Rubicon by Ronan S. Estoque, MA (May, 2005)

Right after World War II, the problem and trouble in the Middle East was already brewing. The problem with Taiwan came and a stand off was established and yet the problem the Middle East still persist. The Korean Peninsula was divided into two, the Cold War was declared over with the toppling down of the Berlin wall, the Russian empire disintegrated and yet, the problem and trouble in the Middle East is still here, bothering the rest of the planet.

Oil was discovered in the region, the Arabs with their OPEC organization is dictating the world price of oil and with their virtual monopoly the economic diktat of "supply and demand" is under their thumb.

The problem and the potential resolution of the Israel dilemma is still looking for an answer and coupled with the terrorist attack on September 9, 2001 (9/11) things just got complicated. The American tried to get even with the Afghanistan/Taliban détente, and not content with the scenario expanded the war to the Iraqi soil where the old nemesis, Saddam Hussein was finally toppled from the position of power and a couple of months after that was officially captured.

Now the Americans are trying to pacify Iraq. And just like my previous statement, the situation just got more complicated. Now everything is tied to the Middle East equation. With the daily increase of oil prices, the adjustment of all related goods and services are also trying to catch up with the increase. All are an accessory to the fact that these are the results of globalization.

Problems not directly related with the Philippines are directly changing the economic conditions.

We have nothing to do with the Middle East problem and yet, being a consumer of oil, we are still paying the increasing price of the Middle East turmoil. The ink of the recent price increase in a can of tuna is not yet dry and yet another round of increase is already being factored into the equation.

Everybody pays. The students, the college professors, the street vendors peddling cigarettes, fish balls and squid balls. An Iraqi, a Palestinian, a Jew dies somewhere in the Middle East while another Filipino in the slum near Malacanang Palace suffers, with no food, no medicine, no education, because of the hardship brought by the high prices of oil.

The unlearned lesson of globalization, everything is now related. Directly or indirectly, we are all related.

A difficulty in the desert of Middle East is also felt in the slums of Metro Manila.


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Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is calling for the change of policy regarding the Palestinians issue. Claiming that the sword alone can never solve the problem, PM Sharon is now espousing the concept of swapping land for peace in the Israeli principality.

Of course, hardliners are against the planned course of action. In the own party of PM Sharon, his own ministers have expressed disagreement with the concept. While delivering a prepared speech in the Knesset, the unicameral parliament of Israel, PM Sharon was heckled and booed by his own party mates, fortunately the measure of forging peace with the Palestinians passed without anymore incident. And now, we have the unique situation where prior to the assassination of PM Rabin, the Israelis and the Palestinians are again pursuing an avenue that would not shed any blood for both sides.

Historically speaking, before the British Mandate ever left the Israelis territory, initial plan were already drawn where Israel would be split into two. The first side belonging to the Jews while the other side would belong to the Palestinians. Unfortunately, things went unresolved; the Brits left Israel without the planned division. Hence, we now have the military tactic of Palestinians exploding themselves through suicide bombing.

Violence in the Holy Land will still continue even if there is already a planned course of settlement for the Palestinians and Israelis. The good news is that in a long tunnel of violence, turmoil and death; there is now an end in sight.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step; the mere consideration of a peace talk is a full step forward in resolving the turmoil in Israel. The planned peace talk might even fail. It might even result in more deaths. The thought however of a peace talk will permeate and who knows? If there is one thing that history taught us, it taught us that everything and anything is possible.