During the last few weeks a number of articles, some by highly informed columnists have appeared in the newspapers, castigating President Obama for not fulfilling his promise to prevent the Israeli government from construction of new housing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. As most readers know, construction of houses in the predominantly Arab east Jerusalem has been a policy of each successive Israeli government since its occupation following the 1967 war, particularly by the Zionist Likud party Prime Minister.
The current Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is even more of a hardliner Zionist than some others before him. Perhaps he sees himself as the modern day Joshua who succeeded Prophet Moses and was the political leader of Israel and commander of Israeli forces which invaded and conquered the city of Jericho and others in the ancient land of Palestine about 1000 years BCE. After the conquest of Jericho and six other cities/towns of the area, he and his army carried out a general massacre of their population including women and children.
However, after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, for which the Christians hold the Jews mainly responsible, they carried out most grievous persecution of the Jews for nearly 2000 years which culminated in pogroms and finally in the holocaust perpetrated against them by Hitler. Thus, historically speaking, the Jews have been both the perpetrators of ethnic cleansing and its victims.
It is therefore, in comprehensible that having been a victim of worst kinds of atrocities for 2000 years, Israelis should do the same to the poor Palestinians. But the Jewish fear and hatred of Muslims goes back to the times of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Most Muslims know the story of Jewish attempt to help the Kuffar of Makkah in their attempt to defeat Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Muslims of Madina in the Battle of Khandaq (Trenches).
However, since the state of Israel was established in 1948 by Zionist Jews, it has grown from strength to strength militarily, economically, politically and diplomatically. Of course, they have received undiluted support from the US administration, both Republican and Democratic, particularly after the 1967 war. A great deal of credit for winning the US support at all levels goes to the Israelis and their lobby in Washington DC. Because until 1956, this influence wasn’t that significant. For instance, in the Suez crises (in which President Eisenhower played a key role in forcing Israel along with France and Britain to withdraw from Egypt and accept the nationalisation of Suez Canal by President Nasser), neither Israel nor its lobby in Washington had gained the blinding influence that they have achieved since the 1967 war.
It is nearly after 43 years that another neutral President has come to power in the US. And while it is true the President Obama has not been able to keep the promises he made to the Arabs and Muslims in his speech in Cairo in 2009, it is not for lack of trying, but because of the fact that the Israeli lobby is so well-entrenched in the US that it will take several Obama’s and their special envoys like George Mitchell to weaken its hold over the hearts and minds of the American public, particularly its congressmen. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that the Americans have begun to change their views about Israel which they no longer regard as a lamb surrounded by a pack of Arab wolves.
Politicians and sections of US media have begun to criticise Israel over the horrible and unwarranted atrocities that it has been committing against Palestinian people for the last 40 years. It has successfully exploited the guilt of Westerners for their atrocities which they committed against the Jews for the last 2000 years. The brutal extermination policy of Hitler against Jews is still a source of great shame for the West.
In these circumstances it is not the fault of the first black American President with a Muslim middle name that he has not been able to deliver on his promises. It is my firm belief that even if there was another Eisenhower in place of Obama, he too would have failed in implementing a policy of even-handedness between Israel and Palestinians-Arabs. Although, the US President is regarded as the most powerful President of the world, it is only in the context of US military and economic power vis-à-vis the rest of the world. Internally, the US President is weaker than the dictators who have ruled in the Arab and Muslim countries for decades without legitimacy and accountability.
I hope that the change that has taken place in Tunisia and Egypt will be followed in other Arab countries, empower their peoples and alter the monopoly of power enjoyed by Israel in the Middle East.
The writer is a former Ambassador of Pakistan.
Sir , your article is well received but please tell me why the Israelis have progressed and the Muslims regressed. The reality of their educational accomplishments, scientific outlook,entrepreneurship and democratic aspirations stand them in good stead and they can afford to enjoy their power and prestige after 1000 years of slavery under Muslims and Christians. In order for them to negotiate with Palestinians(who are thugs and terrorists) the Palestinians have used mob culture which is so prevalent in other Muslim societies and countries. The Muslims envy them secretly but Takiyeh prevents them to speak the Truth.
Shiv Kumar – How can you compare two nations economic developments, progress etc, when one has billons of dollars of military and developmental aid and the constant political support of the US and the UN (frankly), which the other has been denied? This is a commonsense question with a commonsense answer. You simply can’t compare them. Can you answer that question?
Only a great deal of ignorance on this issue would have rendered the ridiculous questions you have posed legitimate. Unfortunately, that level seems to be a global phenomenon.
I suspect that your comment comes from personal dislike of Muslims am I right? The friendship between the Israeli and Indian right wing through their mutual hatred of Muslims (something to bond over) is really something to be worried about, especially with regards to Kashmir falling out of the international media's attention, so as not to offend the Indian government as the Palestinian issue has received such bias in international media over the last 4,5 decades so as not to offend the Israeli government.
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