ペルシャ・アラブ湾のほとりから/From the shore of the Persian or Arabian Gulf

 (English follows)

 2018年6月にパレスチナ・イスラエルでの生活を終え、2019年5月よりアラブ首長国連邦で勤務している。何の因果か分からないが、UAEは2020年9月にイスラエルと「アブラハム合意」を結び、なんとも複雑な気持ちになった。一方、UAE、パレスチナ、イスラエル、それぞれの立場で考えてみる機会にもなり、また湾岸地域という初めての土地で暮らすことで、私自身新たな視点を得ることもできた。私のせいではないものの、自分の居住するUAEがイスラエルと国交樹立したことで、パレスチナの友人らに対する後ろめたい気持ちがあった故、中々このブログも更新できていなかった。

 しかし3年ぶりにページを開いたところ、未だに日本をはじめ、アジア・欧州・北南米、中東諸国、アフリカ、オセアニアからの閲覧が継続的にあることに気が付いた。嬉しい限りだ。パレスチナに関心がある人の中には、湾岸に関心がない人も多いかと思うが、UAEで暮らし始めて1年10か月, 期間も限られているので、少しずつ、こちらの生活や感じたことについて書き始めようと思う。

当サイト不在の間、記事を投稿したり写真を掲載してもらえる機会をいくつか頂いた。以下リンクまとめておく。

【記事】

本田圭 パレスチナ問題について – 戦略検討フォーラム (j-strategy.com)(2019年8月)

パレスチナによるUAE支援物資拒否事案が意味するもの – 戦略検討フォーラム (j-strategy.com) (2020年6月)

ガザ地区に電力を、「天井のない監獄」で太陽光発電に挑む若者たち | Forbes JAPAN(フォーブス ジャパン) (2018年6月)

まさに「一夜城」大量検査施設を14日で設立、UAEの王族率いるコロナ対策 | Forbes JAPAN(フォーブス ジャパン) (2020年4月)

ポストコロナの最先端を走るUAEの「快適生活」と「対中関係」 | Forbes JAPAN(フォーブス ジャパン)(2020年6月)

・鳴り響く「外出禁止」の警報音、守らなければ逮捕。【私の街では今vol.1〜アブダビ】https://www.vogue.co.jp/lifestyle/article/life-after-covid-19-abu-dhabi (2020年4月)

【写真】

・NHK中東解体新書(サイト表紙の写真:撮影@パレスチナhttps://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/new-middle-east/

・中東イスラム世界社会統合研究会(サイト表紙写真。パレスチナ、トルコなど中東諸国の写真)http://meis.or.jp/

Since May 2019, I have lived in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, after my work finished in Palestine in May 2018. Then, ironically for me, UAE/Israel ‘Peace agreement’ was made in Sep 2020, which might bring anger, sadness, frustration, hopeless, to Palestinians. However, somehow, people included Palestinian, expected this day.

This event allowed me to think about each country’s reason and thought involved in this event. The life experience in the Gulf provides me with a different view. I feel I expanded my knowledge and deepen my observation more while witness critical events, visited places in addition to talking with local, academics, governmental and so on.

Through my life in UAE, I had noticed the atmosphere of the way to this agreement thought many events (I described those events and my expectations in my article before the deal became real. I attach links below but all in Japanese. Sorry. You may be able to use translation)

Simultaneously, I felt a little bit guilty to my Palestinian friends about the agreement as I am a UAE resident, even it’s not my decision, of course. This feeling has disturbed me to update the blog. However, I realised many people still access the pages from Asia, Europe, North/South America, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania despite my three years’ absence. I am so grad, and it encourages me to write again!

I assume most of the visitors interested in the Palestinian cause and less interest or dislike the Gulf region. However, nearly two years passed since I’ve lived in UAE (same like I started this blog in Palestine after spending almost two years there). It’s time to record the life and thoughts which I gained here!

Talking about my self, I confess I had prejudice to the Gulf countries and people before I came here, but now I’m seeing this region with a different view and having interests in politics, international relations, culture, people, foods, and society.

Without exception, this region has many issues between neighbours. For instance, the beautiful emerald green sea in front of me, called the Persian Gulf, generally in the world, maybe except Arab nations, is called ‘Arabian Gulf’.

Human history is coloured by such competition, compromise, cooperation between identity and identity, in my opinion. But we have to deal with it. I realise the importance of deepening and expanding the view without prejudice, listening to others’ perspectives, paying effort to understand each other, concession, and great patience and endurance. Stop the competitions and conflicts are complex in addition to its prevention, but, to reduce the numbers and create a world less violence, those elements come to my minds from limited experience, though.

I’d like to share some of the articles I wrote during my absence at this blog. But all are in Japanese. I’m happy if you read with translation when time allows!

【Pictures contributions to Web cover pages】

【Articles】

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