Baroness Warsi’s bold stance

Actions speak louder than words

Baroness Warsi’s resignation as British foreign office minister should be appreciated for a number of reasons. And even though her action will not have more than symbolic value, it has caused considerable embarrassment for the British government, especially in the country’s internal political debates. She has also questioned successive governments’ habit of ignoring public will on matters where the Americans and Israel are concerned, regardless of the human cost and contradictions with British political ideals. It is not secret that just like many thousands of Britons, many in the political setup detest Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians, but simply lack the moral courage to step up. And London has long played second fiddle to Washington in matters concerning the Arabs, especially since Tony Blair’s days, when the prime minister ignored millions marching on the streets and lent support to a war for which he had no public mandate.

This should make the Israelis, and especially the Americans, ponder. Their thuggish behaviour in the Middle East has gone on for more than half a century. And time and again, from the Yom Kippur war in ’73 to this tragedy in Gaza, America has shielded and armed Israel despite its blatant genocidal onslaught. But of late, especially since the social media revolution, images and stories of Israeli atrocities have reached middle class drawing rooms across the world. And this empowered group has come out very strongly against Israel and its unstinted support from America. The day is not far, it seems, when Capitol Hill will face far more hurdles in bankrolling Israel’s genocide than it has in the past, whatever manner of financial and political muscle the Jewish lobby is able to muster.

But this is also where the Muslim leadership has been lacking. Criticism from Israel has come from all corners of the world, yet Muslim leaders largely kept silent, and the Saudis responded only when the international media began probing their convergence of interests with Israel seriously. There are no words for the agony and anger of the Palestinians. And that is the point Syeda Warsi has raised by resigning her position. If only more people in important places show such courage, Israel will be contained far sooner than seems likely. Soon this sentiment will reach the United States, and they will have to disassociate themselves from such naked aggression.