By Dr. Guy Bechor
לקרוא מאמר זה בעברית
Why is a wave of tens of thousands of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe on a daily basis? Why is there suddenly a huge jump in this wave, which the continent is facing astounded, confused and lost? The civil wars in the Middle East didn’t start today, but are about to enter their sixth year. So why now?
The amazing answer is the nuclear deal with Iran and its effects. The millions of refugees in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan had some vague hope that Syrian President Bashar Assad would fall one day, that the Islamic State would disappear one day, that one day all this might end. As soon as they saw that the nuclear deal had been signed, and that Iran would receive $150 billion and an end to the sanctions, they realized that what is happening in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon is not going to end in our lifetime.
Iran is now coming in to save Assad, to bolster the Shi’ite government in Baghdad and to save Hezbollah in Lebanon, and so the fire of ethnic flames eventually reach the sky. It was clear that the Sunni-Shi’ite war would only intensify following “the deal,” but no one imagined that it would all spill over now and flow into Europe.
The refugees, who suddenly realized that their situation was not temporary but permanent, began a journey to Europe, the only place left to go to. We are talking about a rate of about a million this year alone, but the message spread by word of mouth: We’re moving to Europe. This means that millions more will embark on the journey through Greece, Italy, Spain, the Spanish enclaves in Morocco, the Balkans and more. All roads lead to Rome – or in other words, to Berlin, Stockholm and London, the three alluring destinations.
>>As soon as the nuclear agreement was signed, the refugees realized that what is happening in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon is not going to end in our lifetime and embarked on a journey to Europe
What an irony of history: Europe’s leaders, who pushed for a deal with Iran with all their might, didn’t realize that it would lead to their own disaster. In their arrogant and patronizing innocence, they thought it was an affair relating to Israel, perhaps to the Middle East, but not to them. And now it’s too late – the millions are on their way. Israel’s stance would have actually saved Europe, but they, as always, thought they know better.
This isn’t the first time that the European Union falls into its own trap. It happened before in 2011, when an outburst of “human rights” made Europe topple Muammar Gaddafi, the leader who singlehandedly curbed the migration to Europe via the sea. Now there is no Gaddafi, and there are hundreds of thousands of migrants through Libya, day and night.
In addition, Libya has turned into an Islamic State den, like Syria, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries, a real security threat, on the brink of the miserable continent. And why shouldn’t missiles fly from Islamist Libya towards Italy? That will come too.
>>All roads lead to Rome – or in other words, to Berlin, Stockholm and London, the three alluring destinations
Now Europe has gone back to its evil ways: A heartless continent with fences and violent guards, which throws hundreds of thousands of refugees from one “enlightened” country to another “enlightened” country. Trains with refugees are filling the continent again, with blocked borders, fatal documents and fake passports. “Human rights” have been forgotten, humanity has been forgotten, and this pattern will grow worse, reaching violent clashes and a threat of civil wars.
These are the countries which used to preach Israel for so many years, and now this is all being shattered in their own home. The EU ambassador in Israel enjoys preaching us, including on the issue of infiltrators. From now on, he should take a look at what is happening in his own home before talking. Europe is worthy of contempt, there is no other word to describe it.
More articles of Dr. Guy Bechor
Published: Yedioth Aharonoth, 9/20/15
