No Problem with Saudi Arabia’s Racism!?

For years, we have been hearing that a Jew or anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport is not permitted to enter Saudi Arabia, among several other Islamic countries. Many have been hoping for our democratic politicians to take democratic steps and put an end to this bigotry by insisting that Saudi Arabia and similar minded countries put in practice their oath to the UN for a reciprocal relationship. Instead, our politicians chose to play along with this racism, without realizing that the racist pundits aimed to spread their racism to our countries too. Now, some major businesses are adapting themselves to Saudi Arabia’s hate law and also indirectly using our money to finance its cause.

Delta Airlines has recently entered a negotiation for an international deal with the Saudi Arabian Airline to join its “SkyTeam” network in 2012. The details of this mutual deal reveal that Jews from all countries and holders of Israeli passports cannot enter Saudi Arabia, even as transit passengers (NetDailyNews, June 22, 2011; USAToday, June 24, 2011).

It is truly shocking to see our post-modernist democracy compromising with racist ideologies for the sake of a narrow business venture. Saudi Arabia is internationally pronouncing its anti-race policy and many of our democracy-lovers are remaining quiet, not only towards Saudi Arabia, but also towards our own native business corporations which are serving as channels for this hatred. Ignoring racism, in its purest form, is racism itself.

It is concerning that a portion of the money from this network will be going to Saudi Airlines, funding further racist policies. In other words, Delta’s customers will indirectly finance Saudi Arabia’s religious hatred, dehumanizing their own fellow Jewish citizens.  Delta justified its deal by saying that it has to comply with all applicable laws in every country it serves. In other words, since anti-Semitism is a law in Saudi Arabia, Delta has no choice but to submit to it and allow it to be put into practice through its own organization in America. Can such a justification be acceptable in our current day and age?

Of course, it's not Delta's fault that the Saudi government is anti-Semitic.  But it is Delta’s fault for choosing to become an implementing agent (Shariah-compliant, according to Islam) for Saudi Arabia’s discriminatory policy.

One can’t help but wonder why Muslim scholars and leaders in the West are quiet on this issue, since they have always spoken in defense of pluralism. Obviously, this anti-Semitic proclamation of Saudi Arabia is against pluralism. Do they have a different definition for pluralism? Is it a kind of pluralism that excludes Jews? Or, is it a short-term pluralism until Islam gains power and its law (Islamic Sharia) is established in our countries? If not, why are they not speaking out against Delta’s anti-pluralistic approach? When we reveal the anti-Semitic and anti-Christian doctrine of Islam, they call us racists, even though criticizing a religion or a doctrine has nothing to do with racism. Now, Saudi Arabia itself has pronounced that the Islamic law is anti-Jew, but these Muslims have chosen silence towards this obvious racism.

Can we not see the obvious threats of committed Muslims in our countries? They have been threatening our freedom both nationally and internationally. In our contemporary world, where globalization has closely connected nations, the breach of human rights in any corner of the world will certainly create a ripple affect across borders. Saudi Arabia’s anti-Semitism is an international problem, threatening our democracy.

Despite Saudi’s years of obvious racial and religious incitements, our western leaders continue to see it as potential for establishing peace between Israel and Palestine. Sounds rather irrational and impractical that a nation who openly hates Jews can be expected to promote peace with them. The reason that the decades of peace negotiations in the Middle-East have proven unsuccessful is a clear sign of this insincere approach to peace despite Israel’s readiness for a two state solution; the state of Israel and the state of Palestine. In contrast, Palestinians’ initiatives have always been based on the establishment of Palestine and the destruction of Israel. Just recently, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called on Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to "just say six words - 'I will accept the Jewish state" (A7 Israel’s National News, Tuesday, June 28, 2011). Netanyahu said that he stood before his own people and said numerous times that he would accept a Palestinian state. He challenged the president of Palestine and said, “Now President Abbas must stand before his people and he has to say these six words, 'I will accept the Jewish State’.”

Of course, it will not be easy for Abbas to accept the sovereignty of Israel since anti-Semitism is rooted in his doctrine. Also, the problem becomes two-fold as he has to please the religious and money lords; including Saudi Arabia. For Saudi Arabia, the mother-land of Islam, every place is a no-go zone for Jews, even the airplanes of our democratic countries. Saudi Arabia’s prophet said:

The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him... (Muslim :: Book 41 : Hadith 6985 & Bukhari :: Volume 4 :: Book 52 :: Hadith 177).

The Quran also teaches in Q.9:1-9 that Muslims cannot enter treaty with non-Muslims, as they are wicked people who do not follow Muhammad. This is the main reason for Saudi Arabia in openly expressing its hatred towards Jews and in investing millions of dollars abroad to achieve its legitimacy internationally.

Decades of history show that politicians have turned a blind eye to this racism; failing to deal with it in an honest manner. The main reason for this has been Middle-Eastern oil. Its influence runs deep into our economic and political systems. We may expect a stand for justice and equality from our politicians only when their love for their country exceeds love for their title. A politician who cares for their people will in no way tolerate such racism.

Is there a future for Israel and Palestine with such a force of anti-Semitism? Can we place our trust in countries like Saudi Arabia for the establishment of real peace in the Middle-East? After all, the fruit of a tree can only be determined by its roots.

What, then, is the solution? What must we do in the face of this hatred and the wide-spread indifference towards it?

The entire Bible points to Jesus as the solution. The Prophet Isaiah wrote:

The virgin will conceive and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

The Gospel of Christ writes:

There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

It is our Lord Jesus, the Son of God, who is able to bring down the walls of hostility between Jews and Muslims, and establish an everlasting peace between them. Let us cry to Him to intervene in such a moment, for such a desperate need.