishment. Without these measures, corruption will not only affect this region but will also inspire similar issues in other countries and organizations, posing a significant threat even to Israel. As Iraq faces ongoing military victories that lead to the destruction of its cities, we see a parallel rise in corruption and escalating challenges. This situation was further complicated by America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the misgivings about Russia potentially igniting tensions within NATO. Meanwhile, Iran has been able to move its mercenaries to attack peaceful countries like Saudi Arabia and influence groups such as Hamas, leading the region to a critical point.

We have meticulously detailed in our advisory file, supported by logical reasoning and real-world evidence, many aspects of corruption and its immediate and long-term consequences for the region and the world. This corruption poses a serious threat to the very project you take pride in—Israel, which is often regarded as a beacon of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. We contend that the integration of Israel into the region cannot be achieved by turning a blind eye to or condoning the actions of murderers and corrupt officials under the guise of stability, nor through the use of military power to harm the innocent while perpetuating cycles of hatred, lies, and hypocrisy.

Instead, what the peoples of the Islamic world truly need is guidance from your enlightened and effective tools for achieving justice—principles upon which you built some of the greatest nations. We need someone to remind our peoples of the values of justice as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, focusing on accountability and a system of rewards and punishments. When this occurs, the populations that suffer from terrorism and corruption will hold their leaders accountable based on these values.

We urge you not to continue providing vast amounts of funding to military leaders and militias for violence and destruction. Instead, dedicate your resources to help the innocent people who are victims of terrorism and corruption. We made it clear that the security and protection of Israel will not come from silence regarding the crimes of powerful corrupt officials, but rather by channeling your efforts and resources toward promoting justice and its benefits among both the general public and the elite. 

When the people see these values in action, they will become advocates for justice and will create an environment conducive to accepting Israel as a force for freedom, justice, human rights, and a model of honest governance amid a landscape of corruption. We emphasized that the path to security and integration for Israel lies in establishing land routes connecting it to cities like Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, Tehran, Karachi, and even Kandahar—encouraging the governments there to uphold the rule of law and achieve justice. This way, an Israeli citizen could travel freely and safely through these areas.

I reminded them of Shimon Peres’s words before his passing, asserting that what we need to defend ourselves in this region, filled with the remnants of corrupt regimes, are the civilized tools that can cleanse it. Otherwise, even the smallest nuisances will persist if we, as Jews, uphold our values of humanity and dignity in this land.

The challenge lies in the fact that decision-makers both in America and abroad seem to have lost their ability to envision effective solutions. Their primary response is simply to push for the implementation of international resolutions. However, this raises a critical question: who will actually enforce these resolutions? Will it be the government of Abu Mazen or the militia-led governments in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, which operate according to their own local agendas?

For those like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, who express concern for the Palestinians due to their shared ethnicity and religion, I have to ask—what have you called for beyond urging the American government to halt arms exports to Israel and labeling its leaders as criminals? What practical alternatives do you propose for combating the terrorism fueled by the corruption in Palestine, the Middle East, and North Africa?

It seems many have forgotten their wisdom roots; instead, they have leveraged the rule of law to achieve representation for Americans in the “global temple” of democracy, governed by principles of justice. I urge them to use their influence to promote the tools of justice they have rather than merely expressing despair—an approach that has failed to save anyone or anything in Palestine.

Ultimately, in a region plagued by the dual challenges of terrorism and corruption, driven by deceit and lies, there will be no stability achieved by simply integrating Israel into the region, nor by trying to protect it with military force from land, air, and sea. Implementing international resolutions, dividing states, or establishing a temporary or permanent truce will not suffice. True progress can only come through the empowerment of the Palestinian people and the surrounding nations by achieving internal justice before seeking external resolutions, emphasizing accountability and punishment.

Anyone who believes Abu Mazen’s government can survive without accountability, amid the loss of 50,000 Palestinian lives and the devastation in Gaza, without resulting in future generations drawn to terrorist and corrupt practices is either naive or more corrupt than many of the Arab leaders currently in power.

Kamel EL Hassani

Previous Iraqi Lawyer