The Legacy of Neglect and How History Shapes the Arab World Today
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History Demands Reflection
When I started my series on architecture with my father,
, I didn’t expect it to reveal the psychological struggles and human behavior of people living under Ottoman rule. What began as a background check on architectural regulations grew into a deeper understanding of the Ottoman Empire’s governance, land ownership, and societal structures. Through this journey, I discovered patterns of neglect, betrayal, and systemic failures that still shape the present.My reflections on the Ottoman Empire in the episode, 600 Years of Rule Made the Ottomans Blind to Changes, inspired
to write The Revolt of the Invisible Children, which applies a psychological lens to the burdens carried by the Arab world. Her analysis delves into the core of the problem and focuses on understanding why some wounds refuse to heal and why narratives of victimhood continue to thrive, even at the expense of truth and progress.The Heavy Mental Weight of 600 Years
The Ottoman Empire ruled much of the Arab world for six hundred years. During that time, the rulers deliberately suppressed public education to keep citizens uneducated and unable to challenge authority. Land was sold to foreigners for financial gain, leaving local citizens overtaxed and impoverished. Foreign residents often had better tax conditions and more privileges than the locals who worked the land.
While the rest of the world advanced during the Industrial Revolution, the Ottomans kept their people working in outdated and primitive ways. They deliberately held back progress. Six centuries of neglect and exploitation left deep scars on these nations, creating a legacy of resentment that is redirected to the West in the 21st century.
From the Ottomans to the Arab League
When the Ottoman Empire fell, the cycle of neglect and betrayal did not end but intensified. The British and French Mandates lasted an average of thirty to fifty years and were a tiny fraction compared to the six hundred years of Ottoman rule. Yet the anger and resentment that had built up under the Ottomans remained. When colonial powers left, the Arab League took over. Instead of breaking the cycle and creating a path for progress, they repeated the same patterns.
The Arab League represents many nations, but its leadership failed to take responsibility for its people's future. Instead of investing in education, innovation, and development, it channeled its citizens' anger toward external enemies. Blaming the entire world for their problems became an easy way to deflect attention from their leaders' failures.
If the Arab world cared about Palestinians so dearly, would there still be Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan? These camps are not the result of Western neglect or Israeli policy. They are an institutionalized choice to maintain a status quo that perpetuates suffering rather than offering solutions. Refugees worldwide integrate into their host societies, rebuild, and move forward. Why have their own leaders denied Palestinians this opportunity?
Why have we never seen protests in U.S. universities against the occupation of Palestinians or support for their legal rights in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan over the past 76 years? Are those Palestinians considered second-class people in the eyes of U.S. liberals who support the Palestinian cause? Where have you been when Assad committed genocide against half a million Palestinians over the last decade?
Since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, Israel has provided humanitarian assistance and emergency health care to injured Syrians who came to the border. Some were treated in public hospitals due to the severity of their condition, at the expense of Israeli taxpayers, without any reimbursement from the UN or the Arab League, and without having a peace agreement with Syria. While Israel provided aid, what have you done to advocate for a better future for them?
The Psychological Toll
Natalie’s article highlighted the psychological burden of this ongoing hatred cycle. Anger has been used to control people and prevent them from seeing the truth. Anger and hatred are distractions that keep people from moving on with their lives. This pattern of nurturing anger, hatred, and revenge was common among dictators who committed crimes against humanity. However, history presents many examples of communities that suffered deeply but chose a different path.
Jewish survivors of the Holocaust did not spend decades revenging Germans. They demanded justice through courts and focused on rebuilding their lives and creating a better future. Black Americans, after centuries of slavery and systemic racism, did not turn to violence against white people when slavery was abolished. Instead, they built movements, fought for civil rights, and worked toward a vision of equality.
Why are Palestinians the only group in the world whose refugee status has been passed down through generations? Refugees from other countries integrate, rebuild their lives, and move forward. However, Palestinians, even those born in different countries who have never set foot in the Middle East, are still considered refugees for generations. Why is that? Who benefits from keeping their situation frozen in time?
The Curious Focus on Mental Health
Since I moved to California, I have met many Arab entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Even before October 7, what struck me was how many of them focused on mental health startups. At first, I thought it was a coincidence. However, the more founders I met who worked on a venture in mental health, the more I saw a pattern. These educated individuals are far more aware of the mental health problems that exist in their societies, especially traumas inherited for generations, so they develop solutions that focus on the root cause of suffering - mental health therapy for the masses.
Why are so many Arab entrepreneurs focusing on mental health? Is it an acknowledgment of the psychological burdens carried by their communities? Is it a sign that some are beginning to understand how deeply these unresolved issues run? It is hard to say for sure, but it makes you wonder what this trend might mean.
Breaking the Cycle of Blame
Blaming others is easy. It is easy to say the British, the French, the Jews, the clouds, the trees, and maybe even aliens are responsible for everything wrong. But what can you achieve with blaming? If leaders in the Arab world cared about their people, would there still be Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan? Would Gaza’s leadership prioritize building rockets over schools?
This masterful deception avoids hard truths. The Arab League and the leaders of the Arab world have had decades to lead their people into a better future. Instead, they continued the same patterns of neglect and avoided taking responsibility for the public's future, which had begun under Ottoman rule. Instead of investing in education, opportunity, and hope, they kept their people trapped in anger and resentment.
When the Music Stops
Six hundred years of Ottoman rule left a legacy of neglect and betrayal. Thirty to fifty years of colonial mandates, while far from perfect, were a moment in comparison. The anger Palestinians feel today is not only about recent events; it is rooted in centuries of systemic failure by their own leaders.
What lies beneath the anger of the Palestinian cause? Who benefits from keeping generations trapped in refugee camps, raising children on hate rather than hope? Why do the educated and the talented don’t want to live in the Arab countries? Why are Arab leaders failing to create a future for their people while some of their brightest entrepreneurs are building mental health solutions in the US and Europe?
These are not comfortable questions, but they are necessary. What do they know that the West has yet to see?
I want to express my deep gratitude to
, who runs , and , who manages on Substack, for publishing 600 Years of Rule Made the Ottomans Blind to Changes for their audiences. Their support not only helped me reach new readers but also connected me with Nathalie Martinek, and from her, I discovered that mental health issues affect not only individuals but also entire nations.Please fasten your seatbelts and subscribe.
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Liat
In this journey, I weave together episodes from my life with the rich tapestry of Israeli culture through music, food, arts, entrepreneurship, and more. I write over the weekends and evenings and publish these episodes as they unfold, almost like a live performance.
Each episode is part of a set focused on a specific topic, though sometimes I release standalone episodes. A set is released over several days to make it easier for you to read during your busy workday. If one episode catches your attention, make sure to read the entire set to get the whole picture. Although these episodes are released in sets, you can read the entire newsletter from the beginning, as it flows smoothly, like music to your ears - or, in this case, your eyes.
Excellent article Liat! I hope many eyes get to read your analysis of Ottoman history and how generational transmission of neglect, resentment, and abuse is imprinted on the psyche of Palestinians who continue to be used as tools for geopolitical power plays. The observation that many immigrants from the Arab world are mental health startup founders speaks volumes about their self-awareness and gives hope that the need for individual and collective healing is the path to liberation.
Some people can't grasp what it means to be free.
Free spirit.
Free as a concept inside your inner definition of being.
Read Frenkel, in Man's search for meaning... even in the cold, dark, German concentration camp, freedom is within
Arabs can't be Buddhists.