Michael Kolker: What does a Nuclear-Free Middle East really mean?

One of the popular, politically correct ideas being heard these days is politicians, leaders, and pundits calling for a “Nuclear Free Middle East”.  This really means that Israel, the only Middle East state widely believed to have nuclear weapons, should unilaterally give up its nuclear arsenal. 

This argument is based on the idea that, if Israel finally publicly admits that it possesses nuclear weapons and agrees to give up those weapons, the United States and Europe will have an easier time persuading or pressuring other nations in the Middle East, like Iran and Syria to not develop their own nuclear weapons.

The theory underlying this Politically Correct argument is that it is somehow “not fair” for Israel to be the only state in the region that possesses nuclear weapons.  After all, why should the United States pressure other nations in the region to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons when it does not put any pressure on Israel to give up its nuclear weapons?  And why should these states listen to the United States when the United States does not demand that Israel unilaterally give up its nuclear arsenal? 

Many proclaiming to want peace in the region argue that, in the interest of “fairness”, the West should pressure Israel to disarm, and Israel should unilaterally give up its nuclear arsenal. 

This argument is absurd and shortsighted for one simple and obvious reason:  Israel has never threatened any of its neighbors with destruction.  On the other hand, Israel is surrounded by states and groups like Syria, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and others which proudly and publicly proclaim their intention to destroy Israel and its Jewish population.  There is no doubt they would act to make those threats a reality the second they believed they had a chance of success.

The undeniable, but Politically Incorrect truth of the Middle East is this:  If the Arab world unilaterally disarms, there would be peace between it and Israel.  If Israel unilaterally disarms, it would be destroyed immediately. 

Those Politically Correct pundits, leaders and politicians calling for a “Nuclear Free Middle East” are in reality calling for the Jews of Israel to commit mass suicide in the name of “fairness”.  They are in effect accepting the Arab argument that Israel “oppresses” its neighbors because Israel’s military strength and nuclear arsenal prevents them from destroying Israel and killing Jews as they wish. 

The fact is that Israel is not oppressing anyone.  Israel is surrounded by states and groups who want to destroy it and slaughter its population.  Israel’s military strength has thus far prevented this genocide. 

Preventing genocide is not oppression.  Defeating or deterring those who are trying to slaughter you is not oppression.  Refusing to commit mass suicide is not oppression.  Winning a war waged against you is not oppression.  In all of history, only Jews are condemned as being “Oppressors” for refusing to go quietly to their deaths. 

For thousands of years before the creation of the State of Israel, people killed Jews as they wished with impunity.  Those calling for a Nuclear Free Middle East are in reality calling for the Jews of Israel to return to that time when Jews were powerless to defend themselves.  This would certainly result in their annihilation.

Instead of calling for a “Nuclear Free Middle East”, those truly interested in peace and fairness should be demanding that Israel’s neighbors cease their efforts to destroy it.  If Israel’s nuclear arsenal and military strength deters those bent on its destruction from achieving their goal, the entire civilized and peace loving world should be cheering, not demanding that Israel unilaterally disarm and once again leave 6 million Jews at the mercy of those who have none.