In the famous play by Samuel Beckett, Vladimir and Estragon, the two main characters sit in a field waiting for Godot to show up. They keep each other's company as they spend days on end waiting for the arrival of this mysterious character to resolve their problems. They converse, not to find solutions to their problems, but to mute the agony inhabiting the silence that would otherwise befall them. The play comes to an end with Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot, not moving, not giving up, and not one step closer to finding a solution to their problems. By waiting for him, they succeed only in wasting precious time that could have been better utilized for finding a solution to their problems. He never shows up. They essentially waited for hope, and hope never came.
For as long as I can remember, I have turned on my TV to death accompanied by pleas of the Palestinians asking, "where are the Arabs?" An appeal that has been far too common for the last 70 years. So, where are the Arabs?
To sum it up, they were hardly there. Yes, at some point, the Arabs rejected the 1948 UN partition plan, and fought alongside the Palestinians. Yet, a closer look at the events and actions of the Arab regimes since, showcase a history filled with betrayal, lack of unity, and preoccupation with their self-interests. The Palestinian cause has been mostly instrumentalized to harness public support for Arab regimes. Evidently, Arab armies would sooner fight against one another than threaten war against Israel.
