Calls for jihad emanate from Jakarta to Algiers, and governments reluctant to engage in war with Israel only further distance themselves from a disaffected people who had no role in putting them in power in the first place. Borders began to break down as Arabs from London and Paris began nearly effortless, regular communication with their peers in similar businesses, areas of studies, or political persuasion in Beirut and Abu Dhabi. While the right response may be hotly debated, a solid sense of Palestinian solidarity has settled in across the Arab-Muslim world. Unlike during the first intifada, Arabs and Muslims now have an easy detour around the official Arab media and the U.S. media, which precious few in the Arab world would describe as other than grossly biased toward Israel. McDonalds is boycotted, flags are burned.
Money is collected for Palestinian hospitals.
At home, youth and their parents have access to perhaps 20 satellite television channels, many of which provide a solid Arab interpretation of recent events. And not all are providing the governments' interpretations. Throughout the Arab world, huge demonstrations against Israel have been met with a massive show of police force. Leaders know full well that any expression of popular anger will turn against their own unpopular regimes in short order. The Palestinian challenge to Israeli occupation has digitally expanded to become an Arab and Muslim challenge to the role of Israel in the region and of the United States as an honest broker in any solution.