TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A local organization is speaking out about the recent violence in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, a terror group that controls and governs much of Palestine.
“It was the worst attack against Jewish civilians since the Holocaust,” says Troy Fears, Executive Director of the Candles Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute. “It’s going to take a long time for that area of the world to get together and get along and, unfortunately, that probably means a loss of life for more and more people and our hearts go out to them.”
Gas prices could be impacted if violence intensifies
Dr. Michael Chambers is a political science professor with Indiana State University. His expertise is in international relations and security.
Chambers said he’s watching the violence in the Middle East and the impacts it could have here at home.
“If this were to spread to a wider, regional conflict, let’s say Hezbollah gets more involved than they are already. Iran is not getting too involved directly at the moment. But, if it gets to that broader war, than gas prices, yes, are going to be impacted. I was surprised that we hadn’t already seen an increase driving down Wabash to come to campus yesterday and today.”
Learn more about the conflict and possible impacts locally
You can see our full interview with Dr. Chambers in the video box below. He is a professor of Political Sciences at ISU and an expert in international relations and security.
Instability and the Stock Market
What about the stock market? Chambers says, while any instability can cause an economic ripple effect, he is more concerned about what he is seeing in China than the conflict in the Middle East.
“Property developers collapsing in China,” explains Chambers. “That could be the bigger issue, is the Chinese economy and how not very well it’s doing, could be a bigger drag on global markets, so, I would look more that way than what is going on in the Middle East, at the moment, again, unless it enlarges to a larger conflict.”
Fears said his hope is for the conflict to end before it escalates, although he is fearful it won’t.
“There’s a lot of people, especially of Jewish faith, who have friends and family in Israel,” Fears said. “They are very concerned about what’s happening. Words can’t describe what happened and, we all hope and pray for a peaceful ending, but I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.”
