A rabbi and a priest went to see a boxing match. Before the start of the match, the rabbi saw one of the boxers cross himself. Seeing the boxer cross, the rabbi turned to the priest, and asked; what does that mean? The priest said; not a damn thing, if a man can’t fight.
The message is deep and pretty clear here. We, the Muslim Ummah, at present, if resembles a character in the aforementioned story, it would be the boxer crossing himself. No wonder we are in a situation as ironic as at present.
In continuation to his announcement made a few months back to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the US President, Donald Trump, moved a step ahead, despite facing rejection by the UN and the international community, inaugurating the US embassy in Jerusalem on the 70th Anniversary of the Israeli state, a day the Palestinians call as Nakba or Catastrophe. Angered further by the US move, thousands of Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza protesting Washington’s move, and the state of Israel. Alleging that the protestors posed a threat to the Israeli population near its fence with Gaza, the Israeli troops resorted to use of brutal force to disperse the protestors, resulting in violent clashes leading to approximately 58 deaths, and leaving behind thousands injured. Israel also carried out air strikes targeting Hamas locations.
The ‘righteous’ international community, along with a large part of the Muslim World, remained silent on the loss of life in Gaza, and reluctantly called on ‘both sides’ for restraint in the prevailing tense situation.
Why to blame international community for supporting Israel with all its brutalities, when the Muslims themselves are on the backfoot with respect to the original position collectively shared by the Muslim World on Palestine?
With Israel gaining strength and influence in the international community, the cause of Palestine has weakened over the period of time subject to lack of commitment by the supposed brotherly Muslim countries themselves. In the midst of the recent Israeli aggression on the innocent protestors, the Jerusalemite activists rejected the Ramazan meals provided by the UAE for visitors coming to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and launched a campaign over twitter #wearenothungry; what should be nothing less than a wake-up call for the sleeping beauty we call the OIC. The response comes amid the alleged normalisation of relations between Israel and the UAE. The ambassadors of UAE and Bahrain had also met with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a restaurant in Washington, as reported by the Washington Post.
With Prince Muhammad Bin Salman in the driving seat, the Saudi Kingdom, undergoing rigorous reforms at home at present, is also rethinking its position on Israel, which can be another nail in the coffin of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Why to blame the international community on supporting Israel with all its brutalities, when the Muslims themselves are going on the back foot with respect to the original position collectively shared by the Muslim World on Palestine?
Whereas the concept of a unified Ummah, in its true essence, is a long gone history, the Muslim countries in their individuality seem confused when it comes to prioritising their position in their love for the west, and their sense of ownership and belongingness with the Muslim World. Only a handful of Muslim countries are vocal and relevant at the international stage when it comes to taking stand for the abrogated rights of the oppressed Muslims, particularly in case of Palestine and Kashmir, at the hands of aggressively powerful oppressors.
While the international platform of the United Nations (UN) did not serve the purpose of voicing the collective stand of the Muslim countries, the forum of OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries) was formed back in 1969. With a membership of 57 countries, the OIC is supposed to be the collective voice of the Muslims, and work to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim World in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony, which made a great deal of sense not only to the Muslims alone, but to the world at large. In its present state, however, the role being played by OIC in global affairs is merely of Oh; I see!
Instead of proactively responding to prevailing situations, the OIC, every now and then, needs a wake-up call to arise to the seriousness of the affairs. By the time the OIC sits together, considerable damage is already done to its very cause of existence. To be effective, the OIC needs to be a lot more than a platform merely raising concerned voice over occupant’s brutalities, and violation of international standards, and rights in case of the Muslims. The laid back spectator approach of the OIC has done considerable damage to the Palestinian cause.
All member states of the OIC are critically required to add strength in their collective capacity to this forum, adding the due value to its stance on Muslims at the international arena. Individual efforts by some Muslim countries to strengthen OIC will not bear fruit, unless a collective effort to do so is made. More than anything else, what the OIC needs is the power of unity.
The Muslims must realise that; united we stand, divided we fall.
The writer is an HR professional. He can be contacted at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, May 26th 2018.