Palestinian rights are not for liquidation

There are mounting signals that a plan for liquidating the century-old Arab Zionist conflict has been under way for a while. That such an ominous conspiracy was being hatched in some foreign capitals known for espousing the totally illegal Israeli position is quite shocking.  More shocking though are the revelations that some Arab parties had no qualms, not just in lending their consent to the mischievous scheme, but worse, volunteering to threaten the Palestinians and the other Arab states that insist on standing their ground in defence of the Palestinian inalienable historical rights, with dire consequences and punitive measures. 

How shameful it is that while honourable people all over the world have been loud and clear in condemning the US president’s move endorsing Israel’s illegal aggression and occupation, ongoing for no less than five decades, by declaring the Palestinian occupied city of Jerusalem as the permanent capital of Israel, some Arabs chose to maintain a deadly silence as if this grave matter is none of their concern.

Even more shameful, and indeed deeply painful, was the scene of an Arab delegation, mainly composed of Muslim religious leaders, being entertained with utmost cordiality and warmth by its Israeli hosts while just next door helpless protesting Palestinians were showered with live bullets, clouds of suffocating tear gas, and equally lethal rubber coated bullets by heavily armed Israeli occupation soldiers bent on fiercely crushing any struggle for freedom and rights.  Nine deaths and 3,500 Palestinian injuries have been reported all over the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza strip at the hands of the Israeli occupation army since the ill-fated Trump Jerusalem declaration was issued. 

It is hard to imagine how insensitive, how indifferent, indeed how callous, such religious leaders can be to align themselves with a universally condemned aggressor against the uprooted Palestinian population suffering from brutal oppression for seven successive decades. 

If the members of the visiting delegation were to show any kind of consideration or empathy towards the misery their Palestinian brothers are viciously subjected to, it is not because they are fellow Arabs, or fellow Muslims, or because they come from a member state of the Arab League which requires its members to stand by each other against aggression: not any of that. They are expected to at least be faithful to the values of the noble religion they represent, indeed the noble values of all religions, such as justice, fairness, kindness and righteousness. How could any member of the visiting delegation reconcile their collaboration with an avowed aggressor and violator of international law with their duty towards their religious values, their moral principles and humanitarian commitments?

But the question of morality and principled positions are not the only considerations.

The Zionist programme of the late 19th century was not designed just for Palestine. Palestine was only the first phase. 

Those few Arab individuals or groups, or even states, that often tend to blame the Palestinians for “unnecessarily” permeating the conflict; or for burdening others with a problem they were solely responsible for creating; or for not showing adequate flexibility towards their occupiers’ demands, thereby delaying any agreement, are either unaware of the basic components of the problem, or are just irresponsible opportunists. 

They seem to be unaware of the fact that the Zionist territorial ambitions exceed geographic Palestine many times over. Palestine, the borders of which were not even defined when the Zionist scheme was launched, was meant to be the starting point. 

In 1948 Israel occupied about 78 per cent of the land of Palestine. In 1967 Israel occupied the rest of Palestine including the Gaza strip and East Jerusalem. In addition and at the same war Israel occupied the entire Syrian Golan Heights, the entire Egyptian Sinai desert up the shores of the Suez Canal and parts of Lebanon. Until this day, 50 years since the 1967 war, Israel remains in control of all Palestine, the Golan Heights, parts of Lebanon and although Gaza was evacuated it remains under tight siege, thus often referred to as the "largest open air prison on earth".

Since the early days of the Zionist onslaught, the Arab states, all Arab League member states have agreed (and this is confirmed by the Charter) that Palestine is an Arab Cause, and its defence is an Arab responsibility. 

If, however, this is the contractual bond, which some may decide at some point to sidestep, the other factor, the pragmatic factor, should be more compelling.

The Israeli threat is by no means limited to Palestine or to the Palestinians. It is of utmost naivety to believe that if Israel is allowed to get away with its Palestinian acquisitions, peace will prevail. 

Any smart reading of history would clearly reveal that once the Palestinian portion is completely digested the next phase becomes due. We are all targeted. This is an indisputable fact. 

If what has leaked so far about the Trump “ultimate deal” is authentic — there is good reason to believe it is — then it will never work. No one on the Palestinian side, or on the Arab side — except perhaps for those believed to have been pushing for acceptance — would accept what seems to be on offer. If imposed by coercion and threats of consequences it will sow the seeds of another war. 

King Abdullah has been repeatedly warning that this region will never enjoy peace or stability so long as the Arab-Israeli conflict remains unresolved. That is because the conflict has always been a major source for feeding all kinds of conflict, extremism, radicalisation and terror. The conflict therefore should be resolved on the basis of international law and justice: Not liquidated.