View Point                                                                         Dr. Israr Ahmad

WHY ISRAEL IS UNACCEPTABLE?

In the 55-year long history of Pakistan, there have always been whispers pertaining to the recognition of the state of Israel. However, it is for the first time in the history of the country that this issue has been vociferously articulated by the highest authority in the country. What is more, it seems that the decision to recognize Israel has been taken already; the only remaining hurdle is the selection of a suitable time to make this announcement. For this reason, the sell-out intellectuals are on an argument-mounting spree to justify their proposition that there is no harm in recognizing the state of Israel. In this background, let us try to shed light on the subject as to why we should not recognize the state of Israel.

To deepen our understanding of the issue at hand, let us glance at the subtle, mysterious correlations and implications that arise due to the historical emergence of the two states in question. On the outward, three traits stand out as common between the two - although, in reality, they are not points of commonality as such. Firstly, both states were founded on religious basis. In case of Pakistan, it is an established fact that it was created in the name of Islam. As for Israel, though it is said that it was founded in the name of religion, this is truly a myth, for the real basis for the state of Israel was on racial grounds, hence, Israel is, in actuality, a racial state. Secondly, both states emerged within the same period in history. Pakistan was born nine months earlier than Israel. In my opinion this was not a coincidence. For, in accordance with a saying of the Prophet (SAW) - "Allah (SWT) has not created a disease without creating its cure" - Pakistan was created as an "antidote" to the state of Israel and will face up Israel in the final confrontation of Truth and falsehood. Thirdly, both states, in their prominence, constitute "tips of the iceberg". Israel, though a minute country, is supported by the entire span of the Christian, especially the WASP, world; whereas Pakistan, also a small country, is the hope of entire Muslim world for the revival of Islam. Before the Doomsday, both of these "icebergs" shall collide with each other.
Aside from the commonalities, a striking difference between the two states exists: that while Pakistan came into being due to the peaceful and constitutional efforts of the longtime-resident, indigenous Muslim population of India, the state of Israel, in stark contrast, was founded on terrorism and injustice by a foreign people.

It is a historical fact that Jews have always exploited their friends and allies to their own advantage. Let us cast a brief glance over Jewish history to prove this point. Jews were driven out of Palestine thousands of years ago and were dispersed all over the world. Wherever they were able to establish themselves, they conspired against their protectors (Muslim Spain, a case in point). It was due to such conspiracies that they were able to create a religious divide among the Christian world by prompting the birth of a secular, ultra liberal Christian sect - the Protestants. Since then, the Jews have exploited the Protestants to accomplish most of their ill-conceived objectives, such as: the promotion of secularism and the establishment of interest-based banking system. The banking system was used as a bait to clutch the whole of Christian world into the jaws of interest-based lending and, thus, into perpetual debt.

While tightening their grip over the Christian world, the Jews began to conspire in order to acquire Palestine as their homeland. Here again, they exploited the Protestant Britain to obtain permission to purchase land in Palestine and begin settlement. Once they reached high numbers in population, the Jews resorted to the use of force and aggression to illegally oust the age-old indigenous Palestinian inhabitants out of their homeland. This unjust usurpation of land and inhumane expulsion of the innocent native inhabitants eventually resulted in the creation of the state of Israel.

It was for these reasons that the two father figures of Pakistan were hostile towards the idea of an Israeli state. Iqbal's stance on the issue is exemplified in a relevant couplet:

If the Jews are entitled to the land of Palestine
Why aren't the Arabs entitled to the land of Spain?

Iqbal's argument was plain and simple: if the Jews - who were ousted from Palestine nearly 2000 years ago and lived there as captives (not rulers) - can be allowed to return en-masse to Palestine; then by the same pretext, the Arabs should be allowed to return to Spain, where they actually ruled for hundreds of years.

As for Quaid-e-A`zam, he made his views known in an interview to Reuters on 25th October, 1947:
Our stance on the issue of Palestine has been made clear by the leader of the delegation to United Nations, Muhammad Zafarullah Khan. I am hopeful, even now, that the plan of division (of Palestine) will be rejected. Otherwise, the emergence of a dangerous conflict is imminent and unavoidable. The conflict will not be restricted to the Arabs and those imposing the plan of division, rather, the whole Islamic world will practically rebel against it; because such a decision (the establishment of Israel) can be sanctioned neither on political nor on moral grounds. Under such circumstances, Pakistan will have no choice except to lend full and unconditional support to the Arabs; and, in order to stop the unnecessary provocation and usurpation, do whatever is within its means, with all its power and strength.

It is evident that both Quaid-e-A`zam and `Allamah Iqbal equated the recognition of Israel as the recognition of tyranny and injustice.

The whole debate surrounding the issue of recognizing Israel is, in reality, a contest between ideational principles and temporal expediency. Ideational principles demand that Israel should not be recognized at any cost, whereas, temporal expediency seeks to secure immediate gains, gains that will not be long-lived anyhow.

We need to understand that the conflict over Palestine is not between the Arabs and Israel, instead, it is between Muslims and Jews. In this connection, the shameful acquiescence of the Arab world cannot serve as an argument for us to do the same. Israel considers Pakistan as the greatest threat to its existence and, as such, it will continue to target Pakistan with malicious intent. No amount of acquiescence and kowtowing can prevent Pakistan from being 'next'. There is only one moral and brave way out of the present predicament: instead of trying to appease and please the world powers, Pakistan should turn to please Allah (SWT) and put all its trust in Him (SWT). Pakistan should take a strong stance and say no to America. At the same time, we should strive to establish the Just Social Order of Islam in Pakistan, thereby, securing Allah's (SWT) pleasure and succor. If we accomplish this, then nothing can harm us.