By Dr Syed Khurshid Hussain, Mumbai

Inspired by the wisdom of economist Jeffrey Sachs, I propose a bold plan to bring peace to the Middle East in just 11 days by confronting the root causes of conflict and fostering reconciliation. The approach involves gathering leaders from the United States, Israel, Europe, and all Arab states on a neutral, symbolic platform—Elon Musk’s envisioned Space Island, a futuristic setting to inspire transformative dialogue. Here, they must face their historical actions, repent, and commit to a new path forward.

The first step is accountability. Leaders must acknowledge their roles in destabilizing the Middle East, particularly through schemes like “Greater Israel,” an alleged Zionist ambition to expand territorial control over oil-rich regions, as critiqued by Sachs and others. This concept, rooted in historical texts and modern political strategies, has fueled tensions by prioritizing dominance over coexistence. Participants must answer: Did you, or did you not, plan to establish Greater Israel in this oil-rich Middle East area? Honest admissions of past aggressions, including covert operations and territorial ambitions, are crucial to breaking the cycle of violence.

Uncovering Timber Sycamore and Regime Change

A key focus is the U.S.-led Operation Timber Sycamore, a CIA program initiated under President Obama to overthrow Syria’s government, as confirmed by Seymour Hersh. This operation, funded by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, armed rebels to destabilize Syria, part of a broader U.S.-Israel strategy to effect regime change in five or six countries, including Iraq, Libya, and Syria. The result? Over 600,000 deaths across these conflicts, with Syria alone seeing 300,000 casualties since 2011. Leaders must confess their involvement in these operations, which Sachs argues were driven by Israel’s desire to neutralize Palestinian allies and reshape the region.

The Unfought War: Iran

The only war yet to materialize, but ardently sought by Israel, is an attack on Iran, as Sachs notes. Israel’s push to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, seen in its June 2025 strikes, relies heavily on U.S. financing and military backup. Without America’s support—providing 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs and billions in aid—Israel’s military campaigns would falter. Leaders must confront this dependency and its consequences, including the risk of escalating regional conflicts.

Repentance and a New Path

On Space Island, leaders will repent for these actions, pledging to end regime-change policies and military escalations. Sachs’ seven-point peace plan, including Palestinian statehood and a verifiable Iranian nuclear deal, offers a framework. The U.S. must lift its veto on Palestine’s statehood, and Arab states must normalize relations with Israel in exchange for peace. This 11-day summit, free from earthly biases, could reset the Middle East, prioritizing diplomacy over destruction for lasting stability.