1947 and 1948, two regimes were individually carved out
from the womb of two conflicting religions. Two sects struggled
for what they believed was their right of a homeland; for
freedom of faith. Two nations that are now standing at crossroads,
where one has to recognise the other as a state born for
reasons once adopted as its own.
Musharraf’s impetus to discuss the
recognition of Israel as a nation disseminated a wave
of resentment and incredulity throughout the nation specially
the Islamic fundamentalists. Why was the issue broached
they asked? Was it to gauge the public opinion or an attempt
to exploit the exquisite opportunity to stay in the game
by following the Bush-backed roadmap for peace in the
Middle East? Or was it in fact, to provoke a fiery controversy
nation-wide to ease off the pressure prodded from the
Camp David pow-wow to accept a Jewish state?
Any move towards official recognition
would be bitterly opposed by an influential alliance of
Islamic parties. The presence of an Israeli embassy and
consulates will provide a provocative target for violent
attacks from Islamic extremists causing social and political
turbulence. The Muslim sentiment over Palestine is touchÈ,
the issue being more poignant then political, and a focal
point of Muslim unity rather then Arab states.
The Muslim blood is churned into emotional
blackmailing whenever religion intervenes, so the path
treaded towards recognition of a Jewish state must be
cautiously validated as religiously and morally conventional,
however lame that might sound in the political ring. Disregard
of this could result in provocative and capricious Quranic
references outlining the issue at hand and can consequent
in dodgy deductions, as already demonstrated by defiant
religious fanatics around the globe. Israel does hold
holy places like Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third most important
Muslim place of prayer after Mecca and Medina; The Dome
of the Rock, believed to be the point from which Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) ascended to glimpse Heaven. It is their
significance, access to them and the authority over them
that is under question.
Well, should Pakistan sidestep its rigidity,
alleged moral and religious obligation and accept Israel
in order to survive? Muslim countries like Jordan, Syria,
Egypt, Qatar, Morocco and Turkey have recognised that
its time to stop pushing their own luck and trying to
shove Israel off into the sea. They have exchanged embassies
and the ire of their religious fanatics has dwindled after
blowing off their steam.
Once the socialist Arab world recognises
Israel as a state, then Pakistan should not have any particular
reason not to do so too but odds of that happening before
the Middle East conflict is solved are slim. Till then
Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait will take no steps towards
recognition and unlike the former nations; these have
backed-up Pakistan, financially and morally, since its
independence. Can we now survive the condemnation of the
Arab Street? Will this policy somersault plant the foundation
stone of mistruth between Pakistan and the Arab states?
Is time for Pakistan to take the cue or should is keep
standing with somebody’s Albatross hanging around
its neck?
Like it or not, the entire map of the
Middle East is seemingly under US-piloted alterations
and Israel will defiantly remain there, tiny yet massive.
It’s sinking in to the Arab world that Israel is
a fact established by America and unbiased history will
identify America itself, as a state developed by the occupiers
and not the original inhabitants. This political step
too, has been taken by America and turning a blind eye
towards Israel does not seem to be smart option.
A crucial move for Pakistan is to neutralize
the Jewish lobby walking the corridors of power in DC,
not to mention the imminent coalition between the pro-India
and pro-Israel lobbies in the USA. This has to be done
to facilitate securing of strategic ends whilst maintaining
relations with US.
Earlier, had the strategic need to recognize
Israel ever risen, it would have been next to impossible
while India, a Hindu-majority state, kept it at a distance
despite secret ties. For Pakistan, "Islam" and
"Muslim solidarity" acted as barriers. But Pakistan
has been idiotically sitting on the fence while India
has fostered an alliance with Israel and has even managed
to procure weapons from them. It has put diplomatic relations
with Israel in full throttle ahead since 1992, without
Pakistan avidly countering its moves.
Now continued, this approach will only
feed the Indo-Israeli alliance to eventually threaten
Pakistan’s national security; hence it’s been
suggested that normalizing ties with Jerusalem might help
to limit the scope of the emerging alliance with Delhi.
But in accord of Israel’s recognition, will it provide
defence equipment to Pakistan forming a natural axis with
India? After all, it is currently selling weapons to both
India and China and procuring arms from Israel has definite
appeal.
Although Ze’ev Schiff, defence editor
of the daily Haaretz stated that "Israel does not
view its relationship with India as a step against Pakistan,
and proceeds very cautiously in this sphere," we
must not play blind to the fact that although Pakistan
might be an elephant in comparison, but Israel is the
tiny lethal ant as India’s ally and an angry Moses
as an open foe.
Another tentative reflection is that increased
Israeli diplomatic presence can also be used to apply
liberal diplomatic coercing on Israel to take into account
its policies toward the Palestinians for its larger and
complicated diplomatic presence in that region. But it’s
right to do so as the opposing camp argues an illegitimate
state.
The political messiahs claim that this
policy flip flop will jeopardize the Kashmir liberation
movement, as both Kashmir and Palestine are occupied territories.
So are we rejecting this only because Palestine was taken
over by sheer force, by unconstitutional and undemocratic
means? Or is it forced occupation along with objectionable
policies? Right, perhaps somebody could explain the recognition
of India that continues to occupy areas like Goa, Hyderabad
Daccan, Juna Garh and Kashmir whilst defying all rules,
pacts and agreements. Considered impartiality, is the
Indian act of occupation of Kashmir any different from
the Jewish act of occupation of land in Palestine. Recognition
hardly means automatic approval of a country’s policies!
Pakistan acknowledgment of Israel will
influence world politics, diplomatic recognition by a
major Muslim country could set off a knock-on effect in
the region. With its diplomatic presence in Pakistan,
it will be able to play a significant role in the geopolitics
of South and West Asia. But then regular diplomatic relations
with Israel will improve Israel’s intelligence gathering
in Pakistan, making Pakistan’s nuclear assets even
more vulnerable to an Israeli or Indian strike. On balance,
if present border situations worsen, Pakistan military
expects and prepares against a pre-emptive strike on its
nuclear facilities from India as well as Israel.
"There is great danger for the United
States of America. This great danger is the Jew. Gentlemen,
in whichever land the Jews have settled, they have repressed
the moral level and lowered the degree of commercial honesty.
They have remained apart, unassimilated- oppressed; they
attempt to strangle the nation financially, as in the
case of Portugal and Spain.
For more the seventeen hundred years they
have lamented their sorrowful fate...namely that they
have been driven out of their motherland; but, gentlemen,
if the civilized world of today should give them back
Palestine and their property they would immediately find
pressing reasons for not returning there. Why? Because
they are vampires and vampires cannot live among themselves.
They must live among Christians and others, who do not
belong to their race...I warn you, gentlemen if you do
not exclude the Jews forever, your children and your children’s
children will curse you in your graves. Their ideas are
not those of Americans even when they have lived among
us for ten generations. The leopard cannot change his
spots. The Jews are a danger to this land and if they
are allowed to enter, they imperil our institution.
They should be excluded by the constitution.
Reflect on the experts from Benjamin Franklin’s
speech in Convention of 1789. Yes, the American president
stated this standing on the American soil where today
Jews walk the corridors of power. Should we stand warned
or take the plunge? Will the proposal floated remain a
political whim or will it become a reality? Will Pakistan
recognize Israel? Or is the question really ‘when’?
