Israeli atrocities in Gaza — Pakistan keeps mum

THE Israeli attack on Gaza is an act of barbarianism — making a hill of a mount hole and opening flood gates of death and destruction on poor Palestinians now for all purposes standing alone against Israel.

It is an act of terrorism to which Israel has made a record in recent history. It used to be done in early human history to kill one who slaped. Of course in the recent past the Americans also indulged in Iraq and Afghanistan under the pretext of war on terror which was George Bush’s infamous game of human sacrifice.

However, Israel thought that Palestinians are abandoned people as Arabs have stopped supporting them, which appeared to be the case since after the Camp David Accord and more so after the death of Yasser Arafat. Palestinians have lost their leader of international standing. They thought Egypt has dissociated itself from the Palestinians so it would be easy to chastize them without any resistance from the Arabs and the sleepy Muslim World. But were they testing what would be Egyptian reaction now after their Sadat and Hosni Mubarak were gone. They seemed to have assumed that Morsi, the new Egyptian President, will be another Hosni Mubarak in acquiescing in Israeli fury on the deserted Palestinians but they underestimated the change that has taken place in Egypt after Morsi’s election as President. Morsi is no softy.

The Israelis action can make Camp David Accords a dead letter if they try their luck too much. Morsi has condemned Israeli onslaught on Gaza and sent his Prime Minister to Gaza as a gesture of full support to the Palestinians in their hour of agony. Morsi is Ikhwan el Muslimin and Ikhawan represents the Egyptian masses. He is not an exhausted Sadat or de facto leader. The fact that he sent his Prime Minister to Gaza is a clear indication of change in Egypt’s policy towards Israel if they tried to terrorize Palestinians. Since 1979 when the Camp David Accords were signed by Sadat and an exhausted Egyptian Army a great change has taken place. As a former Ambassador to Egypt at the time when Camp David were signed Egypt is a new revived nation by the recent departure of Hosni Mubarak’s generals, sacking of 80 of them and the Iron hand of Mursi is guiding Egypt which is again claiming the leadership of the Arab World. Once upon a time there used to be a saying in diplomatic circles that what Egypt thinks today Arabs would think tomorrow. Morsi is a new power factor in the Arab World and made it clear that he intends not to abandon the Palestinians. It is not Israel’s choice which way they will Morsi’s Egypt. Ikhwan are a very potent force. Israel would be wise not to try its luck any more.

On this occasion I must express the sorrow of majority of Pakistanis on PPP’s leadership ignoring the Israeli atrocities. They have kept mum and not uttered a word against Israeli atrocities and attack on Gaza.; for what? PPP has changed Pakistan’s policies towards Muslim causes, isolated Pakistan from Saudi Arabia and Muslims, gone over board with India, releasing doves of peace with India, and what not. I wonder whether this can be PPP’s posture of the same PPP whose Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a champion of Palestinian cause , and whom Palestinians respected as their leader and I should know that as a friend of Arafat during my ambassadorship and ZAB who held the Islamic Summit in Lahore in 1974 , whose posture in UN on major issues of Pakistan and the Muslim world had made him a leader of the NAM and the Third World. Really ZAB’s posture in foreign policy was very much different from present day PPP. Poles apart. Remember Benazir had indicated that she was inclined to recognize Israel. Strong public opinion prevented recognition of Israel during her days.

We have come to a position when President Morsi telephoned Zardari, his counterpart, so that he may denounce Israeli action. No delay should be made in Pakistan joining the Arabs and Palestinians.

This will remove the impressions about Pakistan having had a change of heart if a firm denunciation of Israeli raid on Gaza is not denounced in strongest terms. Once Pakistan was among the first to do it. Nobody needed to request for it.

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