Donald Trump’s recent support to move the Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem rocked the whole world, but Muslim countries in particular. The decision that other American presidents could not make due to the fear of a severe backlash from the Muslim world was made by Trump. Trump also asked the American authorities in Israel to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
He furthered demanded that the ‘civilized world’ accept this decision. His civilized world’s notion is still indistinct and curious for a number of leaders including the ones from Europe. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the decision,terming it ‘courageous and just’. On the other side, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority President, termed it ‘destruction of all the efforts to achieve peace’.Jerusalem is home to holy sites of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. For Muslims, Judaism has enormous significance as it was the first Kiblah and the event of Mi’raj also happened at the same holy place.
Though Muslim countries showed their anger straight away when this decision was made, such a response is no longer adequate, as the time has come to find a practical solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Turkey called for an immediate meeting of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). The OIC members are to meet on 13 December. The agenda of the meeting is yet to be decided, but of course Trump’s move will be discussed; the meeting will be unproductive if it does not bring about the changes required. In fact, OIC has failed to unearth a solution to this very issue. The organization has failed to take any solid action regarding the Palestine-Israel issue since it was founded.
The Royal Court of KSA declared the decision subjugation of the ‘historical and permanent rights of the Palestinian people’. Pakistan Foreign Affairs Minister Khawaja Asif also condemned the decision and termed it not only against the Palestinians but also against the whole Muslim world. The reaction of other Muslim countries was identical. People got out of their homes to protest Trump’s decision. People especially in Palestine showed their anger by setting pictures of Trump on fire.
Negotiation and compromise has always been the only way to end this conflict. If effective talks aren’t carried out now, Trump’s decision will further alienate relations between the Muslim and Jewish communities, which will only result in more violence
European leaders have also showed their anger over this issue and believe that this is going to shatter any hope left for finding a peaceful solution to the Middle East crisis. 28 EU Foreign Ministers have already warned the Trump administration to not move the US embassy to Jerusalem. Following Trump’s decision, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that the conflict could only be solved through negotiations.
Negotiation and compromise has always been the only way to end this conflict. If effective talks aren’t carried out now, Trump’s decision will further alienate the relations between the Muslim and Jewish communities, which will only result in more violence. Palestinians are already facing a lot of tribulations; they have borne the brunt of the war that Israel has brought to them. No one is allowed to interfere in the right to self-determination of any community.
The Muslim world is already divided, especially among the Sunni and Shia sects. KSA is fighting hard to wreck Iran’s image along with any pro Iran entities in the world. Iran is focused on doing the same to KSA. Responsibility for this issue falls on the entire Muslim world’s shoulders. If they remain divided even on this issue, Israeli dominance in the region will remain intact and more and more people will lose their lives owing to their negligence.Instead of making hollow claims and promises to the Palestinians, the Muslims world has to make sincere joint efforts in finding a solution to this issue.
The writer is a professional writer and political commentator. He can be contacted @junaidalimalik1 or [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, December 9th 2017.