Interview with Benjamin Orbach

September 13th, 2007

By Rowan Wolf

On August 20, 2007, I wrote a review of by Benjamin Orbach. Mr. Orbach graciously agreed to a follow-up interview. I believe it provides some good insights.

Interview with Benjamin Orbach

-Where are you now, and what are you doing? Do you plan to stay in the region? Are you doing any further writing, and if so what type?

I returned to the United States from Egypt four years ago, and spent three years in Washington D.C. at the State Department working at the Middle East Partnership Initiative (mepi.state.gov). My work entailed managing and designing democratic reform assistance programs in the Middle East and North Africa. In those three years, I traveled to 11 countries in the region and worked directly with Arab civil society to support programs that address the needs and priorities identified by the UN Arab Human Development reports. Currently, I live in Jerusalem, and still work for the State Department and for the Middle East Partnership Initiative, in fact, as the Coordinator for Palestinian programs.

I continue to write, mostly on my blog, “Live from …“. I blog about daily life here in Jerusalem as well as about my travels around Israel and the surrounding areas. My blog (like this interview) reflects my opinion only and not any sort of official USG position.

There has been some press about the Iraqi refugee situation in the news. Not much, but some. The reports are that over 4 million Iraqis have been displaced. About half of those in country, and half out of country. Reportedly, many of them have headed to Jordan. Is this accurate according to what you are seeing? How is Jordan receiving, and absorbing this population? How are the refugees perceived by Jordanians?

The last time I was in Jordan was in December of 2006, so it is difficult for me to offer a first person perspective on the latest involving the Iraqi refugee crisis. At that time, I was struck by how crowded the city seemed. Traffic was particularly bad. Friends told me that there were between 500,000 and 700,000 Iraqis living in Amman. I could hear Iraqi dialect being spoken in the streets and in stores, and random cabbies complained about how the Iraqis had increased the cost of living, especially as related to real estate. Several articles have been written about how Jordan got the rich Iraqi refugees and Syria got the poor ones.

As a result of the Iraq war, Jordan has seen an influx of different strangers: refugees from Iraq; foreign entrepreneurs, businessmen and AID workers; and also drifters with nefarious intentions. All of these newcomers — from the Iraqi children who need to go to school to the militants headed to Iraq — will have an impact on Jordan’s social fabric and dynamics It will be interesting to figure out, over the next couple of years where the Iraqis fit in. They are new outsiders, similar in some ways to the Palestinians who came to Jordan in the immigration waves of 1948, 1967, and 1991.

It is also somewhat reported that many of the women who have made it out of Iraq are widows with families, or separated from their husbands. The report is that the situation of these women (many with children) is dire, and that many are becoming sex workers to support their families. Is this accurate? Is there any Jordanian, religious, or NGO support for women and children? How are governments, international organizations, NGOs or religious charities there to assist these refugees?

I’ve read similar reports. There are various American, international, and grassroots NGOs that support refugees, including the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA). For details on their work, I’d recommend taking a look at the UNRWA website, or that of organizations like CARE, Catholic Relief Services, the International Red Cross, ANERA, CHF International, and JumpStart International, a smaller international NGO that focuses on this exact subject.

On a more general level, what is you take on the political and emotional nature of the region? Do people feel hopeful or resigned? Do they see peace in their future? Or do they feel that there will be ongoing instability and conflict? How do you read the political and religious forces at play, and how the people are responding/impacted by that?

When you take a look at the Middle East from afar, it looks bleak. Between the major crises of Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there seems to be a never-ending string of bad news stories emanating from Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Syria and other parts of the region involving political violence by Islamist movements or harsh behavior by authoritarian regimes.

Still, when you zoom in for a closer look, despite the macro problems, people continue to lead warm, full lives. Without a doubt, there are people who are frustrated by the lack of opportunities (political, economic, and social) and who seek to immigrate to Europe or America. At the same time, though, people in the region live lives surrounded by family and rich in cultural traditions. In my work and travels, I have the opportunity to meet a lot of young people who are striving to improve their communities and their countries. From afar, it is easy to overlook their efforts and aspirations. It is also easy to miss the salon and coffeehouse conversations, the Dabka dance performances, and the culture of hospitality that is the norm here. Saturday, for instance, I went to the Taiybeh Oktoberfest beer festival outside of Ramallah. Watching the nightly news and the lowlights from Gaza, there is no way that your average American could believe that such an event exists.

As you know, there has been ongoing pressure out of the Bush Administration, to “intervene” in Iran. It looks very much (from here) that there is a case being built to justify a “preemptive” strike on Iran. What is your perception of the threat (if any) that Iran poses to the region? In your opinion, how would such an act by the U.S. be received by the people? How do people feel about Iran, and its power in the region?

Regardless of the threat that Iran poses or potentially poses, it is hard to believe that the United States would enter another military engagement with our military bogged down in Iraq. From the standpoint of resources, management, or U.S. public opinion it doesn’t seem feasible.

Similarly, even though the Iranian government is perceived rather negatively in most places in the Middle East, U.S. military action against Iran would be widely condemned. People here want fewer wars and less violence. Many on the “Arab Street” blame foreign interventions for the existence of the dictatorial regimes that run their countries; they want fewer foreign interventions of this sort, not more. On the other hand, people look very favorably on foreign interventions that take the form of human development projects. If a U.S. president announced that he or she was diverting funds that would be used on a strike against Iran to build schools, hospitals, and roads throughout the region, and to resettle Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, he or she would be applauded in the streets.

One of the reported losses over the last five years has been the international credibility and “moral authority” of the United States. Do you think this is true?

I agree that we are not in a good place right now. The good news is that because of our history and our status in the world, people are still willing to give us a chance.

Along these lines, I think that everyday Americans have an important role to play in regaining our credibility through devoting their time, expertise, and charity to human development issues in the Middle East and North Africa. America’s “unofficial ambassadors,” i.e. world citizens representing America, can provide tools and trainings that create opportunities for young people and undercut the lure of extremism. Unofficial Ambassadors can be visiting scholars who teach their fields of knowledge; authors, artists and entertainers who inspire creativity; Peace Corps volunteers, Doctors without Borders and other professional do-gooders who contribute their efforts and expertise to meeting unmet human needs; and study-abroad students who embody openness and curiosity. All of these are examples of Americans who, while representing our country and our values well, deliver tools that enable people on the grass-roots level to bring about positive, gradual and homegrown changes within their societies.

The key to improving our standing is the delivery of tangible benefits and positive change. If we can’t achieve that change on the major policy questions of the day, than it becomes even more important that we help people reach their goals on the micro or individual level.

Entry Filed under: NEGATIVE SPACE