Palestine problem is not only the problem for the people of Palestinian origin but the Muslims of the whole world

by Afshain Afzal:
Like Friday, March 12 and March 5th 2010, as usual, there is lot of tension in the Palestinians areas due aggression by Israeli police in trying to stop peaceful Muslim protesters. There were prayers all over Palestine and around the world for the protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Muslims’ holy places in Palestine. The world bodies like United Nations Organization (UNO) and the International Non Governmental Organizations, which claim to be the sole spokes-bodies for the human right throughout the world are silent spectators as if nothing has happened.

Over six decades back, on the recommendations of UNO’s Special Committee on Palestine, General Assembly partitioned Palestine to accommodate illegal and illegitimate Jew immigrants against the wishes of the Muslim world and other nations which opposed and voted against it. To this unjust partition is associated most of the unrest in Arab world, Middle East and other parts of the world. The recent tension was part of international conspiracy due to Israeli announcement of February 21, 2010 that the Cave of the Patriarchs (Ibrahim Mosque) in Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb (Bilal Mosque) in Bethlehem will be part of a list of sites for preservation and rehabilitation as national heritage. To add fuel to the fire, Israelis approved 1600 new house at Jerusalem. The latest move, in which US along with the Britain are equally involved, aims to create tension in the Middle East and rest of the Muslim world and to single out those countries which oppose the US-British-Israeli conspiracy. Ironically, US being main architect behind this conspiracy has criticized the move as “provocative and unhelpful” and Israeli behaviour ‘insulting’ despite the fact that everything is being done by its consent.

In protest against Israeli Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announcement regarding Muslims’ holy place, several thousands of Palestinian Muslims carried out peaceful protests on March 5th but were charged by Israeli policemen near Al- Aqsa Mosque, who fired stun grenades to disperse at the assembly. Around 60 of Palestinian protesters fainted or injured and were treated for teargas inhalation, 5 policemen were also slightly injured.

The Muslim world expressed anger and condemned latest conspiracy against Muslims. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israeli evil designs against Al- Aqsa Mosque, the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb and claimed that these “were not and never will be Jewish sites, but Islamic sites.” Secretary General Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu condemned the Israeli assault on freedom of worship and warned that it would drag the region into a religious war. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is not a free man, claimed that March 5th events could damage the chances of resuming the peace process. While talking to Palestine Television, Abbas said “Israel continues to place obstacles in front of Mitchell’s efforts” to revive long-stalled peace negotiations.”

One wonders that if President Abbas was referring to US Middle East envoy Mitchell George, there can be no hope from such people who themselves are patronizing the Israeli conspiracy. There is also not much expected from US Vice President Joe Biden visit to Israel and the West Bank as his past record reflected nothing more then bloodshed and atrocities against Muslims.In the present scenario, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the Israeli behaviour insulting due to approval of 1600 housing unit in East Jerusalem on the very day US Vice President Joe Biden was in Israel to initiate new round of negotiations. But one can smell some underhand deal between Israel-US and some of the pupet characters in Palestine.

We have the real face of the so called present Middle East peace mediators’ the US, the European Union, Russia and United Nations in 1940ies so how can we expect anything good from them. Condemnation by these mediators is just eyewash and an effort to restore the trust of the Muslims but we must not forget that what is going to be the result if coffin thieves are given the responsibility to distribute the graves. Ironically, instead of imposing trade sanctions on Israel, European Union said that they could use closer trade ties as leverage to urge Israel to resume peace talks with the Palestinians. What ever, we call it, the security scenario around the world resolve around injustice against Muslims in Palestine, Kashmir and other destinations.

Palestine problem is not only the problem for the people of Palestinian origin but the Muslims of the whole world. Support for the independence of Palestine and protection of first ‘Qibla ‘as well as other Muslims’ holy place is solemn duty of all the Muslims. In a letter by Grand mufti of Palestine addressed to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah dated May 5, 1946, he requested, “Muslims of Palestine cannot alone surmount and overcome this aggression of the aggressors namely the Jews, the English and the Americans and unless and until all the Muslims, hand in hand solid as rock, do not join hands to save the Palestine it will definitely fall prey to the usurpers and the sacred name of Islam will be banished from Palestine for good. Apart from that our sacred places will be lost, including the holy Masjid Al-Aqsa being the first and foremost, which Jews claim to be their own.” At this juncture, Muslims must unite to pressurize Britain, US and all other countries who are part of this conspiracy against Muslim holy places. One wonders, as a first step we must boycott goods from these countries and should not all these countries to use our Muslims resources.