Weakening global response encouraging Israeli and Indian aggression: Int’l webinar
A weakening global response due to systemic failures in global governance – under the UN’s umbrella – is emboldening Israel and India to carry out aggression and human rights violations with impunity. This is clearly illustrated by the latest Israeli assaults on Palestinians in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound which have failed to elicit any firm response beyond the routine statements of condemnation from OIC, Arab League and a few countries.
These views were expressed during an international webinar titled ‘Israeli Actions in the Middle East: Normalizing Aggression and Weakening Response’ organized by IPS on April 13, 2023.
The forum was chaired by Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, Vice Chairman, IPS, while the speakers included Dr Hatem Bazian, chair, Islamophobia Research & Documentation Project, USA; Dr Zeenat Adam, Deputy Executive Director, Afro-Middle East Centre, South Africa; Dr Chandra Muzaffar, president, JUST, Malaysia; Dr Ali Hossain Zadeh, Al-Mustafa University, Iran; Nazir Hussain, former dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, QAU; and Dr Junaid S Ahmed, professor at College of William & Mary, USA.
The speakers observed that Israel thrives on conflict and war, which have been fundamental elements of its creation, consolidation and expansion. Israel claims to be a democratic state but harbors colonial ambitions and wants to colonize the remaining Palestinian lands.
Israel has been working on Judaization of Jerusalem since 1967. The Judaization project is still underway which envisions demographic superiority to consolidate hold of the Jewish state in the occupied lands. As such the Arabs in Israel have been relegated to the status of second-class citizens irrespective of their religion as the Christians are also facing restrictions on carrying out their religious activities.
This is happening because Israel is moving away from the essence of the Oslo Accords and has no intention of giving the Palestinians their due rights. The Zionist actions of the Jewish state are being mirrored in Modi’s Hindutva-fevered India where the religion and culture of the minorities, especially Muslims, are being increasingly targeted.
The speakers were of the view that the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice are unlikely to entertain cases against Israeli and Indian violation of international humanitarian law due to US pressure.
The speakers maintained that though issues like Palestine and Kashmir are local or regional but require a global response. As such the international civil society needs to play a meaningful role to highlight the aggression and atrocities perpetrated by Israel and India in the occupied lands.
They also censured the deafening silence of the international community, and particularly most of the Muslim countries, which give precedence to geo-economic aspects and national interests rather than taking a stand for justice and human dignity. The speakers suggested that the major Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran should raise this issue at every possible international forum.
