For some, the problem in Palestine started on October 7, 2023, when a repulsive attack was launched against Israel.
Very less is spoken about the conduct of Israel in a region which is a hotspot of one of worst human rights crises of modern times. The liberal democratic world doesn’t stop gloating over the “only democracy” in the Middle East whose credentials as a democracy always evade the critical assessment of the vanguards of global liberal democracy.
The seeds of discord and violence were sown long back in 1948 when David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency and the executive committee of the World Zionist Organisation proclaimed the State of Israel on May 14, 1948.
The United States of America under the leadership of President Harry S Truman wasted no time and recognised the state of Israel as a legitimate nation within minutes of its proclamation.
The indigenous Arab population was forced to flee in large numbers, often referred to as Nakba following the rejection of Israel by the Arab world and the beginning of the first Arab-Israeli war.
The violent turn of events witnessed Israel consolidating more power with time and annexing more Arab lands. So, it is fair to say that not everything started on October 7, and the continuous persecution of the Palestinians is a testament to Israel’s horrific regard for human rights and international laws which itself dates back to 1948.
The “only democracy” in the Middle East operates heavily on the pattern of a tyrannical theocratic oligarchy under the patronage of the United States of America, a country which provides them with the immunity in international arena owing to its influential soft power.
Israel’s expansionist adventures led to a complete carpet bombing of Gaza over the past one year resulting in thousands of deaths, mostly women and children, and damage of billions of dollars to the infrastructure of the region.
Surprisingly, instead of taking note of Israel’s conduct, President Donald Trump has suggested a takeover of Gaza and a forced relocation of its population for the development of the area into a Riviera in the presence of Benjamin Netanyahu.
This model may have some buyers playing to the gallery of a strong Zionist lobby among the Arab allies of America, but the reality is far-fetched from what is being portrayed. The vanguard of the global liberal democracy campaign is on a trek to legitimise imperialism, ethnic cleansing, and initiate a forced displacement so that Israel can fulfill its expansionism masquerading as a false flag democratisation programme.
From a sociological point of view, the idea reeks of complete indifference toward human life and dignity. A population that has endured decades of conflict, violence, economic blockades, and discrimination would only be rendered hapless if such a misadventure comes to fruition.
If we turn the clock back and recall a monumental metamorphosis in the Middle East, the plot may get clearer by few margins. During the Nakba of 1948, an estimated 700,000 Palestinians were driven out of their homes. The fateful event remains a key focal point in the life of Palestinians and the way it affected and shaped their identity and political aspirations.
Syria is a textbook case in recent times to reflect on the effects of forced displacements. Families break away, education is compromised, economy is battered, thus resulting in the loss of generations of children who are forced to live this unstable and uncertain life.
When we speak of Palestine, one has to be mindful that its not just a piece of land we’re referring to but living human beings as well. If President Trump’s dream is to be realized it will also end the ages-old Palestinian identity, history, and heritage. The project will be another replica of how the Native Americans suffered cultural erosion at the hands of white Europeans and how the Aborigines of Australia have suffered similar losses.
Moreover, a forced displacement of a large populace to develop the region as a colonial real estate destination could easily be perceived as an act of aggression by many Arab states. In the past, Israel has been a part of such conflicts, the 1967 Six-Day War and occupation of Arab territories have ensured a perpetual cycle of violence and resistance to date.
All the attempts of coercion instead of deliberations could easily end up exacerbating the situation.
A school of thought that believes in the two-state solution will also be one of the major losers in the campaign. Whatever trust remains between a section of Palestinians and Israelis will be permanently taken to the cleaners.
There can’t be any room for negotiations when a side aided by one of the most powerful countries in the world carries on with its transgression and expansion programme.
Despite suffering insurmountable and unfathomable losses, Palestinians have been repulsing the Israeli advances without flinching an eye indicating the deep connection they have with the land, its cultural, and religious significance.
A forced mass displacement won’t only wipe of the Arab population from the region but would also dislodge a civilisation which has lived there for centuries. A heritage which deserves conservation will be demolished by an imperial fantasy of a few oligarchs and plutocrats.
Forced displacements are one of the worst forms of human rights violations a population could be subjected to.
In modern times it’s another blueprint taken out from the Nazis before the Jews fled the Nazi subjugation and extermination after the Soviet forces and Allied Powers defeated Adolf Hitler in 1945.
Having little to no regard for international law, Trump’s administration exhibits complete ignorance towards the plight of Palestinians and gives two hoots about international law by viewing the rubble of Gaza as a commercial venture.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights clearly state that the people’s self-determination and protection from forced displacement should be affirmed. The international law which also includes the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 abjectly prohibits the forced transfer of protected persons from occupied territories.
Gaza, which is a part of the Palestinian territories is recognized as an occupied area under international law. According to The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, forced displacement is a crime against humanity when carried out systematically.
The United States of America tries to reassert itself as a world leader at a time when the world has reached a point of uncertainty. Its role in conflicts like Palestine is a litmus test of its democratic and liberal credentials.
Not only do plans like Gaza Riviera risk diminishing the already lost lustre of the American Dream, but they also point fingers at the moral bankruptcy its ruling elite suffer from. As the age-old saying goes, “You can’t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds,” a world leader can’t condemn the holocaust orchestrated by Nazis and justify the carnage Israel has been enacting in Palestine for the past several decades.
Not only does President Trump’s proposed project lack moral authority but it also falls flat on the legal parameters of international law.
(The author, Sheikh Imran, is a freelance columnist from Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. Can be reached at [email protected])
For some, the problem in Palestine started on October 7, 2023, when a repulsive attack was launched against Israel.
Very less is spoken about the conduct of Israel in a region which is a hotspot of one of worst human rights crises of modern times. The liberal democratic world doesn’t stop gloating over the “only democracy” in the Middle East whose credentials as a democracy always evade the critical assessment of the vanguards of global liberal democracy.
The seeds of discord and violence were sown long back in 1948 when David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency and the executive committee of the World Zionist Organisation proclaimed the State of Israel on May 14, 1948.
The United States of America under the leadership of President Harry S Truman wasted no time and recognised the state of Israel as a legitimate nation within minutes of its proclamation.
The indigenous Arab population was forced to flee in large numbers, often referred to as Nakba following the rejection of Israel by the Arab world and the beginning of the first Arab-Israeli war.
The violent turn of events witnessed Israel consolidating more power with time and annexing more Arab lands. So, it is fair to say that not everything started on October 7, and the continuous persecution of the Palestinians is a testament to Israel’s horrific regard for human rights and international laws which itself dates back to 1948.
The “only democracy” in the Middle East operates heavily on the pattern of a tyrannical theocratic oligarchy under the patronage of the United States of America, a country which provides them with the immunity in international arena owing to its influential soft power.
Israel’s expansionist adventures led to a complete carpet bombing of Gaza over the past one year resulting in thousands of deaths, mostly women and children, and damage of billions of dollars to the infrastructure of the region.
Surprisingly, instead of taking note of Israel’s conduct, President Donald Trump has suggested a takeover of Gaza and a forced relocation of its population for the development of the area into a Riviera in the presence of Benjamin Netanyahu.
This model may have some buyers playing to the gallery of a strong Zionist lobby among the Arab allies of America, but the reality is far-fetched from what is being portrayed. The vanguard of the global liberal democracy campaign is on a trek to legitimise imperialism, ethnic cleansing, and initiate a forced displacement so that Israel can fulfill its expansionism masquerading as a false flag democratisation programme.
From a sociological point of view, the idea reeks of complete indifference toward human life and dignity. A population that has endured decades of conflict, violence, economic blockades, and discrimination would only be rendered hapless if such a misadventure comes to fruition.
If we turn the clock back and recall a monumental metamorphosis in the Middle East, the plot may get clearer by few margins. During the Nakba of 1948, an estimated 700,000 Palestinians were driven out of their homes. The fateful event remains a key focal point in the life of Palestinians and the way it affected and shaped their identity and political aspirations.
Syria is a textbook case in recent times to reflect on the effects of forced displacements. Families break away, education is compromised, economy is battered, thus resulting in the loss of generations of children who are forced to live this unstable and uncertain life.
When we speak of Palestine, one has to be mindful that its not just a piece of land we’re referring to but living human beings as well. If President Trump’s dream is to be realized it will also end the ages-old Palestinian identity, history, and heritage. The project will be another replica of how the Native Americans suffered cultural erosion at the hands of white Europeans and how the Aborigines of Australia have suffered similar losses.
Moreover, a forced displacement of a large populace to develop the region as a colonial real estate destination could easily be perceived as an act of aggression by many Arab states. In the past, Israel has been a part of such conflicts, the 1967 Six-Day War and occupation of Arab territories have ensured a perpetual cycle of violence and resistance to date.
All the attempts of coercion instead of deliberations could easily end up exacerbating the situation.
A school of thought that believes in the two-state solution will also be one of the major losers in the campaign. Whatever trust remains between a section of Palestinians and Israelis will be permanently taken to the cleaners.
There can’t be any room for negotiations when a side aided by one of the most powerful countries in the world carries on with its transgression and expansion programme.
Despite suffering insurmountable and unfathomable losses, Palestinians have been repulsing the Israeli advances without flinching an eye indicating the deep connection they have with the land, its cultural, and religious significance.
A forced mass displacement won’t only wipe of the Arab population from the region but would also dislodge a civilisation which has lived there for centuries. A heritage which deserves conservation will be demolished by an imperial fantasy of a few oligarchs and plutocrats.
Forced displacements are one of the worst forms of human rights violations a population could be subjected to.
In modern times it’s another blueprint taken out from the Nazis before the Jews fled the Nazi subjugation and extermination after the Soviet forces and Allied Powers defeated Adolf Hitler in 1945.
Having little to no regard for international law, Trump’s administration exhibits complete ignorance towards the plight of Palestinians and gives two hoots about international law by viewing the rubble of Gaza as a commercial venture.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights clearly state that the people’s self-determination and protection from forced displacement should be affirmed. The international law which also includes the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 abjectly prohibits the forced transfer of protected persons from occupied territories.
Gaza, which is a part of the Palestinian territories is recognized as an occupied area under international law. According to The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, forced displacement is a crime against humanity when carried out systematically.
The United States of America tries to reassert itself as a world leader at a time when the world has reached a point of uncertainty. Its role in conflicts like Palestine is a litmus test of its democratic and liberal credentials.
Not only do plans like Gaza Riviera risk diminishing the already lost lustre of the American Dream, but they also point fingers at the moral bankruptcy its ruling elite suffer from. As the age-old saying goes, “You can’t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds,” a world leader can’t condemn the holocaust orchestrated by Nazis and justify the carnage Israel has been enacting in Palestine for the past several decades.
Not only does President Trump’s proposed project lack moral authority but it also falls flat on the legal parameters of international law.
(The author, Sheikh Imran, is a freelance columnist from Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. Can be reached at [email protected])
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