Americans divided over US policies on Israel, say US students

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former Saudi ambassador to the US, with US students and officials in Riyadh. (AN photo)

By SULTAN AL-TAMIMI | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Nine students from various universities in the United States completed a 10-day tour of Saudi Arabia before leaving over the weekend. The tour was part of a joint program between Saudi Arabia and the National Council on US-Arab Relations (NCUSAR) based in Washington D.C.

“Although many of us, myself included, have spent years studying the Middle East, this was our first physical visit here,” said Myles Murphy of the University of California, San Francisco. “Obviously, a 10-day trip mostly involving meetings with societal and intellectual elites is simply a tiny window on a widely diverse, complex, misunderstood and misrepresented area of the world.”

Gaelen Mancino of St. John’s College in Maryland said the misunderstanding works in the other direction, too.

“One thing I think Saudis may misconceive about America is that we are unified in our thoughts, viewpoints and particularly our policies,” he said. “One of our colleagues identified the US as ‘a Christian nation,’ which is a blatant misunderstanding of who we are as Americans.” Mancino expressed the view that Americans are divided on US policies pertaining to Israel.

“I personally have been led to believe through meeting Saudis of different backgrounds and families that many in the Kingdom think America has a unified policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This could not be further from the actuality of the situation.”

NCUSAR, founded in 1983, is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to improving American knowledge and understanding of the Arab world.

Comments

ARSHI ALI KHAN

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I would like to say to Mr.Gaelen Mancino of St. John's College in Maryland who has been quoted here. May I know Mr. Gaelen, why on earth American Govt. do not send your fighter planes to stop Israel who is doing his best in every possible way to disharmonize and destablize Palestines, deprive them from basic amenities. Don't you think that Israel is the best example of terrorism. And the best part is that Americans can do nothing better other than talk. But for the rest of the countries of the world, americans show their best of their Air Power to kill down everyone, but not for Israel. And you say that we have a wrong mindset. Are you kidding or you want to quote an example of a cat who closes her eyes while having milk and think that no one is watching her. So americans can never ever change our mind set while we keep quite saying nothing. So it is better we do not discuss Israel here. While you are representing NCUSAR, you are welcome to understand Arab World and the people living here. Try to understand Islam and Arabs people and the culture, you would love to remain here for the rest of your life and americans would regret sending you here.

GALEN MANCINO

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Hi Galen, hope you enjoyed Dammam and Jeddah as much as you did Riyadh. Here is an article that you might have missed. Regards, Bruno

ANUM

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It is quite interesting that no females participated in this 10-day tour to learn about Saudi Arabia and clarify misunderstandings. Are women not part of this world too?

JAVED SHAIKH

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Hi Gaelen, As far as Israel USA policy is concerned USA (govt) may think what the Israel is doing is wrong (fine) but the real issue is that without them (Israel) the food doesn't go down through the oesophagus of your American govt. Congratulations on showing your muscle on the weakest nation of the Earth. By the way my comment is to USA govt and not to the people of USA whom I admire.

COURTNEY

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ali khan, the US govt will continue to support any national govt that is in a battle with a terrorist group. whether or not you think hamas is a terrorist organization or not matters little to the US, as my govt does in fact consider them to be terrorists. as such, the israelis battle via airstrikes and a blockade will continue to be supported by a very pro israel US Congress. as the article mentions, American citizens in general are not "unified in their support of israel in the palestinian conflict" either.
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