Category Archives: Politics

Israel-Palestine Conflict: Saga of Peacemaking,
Equal Rights and Two State

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Israel-Palestine Conflict: Saga of Peacemaking,
Equal Rights and Two State


Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD.
History Offers Lessons for Change, Human Equality and Peacemaking
Ferocious conceptions of good and evil push mankind to a tragic abnormality of human suffering being witnessed in Gaza and between Israel and Palestine. America and Western European leaders use violent assumptions and vivid language to reflect on catastrophic humanitarian cataclysm happening in Gaza, plagued with delusional ideas to spearhead a warmongering culture across the Middle East. The American war economy strategy spells out the reasoning to propel a new war theater by dispatching two Aircraft Carrier ships to the Mediterranean region. Does America stand for peace or war in the global theater?

The Israel-Palestine conflict saga is diluted with a mixture of political contradictions,
denial of equal rights to fellow human beings and distortion of claims and counterclaims of historic facts and unthinkable perversion of prevalent reality. The blame games are enlarged in scope and intensity to sheer inhumanity living in agony and pains of displacements on this earth. Watching the massive military hardware being mobilized to support a mythological criterion that those enriched with wisdom have turned out to be foolish in thoughts and actions. The focal issue of Israel and Palestine – Two independent States existing in the highly volatile and unpredictable Middle East landscape. The emerging crisis shatters the invincibility of the Israeli military power and embodies critical issues of Hamas challenging the intelligence superiority and killing of 1300 Israeli citizens (265 soldiers and 51policemen) and some 2600 or more wounded in a surprise attack a week earlier. Continued firing of rockets by Hamas and other splinter groups have further wounded, displaced and killed Israeli civilians.
Latest Israeli media reports of 199 hostages kept by Hamas.
The emerging conflict signals the failure of monumental Israeli intelligence apparatus to have imagined such a catastrophic casualty at one time by a small splinter group of Palestine freedom movement. It reinforced the Israeli military resolve to punish Hamas and other groups in Gaza, PM Netanyahu Government moved massive military personnel at the frontiers between Israel and Gaza – a landlocked open prison of some 2.2 million Palestinian refugees occupied by Israel by 16 years ago. According to the media reports some 2,600 civilians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli bombardment and more than 5,000 wounded. The war scenario emboldens Netanyahu‘s political absolutism – a politician already in troubled waters on corruption charges and wanting to change the law and justice system in Israel against the continued citizens protests. An egoistic leader with controversial profile will do utmost to regain unbridled ambition either by manipulation, violence or new conflicts. Historically, truth is unchanging and is the same as it was 75 years ago that Jews and Palestinian should be entitled to equal national rights and identity in formulation of national freedom and separate homeland. That truth was denied and was subjected to misinterpretation for a long time bringing into focus the current wave of unthinkable strategic and political paradoxes. Late Professor Edward Said (“The Idea of Palestine Hounds Zionists” Global Research: 9/13/23), clarified: “What matters about Palestine is what has always prevented Israel from converting its military superiority into lasting political gains: that invincible Palestinian desire to keep hold of what is right and to reject what is wrong. “https://www.globalresearch.ca/theidea-palestine-houndszionists-edward-said/5833239” It’s Not The ‘Israel-Hamas War’, It’s The Israel-Gaza Massacre” (Information Clearing House:10/15/23), Caitlin Johnstone spells out the current catastrophe: Stop calling it the “Israel-Hamas war”. It’s the Israel-Gaza massacre. Calling it the Israel-Hamas war creates the false impression that this is a war that is directed exclusively at Hamas when it’s really an ethnic purge that’s directed at all Palestinians in Gaza.
https://informationclearinghouse.blog/2023/10/15/its-not-the-israel-hamas-war-its-the-israel-gaza-massacre/
Professor Michel Chossudovsky (Global Research: 10/13/23) outlines “Netanyahu’s “False Flag” Is a “Copy and Paste”: The Pentagon’s Secret “Operation Northwoods” (1962) Directed Against Cuba. “Casualty Lists Would Cause a Helpful Wave of Indignation” The Northwoods 1962 document was titled “Justification for US Military Intervention in Cuba.” Please see by this author: “Al-Aqsa Mosque Waiting for the Arab Leaders”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/57491.htm
Was it a preplanned strategy to allow Hamas to infiltrate into Southern Israel and to end the futuristic concept of freedom for Palestine? General Herzi Halvevi and Dr. Paul Craig Roberts (“Section Commander of the Gaza Fence: “The obstacle is built so that even a fox cannot pass it.” They Let It Happen. The Hamas Attack Was Allowed to Close the Book on Palestine.” Global Research: 10/13/23), explains that according to the commander of the Kerem Shalom Battalion, it was a planned Israeli move to have finished answer on the future of Palestine.
The current paradigm links directly to PM Netanyahu affiliated with extreme Jewish Ultra-Nationalists to deny the Palestinian people their rights of existence as an independent State. Both sides have emotional outburst for their claims and blames. The Defense Minister Gallant labels the Gaza people as “human animals” aggravating a confused and frustrating mental microscope. To falsify the prospects for a reasoned dialogue for peace and harmony between the incumbents, American and West European leadership seem to intensify the gravity of situation by calling for one-sided political and military support to Israel: “Israel has the right to self-defense.” What about the Palestinians, don’t they have the same right under international law? Cynical as they appear to be, the Western leadership are heavily influenced and dictated by the lobbyists propaganda and financial contributions to change the facts of history.
Gaza Blockade by Israel a Collective Punishment or Violations of the Geneva Conventions
“Fear God” and ‘do not violate the covenants of peace and trust on earth’, the Divine reminders echoed by Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad – Prophets of God to humanity for peace and global brotherhood. The Jews and Arabs have lot more in common than adversity if to rethink of peace and brotherhood. Given the on-going daily bombardments and counter attacks between Israel and Hamas, the people of Gaza are fast becoming a victim of this inhuman tragedy in all spheres of life for survival.
The Israel military command has ordered the Gaza’s civilians to move from North to the South and hospitals to be relocated. Under the International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions this ultimatum could be interpreted as a “crime against humanity.” Israel appears to have blocked the entrance to North Gaza and all essential human necessities – water, foods, electricity and medical supplies are halted; thus, a new humanitarian crisis is evolving of unthinkable proportion and intensity for 2.2 million civilian living in that colony. The UN calls it an “Unprecedented Human Catastrophe” in the making. Why would Israel assemble 100,000 troops and several hundreds of tanks and artillery to invade Gaza? Is it the beginning of a Third World War? There is no state actor and known powerful entity challenging the security and freedom of Israel. The PLO led by Mahmood Abbas continues to have some agreement with Israel for peaceful co-existence and nationhood. Does Israel need new enemies to ensure its progress and military future?

The mankind is fraught with sorrows and fear of unknown animosities between Israelis and
Palestinians – a nation no matter how normal claims to be, cannot function as normal beings to co-exist with their own self, the surroundings – in human culture and make any positive contributions to sustainable change and progress. Israel has nuclear arsenals and ironically, desperation could aggravate Israel to use weapons of mass destruction unilaterally with global catastrophic consequences.
American and West European and so do many oil exporting Arab states need to think critical and humanely how to stop the current warfare and find a rational agenda for peace and reconciliation between the warring parties. We, the People live in a splendid Universe in which planet Earth floats ordained by the commands of God. There is a moral sense of spirituality and humanity to co-exist in harmony with the rest of all creations on this Earth. This TRUST is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an, Chapter 33: 72: “We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth; And the mountains but they
refused; To undertake it, being afraid thereof: But man undertook it; He was indeed unjust and foolish.”
Are there any Arab Leaders capable of finding a Workable Solution of the Crisis?
Why would Israel plan a major ground assault on Gaza when a small non-state group was responsible for the surprise attack? The Israeli citizens protesting against the Netanyhau Government in Tel Aviv’s military defense complex call for an immediate exchange of hostages between Israel and Hamas, a ceasefire and then peace talks to resolve the current problems. PM Netanyahu appears fearful of people’s reaction if failed to bring hostage alive back to Israel. Avigail Abanenail, a Jewish Peace Activist spells out the problem and looks at peaceful means to a better future. Jews for Peace (USA) organization questions the Israel motives for war against Gaza and calls for an immediate ceasefire and recognition of equal rights of Palestinians to an independent State.

Most media narratives are skeptical about the role of Arab leadership in forging a durable peace and reconciliation between Israel and Palestine. Surprisingly enough, there are no Arab leaders equipped with knowledge-based courage, wisdom and intellectual capacity to discuss the current conflict at a global platform. What is the real problem? Most Arab leaders across the oil exporting countries are authoritarian dictators, former tribal agents turned into royals, princes, kings and presidents by the Western imperial forces, and they simply act as thumb licker agents, puppets and subservient to the American, British and French colonial policies and practices in the region. They could never think outside of the box and see the light of Islamic knowledge and values to represent the interests of the
Arab masses for peace, equal rights and co-existence.
Towards Rethinking of Peace, Co-existence and Two States We, the People of knowledge speak logically about the Nature of Things affecting lives and our hopes for future, and we echo inspiration from the Divine Revelations – the truth and nothing but truth – the Qur’an, the Bible and Torah reveal similar narrative as a stern reminder: The Earth is a
living entity and is meant for us – the human beings. The Divine warning (Chapter 7: 56: The Qur’an), is self-explanatory: Do no mischief on the Earth after it hath been set in order but call on God with fear and longing in hearts; For the Mercy of God is always near to those who do good. What is the end game of current military assault on Gaza? Ironically, unpredictable as there are 199 Israeli hostages in captivity and consequences of the war engulfing other state actors could not be ignored and continued devastation of Gaza humanitarian exodus, bombing and long-term Israeli- Arab accords are all on critical stake. Logically, peace and harmony will enrich Israel’s capacity to deal with neighboring Arabs, whereas denial of equal rights and statehood to Palestinian will block all futuristic
opportunities for political change, reconciliation and friendship. We, the Conscientious People of the world call for an immediate formulation of an International Crisis Management Team comprising of the US, EU, Russia, China, Israel and Palestine to avert the war and organize a dialogue for a ceasefire and peacemaking. More so, the US and West European politicians to exert their influence on Israel leaders and stop the invasion of Gaza and have the civilian population return to their homes. There are 20 or so hospitals including the International Red Cross hospital under Israeli ultimatum to be evacuated and moved out of the Gaza strip. We, the People of globe ask the global conscientious leaders to avoid the upcoming epicenter of cataclysm and listen to voices of reason for an immediate
ceasefire in the region and stop acceleration of military confrontations between Israel, PLO and Hamas.
At the edge of reason, war is anti-human, and its regional and international consequences could lead to global catastrophic annihilation of human cultures and civilizations.


Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja specializes in international affairs-global security, peace and conflict resolution with keen interests in Islamic-Western comparative cultures and civilizations, and author of several publications including the latest: One Humanity and the Remaking of Global Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution. Lambert Academic Publications, Germany, 12/2019

REMEMBERING DADABHAI NAOROJI

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The great hero of the initial phase of Indian freedom.

Shared by Syed Ehtesham.

[Note: This article is being published to commemorate the death anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji on June 30.]

By Praveen Daver.

“Let us always remember that we are all children of our mother country. Indeed, I have never worked in any other spirit than that I am an Indian, and owe duty to my country and all my countrymen. Whether I am a Hindu, a Muslim, a Parsi, a Christian or any other creed, I am above all an Indian. Our country is India, our nationality is Indian.”

These inspiring words were spoken by Dadabhai Naoroji in Lahore, where he was presiding over a session of the Indian National Congress for the second time. Earlier, he was president of the Congress at its second session in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1886 and, later, for the third time in Calcutta again in 1906.

Naoroji was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on September 4, 1825 in a priestly Parsi family, the only child of Manekbai and Naoroji Palanji Dordi, who had migrated from Navsari in present-day Gujarat.

A brilliant student, Naoroji joined the famed Elphinstone College, Bombay after passing the matriculation examination and graduated from there in 1845, winning many prizes and scholarships. On the completion of his college career, he was appointed assistant professor at Elphinstone College and awarded the honorary LLD degree by Bombay University.

As a devout Zoroastrian, Naoroji learnt that one should be pure in thought, speech and action. He also read the lives of many great men of world history, which inspired him to think that he owed a debt to society. He decided to pay back the debt by devoting himself to the service of the people.

Naoroji looked beyond his profession of teaching and felt the need for reform in society. He started schools to impart education to women and societies to provide young people with opportunities to discuss various literary, scientific and social subjects.

He also began a Gujarati weekly named Rast Goftar (‘Truth Teller’) to spread his ideas in the city of Mumbai, where he became famous as a pioneer of social reform and was regarded as “the promise of India” by his fellow professors.

In 1855, Naoroji went to England to work as a partner in a commercial firm named Cama & Company. This was the first Indian firm to be founded in London. But his principles of putting ethics and commercial morality above business interests made it difficult for his partners to deal with him, and Naoroji was forced to leave the firm.

He started his own company, which initially did very well, but soon ran into debt due to his friends who were in financial distress. However, he managed to overcome his financial problems as he also worked as a professor of Gujarati at the University College, London.

Remembering Dadabhai Naoroji, the 

Great 

Hero of the Initial Phase of India’s 

Freedom 

Struggle

To read the full article please click the following link to Janta weekly

Al-Aqsa Mosque Waiting for the Arab Leaders

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Al-Aqsa Mosque Waiting for the Arab Leaders

Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD.

Truth has its own Language

How do you contemplate wisdom, reason and respect for tolerance and decency out of the political chaos, blind terror, religious awe, and moral and intellectual hatred filled trajectory submerged in inhuman action? The live video portrayal across the global networks of  Israeli police using stern grenades, smoking blasts and beating the worshipers at midnight prayers during the month of fasting (Ramadan) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque – the Third holiest site in Islam. The Israeli Police Commissioner termed it as “a terrible impact of police behavior.”  A flip flop of mediocre expression of the prevalent reality. At loss is the decadent culture of human thinking, behavior and integrity and failure miserably to respect the others – the innocent and helpless worshippers, if you want to be respected for your national identity and religious values. The souls of Abraham, Ishmael, Ishaq, Jacob resting in neighboring Al-Khalil (Hebron), and Moses and Jesus must have been tormented by the extreme wing of the Israeli political governance under PM Netanyahu. There is a chronic problem of irresistible political and religious necessity to dehumanize Palestinians in particular and Muslims in general that the State of Israel occupies their Third Holiest site in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu desperately needs diversion and unthinkable conflicts for his own survival and to avert the massive 14 weeks long public protests and new kind of socio-political chaos to balance his weak and corrupt leadership. What is the core impulse of the problem?

This was not the first incident of politically geared hatred and primitive tyranny against the Abrahamic Faith worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Ramzy Baroud, a Palestine scholar explains in his 2014 article: “Al-Aqsa vs. Israel: The Lurking Danger Beneath” (Uncommon Thought Journal: 3/14/2014):  Something sinister is brewing around and below al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and it has the hallmark of a familiar Israeli campaign to strip the Mosque of its Muslim Arab identity. This time around, however, the stakes are much higher. It was on February 25, 1994, that US-born Jewish extremist Baruch Goldstein stormed into the Ibrahimi Mosque in the Palestinian city of al-Khalil (Hebron) and opened fire. The aim was to kill as many Arabs as he could.

At that moment, nearly 800 Muslim worshipers were kneeling down during the dawn prayer in the holiest month of the Muslim Calendar; Ramadan. He killed up to 30 people and wounded over 120. Exactly 20 years later, the Israeli army stormed al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest Muslim site, and opened fire. The timing was no accident…… That same dangerous combination – rightwing politicians allied with religious zealots – is at work once more. They are eyeing Al-Aqsa for annexation; the same way the Israeli government is laboring to permanently annex large swathes of the occupied West Bank….

Global Reaction to Israeli Police attack on the Worshippers

AT the UNO Hqt, New York, thousands of concerned masses held protest against the Israeli police incursion and attacks on the Muslim worshipers inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Palestinians call it ‘Haram-Sharif’ – a Place of Honor and Respect. Like other religious followers, Jews, Christians, Muslims and others were active participants calling to global audience for respect of the sacred site and reasoned conflict resolution and peace between Palestine and Israel.

At the edge of reason, Israeli political leaders under PM Nethanyu appear to be victims of ignorance, religious immorality and imbecility to have ordered the police to raid the Al-Aqsa mosque. Had they known who the Prophet Abraham, Ishaq, Jacob , Joseph, Moses and Jesus were and what were their teaching, beliefs and practices, they would have never dared to tyrannize the innocent worshipers at the mosque. Muslims in their daily five time prayers send salutations to Abraham, and his progeny and their belief and respect is an integral part of the Islamic faith. No Palestinian or other Muslims could ever dare to disrupt the Jewish worshipers or insult the Prophets of Islam – Abraham, Ishaq, Jacob, Moses and Jesus. It was only convenient and self-serving interest to the extreme right wings of Israeli political governance.  But the real issue rests not with Judaism; it is the “Zionism” that governs the minds and Israeli political construct.

Alan Hart – an American Jewish scholar a former BBC Panorama and ITN Middle East correspondent with a vast first-hand knowledge of the subject narrates in his 2010 book: ZIONISM, THE REAL ENEMY OF
THE JEWS / Volume III Conflict Without End?

Alan Hart (“Zionism and Peace Are Incompatible” Dissident Voice, Oct 21, 2010), explains the core problem embedded in Zionism: 
 “Zionism is not only Jewish nationalism which created a state in the Arab heartland mainly by terrorism and ethnic cleansing. It is also a pathological mindset. In the deluded Zionist mind the world was always anti-Jew and always will be. It follows that Holocaust II (shorthand for another great turning against Jews) is inevitable. It follows that there can be no limits to what Zionism will do in order to preserve nuclear-armed Greater Israel as a refuge of last resort for all Jews everywhere when the world turns against them……. But alas, reality continues to slap everyone in the face: Zionism and peace are incompatible. I will say it again, Zionism and peace are incompatible.” 

Are the Arab Leaders and Custodians of the Holy Mosques Alive?

While the world was watching the most pernicious actions and its consequences on news screen, most Arab leaders lacking moral and intellectual profile and reasoning were obsessed with their own personal agenda items and strategic priorities. While political tyranny and cynicism rules across the Middle East, landscape, what this author narrated some 20 years earlier (“Arab Ummah vs. Muslim Ummah, Who you were and where you are?” Media Monitors network, May 8, 2002), remains unchanged. The contemporary leaders pose no moral, intellectual or political challenge to Israeli leadership and the occupation. If the Arab people were united and had educated and intelligent leadership would have changed the shape and forms of contemporary hopeless affairs. Should the authoritarian Arab leaders not be questioned and held accountable for their incompetence, treachery and failure to protect the interests of the Arab people?  
 “World observers describe the Arab leaders as “defeated” cronies who capitalize on inflicted miseries of the masses to build palaces and to increase foreign bank balances. Is it possible that the defeated parties could pressure the victors? Or demand favorable terms and conditions on issues which involve life and death questions? ……When you discarded Islam, you left behind all its merits and claims. Your leaders believe, you are an economic man and women like the Western cultures, they work to earn, you consume fatty dinners and enjoy 4 wheels cruiser without working for it. Your enemies are happy; you are true believers in progressive economic myths and life styles. But your leaders are without followers, without sense of responsibility or guilt. Most Western political analysts believe Arab leaders hardly bother to use their brain; it is always new and fresh like a baby.” 

The Arab people, politics (if any) and culture needs a navigational change to coexist with moral and intellectual demands of the 21st century. They are prisoners and divided in sectarianism in their countries. Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard (“TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND OUR WAY OF LIFE: WHAT’S NEXT” 09/2001), fascinated us with her ideas and vision she had shared decades ago on the Islamic civilization:
“There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world….
And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration……..

Recently, a Palestinian old woman was reported with a heart attack and the attending physician explained that for long she was waiting to be free by the marching Arab armies and Generals. But the other day she heard roaring sounds and public outbursts and she imagined that perhaps Arab armies had come but she was told there are no Arab armies and no Generals and that crowd cheering and noise was coming from a football match and consequently she fell on ground and fainted. No wonder, why the Palestinians have no proactive leadership and are highly disorganized. They failed to have a united purpose for sustainable change in the Middle East.  The Prince of the UAE chatting with the UAE newsmaker tv network about his new pets and blond wife, when asked about the attack on the worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, he was not aware at all. He sounded optimistic to ask the CIA for authentic information. The Saudi royals when contacted for comments by the Truth digger foreign network made a surprise statement that they enjoyed friendship with Nethayau and American leadership and hope to conduct peace talks on Palestine-Israel relationship in the near future. How long would Al-Aqsa Mosque wait for the neo-colonial kings, prince and presidents of the Arab world, asked one Imam of the Saudi mosque in Friday sermon? It is reported that he was put under house arrest for his own safety. Imagine the history when Arabs were the pioneer of new knowledge, scientific and technological discoveries and human development and where do they stand today in global analysis? Please see by this author: “The Arab Time Capsule: Once You were the Leaders of Islamic Civilization” Al-Jazeerah Editorial: 02/01/2010:

“It is highly probable that but for the Arabs, modern European civilization would never have arisen at all; it is absolutely certain that but for them, it would not have assumed that character which has enabled it to transcend all previous phases of evolution. For although there is not a single aspect of European growth in which the decisive influence of Islamic culture is not traceable, nowhere is it so clear and momentous as in the genesis of that power which constitutes the paramount distinctive force of the modern world and the supreme source of its victory-natural science and the scientific spirit.”  Robert Briffault (The Making of Humanity, London, 1918), Professor at Cambridge University. UK.

Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja specializes in international affairs-global security, peace and conflict resolution and international affairs with keen interests in Islamic-Western comparative cultures and civilizations, and author of several publications including the latest: One Humanity and the Remaking of Global Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution, 2019.