A View of the Middle East from Within

If Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas agree on one thing it is the fact that the Middle East will never be the same after October 7th, 2023. Obviously, their vision for a future Middle East is entirely different. This difference reflects the nature of the conflict and the dilemma in which the Middle Eastern region has been entangled for many decades. At the risk of oversimplifying things, the essence of this dilemma lies in hegemony and self-determination, control, and emancipation. The story begins with contending visions for the reconfiguration of the region and aborted transformations. Evidently, the Middle East stands at a critical juncture, influenced by immobilizing internal dynamics and dominant external policies. A fundamental reconfiguration of the region is clearly needed, but it cannot be artificially engineered or externally inspired. It must originate from within and be based on the authentic common bonds and aspirations of the peoples of the region.