No one should have an iota of doubt that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement on Palestinian issue is a real reflection of aspirations of the people of Pakistan and absolutely in line with the Founder of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s historic vision. But it is, Premier Khan, essential that you stay firm on this commitment because there are no divisions in the minds of Pakistani people on Palestine exactly like every single Pakistani feels for his Kashmiri brethren.
It may be recalled that Pakistan’s position on Palestinian cause, since its inception, has been based on international law and points of principle. It is also a fact that Pakistan’s position on Palestine is conceptually linked to its position on Kashmir and any compromise on it would blast its position on Kashmir.
Probably this was at the back of the Prime Minister’s mind when he spoke with passion in a recent interview, without mincing his words: “My conscience would never allow me to recognize Israel. No matter whoever recognizes Israel, Pakistan would never do so. After all, we are answerable to Allah Almighty. The Founder of the Nation made it categorically clear that till such time the Palestinians get their rights, there was no question of recognizing the Jewish entity”.
There should be no doubt about Israel being Pakistan’s enemy No1 which has been conspiring with India to harm our nuclear assets and training Indian army for state terrorism in Indian-held Kashmir where innocent people are suffering for well over a year under siege conditions besides curfew imposed to restrict their movement.
Those Muslim states that had recognized the illegitimate state of Israel have undermined the just cause of Palestinian people and in fact are guilty of allowing the Zionist entity to kill men, women and children ruthlessly besides molesting Muslim women on their own land.
The decision of the United Arab Emirates has largely shocked the Muslims across the globe. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had denounced the accord brokered by US President Donald Trump saying: “The Palestinian leadership rejects and denounces the UAE, Israel and US trilateral announcement. The deal was a betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa and the Palestinian cause”.
An outspoken spokesperson of Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s (PLO) Executive Committee Hanan Ashrawi has termed the development ’equivalent of being sold out by friends. “May you never experience the agony of having your country stolen, may you never feel the pain of living in captivity under occupation, and may you never witness the demolition of your home or murder of your loved ones. May you never be sold out by your friends?”
Her assertions are reflections of Palestinian people and at the same time an outcry to seek the attention of Muslim leadership towards their apathy to the just cause of the Palestinian people who had grown generation in refugee camps on their own land.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem in his reaction stated: “This agreement does absolutely not serve the Palestinian cause; it rather serves the Zionist narrative. This agreement encourages the occupation to continue its denial of the right of our Palestinian people and even to continue its crime against our people”.
The above reactions clearly suggest that the Palestinian leadership as well as people have outrightly rejected any justification or argument saying that the controversial deal would serve the Palestinian cause in any form whatsoever.
Palestinian people are of the view that what is required is to support their legitimate struggle against the occupation and not to establish agreements with their occupier. In their view any annexation they will face which is supported by Arabs and international powers would be confronted with strong resistance.
Turkey and Iran have also rejected UAE’s recognition of Israel. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has termed it a ‘huge mistake and in fact was a betrayal of the Palestinian cause’.
Turkish Foreign Ministry said history would not forget and never forgive the ‘hypocritical behaviour’ of the UAE in agreeing to deal with Israel to normalize relations.
The criminal silence of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has also raised several questions on its relevance and effectiveness because it ceases to exist against the Saudi Arabian wish. It has failed to issue even a statement on Trump-brokered deal. It has similarly kept mum and dead to the cause of the Kashmiri people who have been subjected to untold human miseries at the hands of the occupation Indian forces.
The Prime Minister in the same interview also took time to undo the impression of Pak-Saudi ties being in rough waters particularly on a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi that if the OIC was not willing to convene a conference of its Foreign Ministers, then Pakistan would be forced to convene a summit of like-minded Muslim countries to muster support for Kashmiri cause.
Premier Khan recalled the significance of our historic relations with Saudi Arabia and the support it extended during rough times. Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa went on a mission to smoothen the relations. Could he have been able convince the Royals on Pakistan’s position or not remains to be seen since there was no formal statement issued by Riyadh.
It has been a great source of anguish that both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have, over recent years, very close and intimate ties with Pakistan’s enemy India and did not hesitate to award the criminal Narendra Modi their highest civil awards despite him being guilty of killing hundreds of Muslims in India and Kashmir.