Israel, Palestine and Muslims
Ibne Azad Mirpur, Dhaka
The Muslim world was seething with impotent rage as they were unable to stop the killing of the Palestinian and Lebanese Arabs and destruction of latter's civilian infrastructure by the Israeli armed forces in an asymmetric war a few weeks ago. If history is recalled then it would appear that the Arabs are suffering now for the sins of their fathers. The Arabs sided with the British imperialists in dismembering the Turkish empire during the First World War. The Turks were fellow Muslims. But the Arabs decided to trust the Christian British and later Americans in their struggle for freedom from the Turkish domination. Ironically, the Indian Muslims at that time decided to support the Turks in their fight against the British imperial power. If the Arabs had waited a little they would have gained freedom anyway after the abolition of the Turkish Caliphate by Mustapha Kemal in 1922.After the defeat of Turks, Arabia including Hijaz was handed over to Abdul Aziz of Nejd. Sharif Hussein was driven out of Hijaz by Abdul Aziz. The British decided to create a homeland for the Jews in Palestine by endorsing the European Zionist agenda which came into being in 1948, after another world war. At that time the Jews were only 7% of the total population of Palestine and they were locals like the Arabs. They did not demand a Jewish state. The Arabs protested but not unanimously. Till today the house of Ibn Saud, Jordanian royal family who are Sharif Hussein's descendants and the Sheikhdoms around the Persian Gulf are the staunchest allies of American-British imperialists. They are all Sunni Muslims. The majority of Jews in Israel now are European Jews who migrated there after the creation of Israel. In a strange twist of history the Shias have now become the lone fighters against the American-British-Israeli axis. Shia Iran and Hezbollah are now poised against the American-British-Israelis to fight and restore the Muslim honour and Palestine to Palestinians. However, as long the Muslim countries remain divided on the issue of taking sides vis-a-vis Americans, it is doubtful whether Iran alone would be able to do anything fruitful. On the contrary, we may again witness the destruction of another cradle of human civilisation like Iraq and Afghanistan. The Americans and British would do everything to keep the Shias pitted against the Sunnis. Unless the Muslims unite against them, Israel will continue its genocide against the Arabs. ***Israel is attacking Lebanon without any provocation so that the Muslim countries, especially Iran, are drawn into the conflict. The plan is to prepare the ground for an assault on Iran. The Muslim countries should remain united to face the Israeli aggression. Senjuti Shuvo Ahmed North Hall, Dhaka College, Dhaka
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