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Tag: Palestine

  • Republican Senators Threaten ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan against Issuing Netanyahu’s Arrest Warrant; Equates US’ Sovereignty with Israel!

    Republican Senators Threaten ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan against Issuing Netanyahu’s Arrest Warrant; Equates US’ Sovereignty with Israel!

    The United States of America (USA), which exists on deception, double-speak, and Islamophobia, is at it again. Twelve subhuman US Senators, like the warmonger President Joe Biden, who is thirsty for Palestinian blood, have dared to threaten the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan with ‘severe sanctions’ if arrest warrants are issued against the subhuman Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his cabinet.

    In a distasteful, one-page rant signed by 12 GOP senators, including Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Florida’s Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz of Texas, Karim Khan was notified that any attempt by the ICC to hold Netanyahu and his colleagues to account for their actions in Gaza will be interpreted “not only as a threat to Israel’s sovereignty but to the sovereignty of the United States.”

    The name is Cotton, but Tom Cotton is hard-hearted like iron and incites violence. When people in the US began protesting against Israeli atrocities in Gaza, urging an end to war, Cotton incited violence against the protestors, thus:

    “I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic to take matters into your own hands. It’s time to put an end to this nonsense.” Cotton posted on X, April 15, before editing the post six minutes later to add “to get them out of the way.” Cotton accused the protesters of being pro-Hamas, though he offered no evidence of any kind. Cotton is going to run for a seat in the Senate in 2026, too.

    It may be recalled that Karim Khan, a British lawyer, was appointed as the ICC’s chief prosecutor in February 2021, a week after the court had already decided by majority that its territorial jurisdiction extended to “Gaza and the West Bank.” After the attacks on October 7, 2023, Khan declared that the court had jurisdiction over any potential war crimes committed both by Hamas militants in Israel and by Israeli forces in Gaza. The ICC, according to the Rome Statute of 2002, can charge individuals with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, and as per recent reports, Israeli officials increasingly believe that the ICC is preparing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other senior cabinet and military officials. This makes Netanyahu and his cabinet members lose sleep and wet their pants!

    Last Friday, the Hague-based office of the chief prosecutor published an unprecedented statement of concern on Twitter, calling for an end to threats of retaliation against the ICC and attempts to “impede” and “intimidate” its officials. The statement added that such threats could “constitute an offence against the administration of justice” under the Rome Statute.

    After the October 7 attacks, anti-Palestinian rhetoric has featured heavily in Israel and in extremist spaces, including in the political sphere. In November 2023, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, claimed that there are “two million Nazis” in the West Bank. Bezalel did not provide any evidence of Palestinians putting the Jews in a gas chamber! The ultra-extremist MK Amichai Eliyahu of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party suggested that Israel could drop “some kind of nuclear bomb on Gaza, flattening them, and eliminating everybody there.”

    The United States is complicit in the genocide of the Palestinians. The letter of threat is a clear indication of this dual policy. As I was filing this report, news came in that the Israeli tanks have started rolling into Rafah for a final onslaught on the helpless Palestinian people. Israel has refused to call a ceasefire, despite Hamas showing its acceptance in a change of heart.

    The shameless Muslim and Arab countries are silently watching the dance of death and destruction in Gaza, along with the passive international community. 

    (Views are personal.)

  • इसराइल की सेना आधुनिक काल का फ़िरौन है: एर्दोआन

    इसराइल की सेना आधुनिक काल का फ़िरौन है: एर्दोआन

    “हम ऐसे दिनों में गुज़र रहे हैं जब मुसलमान होना और सच्चाई, इंसाफ़ और अपने पवित्र स्थानों की रक्षा करना मुश्किल है. ये हमारा कर्तव्य है कि ज़ायोनी-क्रूसेडर मानसिकता के साथ बैतुल मुक़द्दस की रक्षा करें.” 

    यह बात तुर्किये के राष्ट्रपति रजब तैयब एर्दोआन ने शुक्रवार को इस्तांबुल में लीग ऑफ़ पार्लियामेंटेरियन्स फ़ॉर अल-क़ुद्स द्वारा आयोजित पांचवें अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संसदीय सम्मेलन में व्यक्त की.

    एर्दोआन ने इस बात पर ज़ोर देते हुए कहा कि फ़िलिस्तीनी लोगों को इतिहास के सबसे जघन्य अपराधों का निशाना बनाया जा रहा है.

    उन्होंने इसराइली कब्ज़ा करने वाली सेनाओं को “आधुनिक ज़माने का फ़िरौन और नव-नाज़ियों के रूप में वर्णित किया, जिन्होंने ग़ज़ा पट्टी में 35,000 से अधिक फ़िलिस्तीनियों को मार डाला.”

    एर्दोगन ने आगे कहा, “कुछ लोग हमारी बातों से नाराज़ हैं और समझते हैं कि वे हम पर यहूद-दुश्मनी का आरोप लगाकर हमें चुप करा सकते हैं, लेकिन वे कामयाब नहीं होंगे. और आप जो भी करें, जब तैयब एर्दोआन के दिल पर कोई रूकावट नहीं डाल सकेंगे. और हम फ़िलिस्तीनी मुद्दे का बचाव करना जारी रखेंगे.”

    एर्दोआन ने कहा कि फ़िलिस्तीन हर मुसलमान के लिए परीक्षा का एक पर्चा है. उन्होंने ज़ोर देकर कहा कि हम फ़िलिस्तीनी प्रतिरोध सेनानियों को आतंकवादी नहीं कह सकते हैं और हम हमास को एक स्वतंत्रता-प्रेमी समूह के रूप में मानते रहेंगे.

    तुर्किये संसद के स्पीकर प्रोफ़ेसर नुमान कुर्तुलमुश ने कहा कि फ़िलिस्तीनी लोगों पर किए जा रहे इसराइली अन्याय के ख़िलाफ़ दीर्घकालिक लड़ाई लड़ी जाएगी और हमें इसके लिए तैयार रहना चाहिए. अन्याय के ख़िलाफ़ असली लड़ाई और खड़े होने का समय आ गया है.

    उन्होंने इस बात पर ज़ोर दिया कि “सभी उपलब्ध अंतरराष्ट्रीय और वैश्विक मंचों पर फ़िलिस्तीनी लोगों के ख़िलाफ़ नरसंहार को समाप्त करना हमारा कार्य और कर्तव्य है.”

    इसके बाद उन्होंने बताया कि पश्चिमी सरकारें क़ब्ज़े के प्रति पक्षपाती हैं और फ़िलिस्तीनियों के अधिकारों का समर्थन करने वाले अपने लोगों के ख़िलाफ़ ज़बरदस्ती और हिंसा का इस्तेमाल करके और अमेरिका की बड़ी यूनिवर्सिटियों में फ़िलिस्तीन के समर्थन में छात्रों के विरोध-प्रदर्शन के ख़िलाफ़ प्रर्दशन के ज़रिए तबाही की जंग का सर्मथन करते हैं. 

    कुर्तुलमुश ने कहा कि “आप हर बच्चे और हर युवा को मार सकते हैं, लेकिन ये अपराध आपके ख़िलाफ़ हो जाएंगे, और फ़िलिस्तीनी लोग लड़ेंगे और दृढ़ रहेंगे. वे बहादुर हैं, और हमें उम्मीद है कि एक दिन, इंशा अल्लाह एक आज़ाद फ़िलिस्तीन में आज़ादी के गीतों की धुन पर जमा होंगे.”

    लीग के उपाध्यक्ष और तुर्किये संसद के सदस्य डॉ. नूरुद्दीन नेबाती ने उद्घाटन सत्र में अपने भाषण के दौरान बताया कि फ़िलिस्तीनी मुद्दा एक ऐसा मुद्दा है जिसे पश्चिम अपने सभी कथित मूल्यों के बावजूद नज़रअंदाज करता है. यह किसी भी तरह से मानवीय विवेक को स्वीकार्य नहीं है.

    उन्होंने इस बात पर ज़ोर दिया कि फ़िलिस्तीनी मुद्दा इतिहास की शुरुआत से ही एक पवित्र मुद्दा रहा है और तुर्की के लोगों और दुनिया भर के सभी स्वतंत्र लोगों के लिए भी इसका यही मतलब है. उन्होंने कहा, “ग़ज़ा में बच्चा होने का मतलब है कि आप बड़े होने से पहले ही मर जाएं.”

    लीग ऑफ़ पार्लियामेंटेरियन्स फ़ॉर अल-क़ुद्स के अध्यक्ष, हमीद बिन अब्दुल्लाह अल-अहमर ने कहा कि ग़ज़ा पट्टी के ख़िलाफ़ इसराइली क़ब्ज़े के नरसंहार युद्ध ने वर्ल्ड ऑर्डर को मज़ाक़ में बदल दिया है और वैश्विक मूल्यों की प्रणाली को नष्ट कर दिया है.

    उन्होंने ज़ोर देकर कहा कि यह सम्मेलन फ़िलिस्तीनी लोगों के ख़िलाफ़ इसराइल के नरसंहार युद्ध की शुरुआत के बाद से वैश्विक स्तर पर होने वाले सबसे बड़े संसदीय वार्ता का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है, और तुफ़ान राफ़ा को अंजाम देने के लिए इसराइल के दृढ़ संकल्प के बढ़ते संकेतों के साथ जिसमें दस लाख से अधिक फ़िलिस्तीनियों को जबरन दूसरे इलाक़ों से बेघर किया गया था.

    अल-अहमर ने कहा कि नौ साल पहले लीग की शुरुआत के बाद से, इस्लामिक दुनिया, एशिया और अफ़्रीक़ा के स्वतंत्र सांसद इसमें शामिल हो चुके हैं, जिनकी लैटिन अमेरिका में मौजूदगी और यूरोप में एक आशाजनक विस्तार है, और ये उनके लिए एक प्लेटफॉर्म बन गया है. प्रतिबद्धता, एक सामान्य मानवीय प्रवृत्ति से एकजुट जो न्याय का समर्थन करती है और फ़िलिस्तीन पर इसराइली क़ब्ज़े के अन्याय और क्रूरता को ख़ारिज करती है.”

    उन्होंने कहा कि इसराइल अपने सहयोगियों के साथ मिलकर UNRWA को निशाना बनाकर पुनर्वास योजना को अंतिम रूप देना चाहता है, जो शरणार्थियों का आख़िरी गवाह और वापसी का अधिकार है. उन्होंने लीग के सम्मेलन, उसके सेमिनारों और संसदीय, क़ानूनी और राजनीतिक संवाद को पुनर्जीवित करने और फ़िलिस्तीनी लोगों को उनकी भूमि और पवित्र स्थलों पर वापस लाने के साथ-साथ ग़ज़ा पट्टी के ख़िलाफ़ नरसंहार युद्ध को समाप्त करने के लिए एक वैश्विक संसदीय आंदोलन शुरू करने का आह्वान किया.

    इस तीन दिवसीय सम्मेलन में तुर्किये के राष्ट्रपति रजब तैयब एर्दोआन, तुर्की संसद के अध्यक्ष प्रोफ़ेसर नुमान कुर्तुलमुश और 80 देशों के 700 से अधिक संसद सदस्यों के साथ-साथ सरकारी, अंतर्राष्ट्रीय और तुर्किये की अहम हस्तियां भाग ले रही हैं. भारत से कांग्रेस नेता मणिशंकर अय्यर, पूर्व राज्यसभा सदस्य के.सी. त्यागी और मौजूदा राज्यसभा सदस्य जावेद अली ख़ान इस सम्मेलन का हिस्सा हैं.

  • Gaza Genocider, War Criminal, Corrupt Sub-human Benjamin Netanyahu Likely to Lose Power by Early 2024 as Calls for Resignation, Corruption Cases Reignite in Israel Amidst Protests Outside Knesset

    Gaza Genocider, War Criminal, Corrupt Sub-human Benjamin Netanyahu Likely to Lose Power by Early 2024 as Calls for Resignation, Corruption Cases Reignite in Israel Amidst Protests Outside Knesset

    Every dog has its day, but luck is running out for the Gaza Genocider, War Criminal, and Corrupt Sub-human Benjamin Netanyahu, who is likely to lose power by early 2024. Netanyahu, the killer of thousands of innocent babies, children, women, and other civilian Palestinians, has to face the judiciary in Israel because of multiple corruption charges.

    A court in Jerusalem is set to begin hearing the corruption case, which is focused on several corruption charges against neo-Nero Netanyahu, according to reports emanating in the Israeli media on Monday. The trial was paused on an emergency order from the country’s justice minister following Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7. The wretched Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, bribery, and breach of trust in three cases filed in 2019. They are known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000.

    In the notorious Case 1000, Prime Minister Netanyahu, along with his wife Sara, is accused of receiving gifts, including champagne and cigars, from prominent Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire businessman James Packer in return for undue political favors. It is significant to note that bribery charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years in jail and/or a fine. Fraud and breach of trust carry a prison sentence of up to three years. In the words of Bollywood actor Dharmendra, if I may say so, Netanyahu would be ‘chakki peesing, peesing, and peesing’ in jail for corruption.

    Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are heavy drunkards. It may be recalled that Stuart Winer, Times of Israel, March 25, 2015, reported the following about Sara Netanyahu drinking ‘crazy amounts’ of alcohol and abusing and terrorizing personnel at the Israeli Prime Minister’s residence:

    ‘‘The former caretaker at the Prime Minister’s residence told a labor court on Wednesday that the wife of the premier, Sara Netanyahu, drinks “crazy amounts” of alcohol and would polish off three bottles of champagne a day. The prime minister’s family dismissed the allegations.

    Menny Naftali asserted this during a cross-examination session. He is suing the Netanyahus and the Prime Minister’s Office for NIS 1.1 million ($278,600) in a labor dispute over alleged abuse during his term.

    “When I met Mrs. Netanyahu as a security guard, I didn’t know that she drinks crazy amounts of alcohol,” Naftali told the Jerusalem Labor Court. “When I later became the house manager, I found out that she drinks about three bottles of champagne a day.”

    Before the hearing, Judge Dita Proginin made a last-ditch effort to reach an agreement and invited both parties to her office but failed to broker a compromise. “The baseless lies, slander, and defamation related to Naftali about the wife of the prime minister are scandalous and nothing less,” the family said. “Naftali is taking advantage of the fact that he can’t be sued for libel and defamation over things said in the witness box, and he is continuing with his campaign to tarnish Mrs. Netanyahu to unjustly extract money from the state and harm the prime minister and his family. After the truth becomes clear in court, all of his claims will be shown to have been nonsense.”

    Testimonies to the Jerusalem Labor Court by Guy Eliyahu and Emmanuel Sela allege that their rights were routinely infringed upon while they were employed by the couple at the official household. In the testimonies, the former employees claimed that Sara Netanyahu terrorized personnel at the residence and established an atmosphere of fear, especially after she consumed copious amounts of alcohol.

    “I remember vividly the mood swings that led to yelling, humiliations, and [generally] inappropriate behavior on the part of Mrs. Netanyahu toward me and others at the household,” wrote Eliyahu, adding that this led to an “atmosphere of fear among the employees, who were afraid of being victims of minor incidents that would escalate into difficult, rage-filled outbursts, especially after she would drink large amounts of alcohol that I and others would bring to her room daily.”

    Netanyahu’s pot of sins is about to explode. The reason Netanyahu continues the war is to prolong his political existence. The angry Israelis are protesting outside the Israeli Parliament’s Knesset, demanding Netanyahu’s immediate resignation. The Israeli economy is in tatters; there is acute unemployment and widespread anger from the families of hostages held in Gaza. The Israelis are convinced that Netanyahu is the root cause of all evil! In light of the above scenario, Benjamin Netanyahu could be on his last legs. He could suffer a humiliating defeat and lose power by early 2024. Karma catches up!

  • Renowned Bioinformatician Dr. Muniba Faiza, Dedicates her Book to the people of Gaza

    Renowned Bioinformatician Dr. Muniba Faiza, Dedicates her Book to the people of Gaza

    Dr. Muniba Faiza, a distinguished figure in the fields of computational biology and bioinformatics unveiled her latest contribution to the scientific community, “Computational Docking: A Hands-on Guide to Tools, Theory, and Real World Practices in Drug Design,” dedicated to the indomitable people of Gaza, Palestine.

    The dedication reflects her deep appreciation for the resilience and strength displayed by the Gaza community in the face of genocide. The first page of her book reads, “Dedicated to the people of Gaza, Palestine, whose steadfastness and unwavering faith in times of adversity is an inspiration to all.”

    “I dedicated my book to the people of Gaza because the imaan (faith) of Palestinians has revived the faith of Ummah and filled the hearts of many non-believers with the love of Allah,” said Dr. Muniba.

    Editorial Leadership

    As the editor of Bioinformatics Review, Dr. Muniba Faiza has played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and disseminating cutting-edge research in the field of bioinformatics. Her editorial leadership has established Bioinformatics Review as a leading platform for scientists and researchers worldwide.

    Here are the Highlights of her Book

    “Computational Docking” serves as a comprehensive guide, offering readers a hands-on approach to understanding the tools, theory, and real-world practices in drug design. Dr. Faiza’s accessible writing style and passion for the subject make this book invaluable for seasoned experts and field newcomers.

    Whether you’re a seasoned researcher, a student embarking on your academic journey, or a curious outsider peering into the depths of the intricate domain of computational docking, the importance of understanding protein-ligand interactions in the broader context of drug design and biological function cannot be understated. This book aims to illuminate the depths and intricacies of computational docking, providing both a comprehensive introduction and an advanced exposition of this vital field.

  • Arab League, OIC Must Impose Economic Blockade on West to Save Gaza, Stop Selling Petrol

    Arab League, OIC Must Impose Economic Blockade on West to Save Gaza, Stop Selling Petrol

    Gaza is staring at an imminent genocide by Israel. The imperialist West has ganged up against the impoverished Palestinians. The United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), led by the war-mongering Islamophobes Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak, are arming Israel to the teeth and sending their armored aircraft carriers and naval ships to deter any other nation from coming to the rescue of the beleaguered Palestinian people. The dance of death by the occupying tyrant Israel continues unabated since 1948. The UK and the US have been responsible, along with the European Union (EU), for the untold misery heaped on the Palestinians since the Nakba Genocide. Every few years, there is an attempt to wipe out the native Palestinians.

    Israel’s call to the Gazans to vacate Gaza is no joke. The United Nations (UN) has rightly condemned the irrational order from the schizophrenic Islamophobe Netanyahu to displace the Gazans from their homeland in the name of fighting the Hamas militants. Gaza has already been turned into a heap of garbage by the occupier Israel, which has even bombed hospitals, schools, and the protected UN shelters. The modern Pharaoh Netanyahu has stopped water and electricity to snuff out the lives of the Gazans. Ambulances ferrying children and women to hospitals are bombed mercilessly by Israel. The international community, by and large, has been a mute witness and sometimes complicit in crime by beefing up Israeli offense forces. What was done to Bosnia, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan is being planned and enacted in Gaza by the imperialists. Israel is not satisfied with taking away Palestine’s land in bits and pieces anymore. It wants to usurp the entire land by annihilating the innocent and unarmed Palestinian masses.

    Hamas is a militant group trying to purge the occupying fascist Israel from the holy land of Palestine, but Israel is supposed to be a state, and as such, it should behave like one. Just like the lives of innocent Jewish civilians are sacrosanct, the lives of the occupied and tyrannized civilians in Palestine are sacrosanct too. There is no justification for the annihilation of innocent Palestinians. Mahatma Gandhi supported Palestine when he said, Palestine belongs to the Arabs.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s standing with Israel goes against the time-tested diplomatic policy of India standing with Palestine since 1948. The defence cooperation between Israel and India should not become the noose for the Palestinians. Modi’s hate, incitement, and contempt against Muslims are not restricted to India; they have gone international with support for Israel and Islamophobe Netanyahu. Modi’s views suggesting in an interview that Muslims are ‘‘puppies’’ and the incitement in an election rally in Jharkhand that Muslims (without naming them) can be ‘‘recognized by their clothes’’ (implying they are terrorists) are very notorious.

    On October 22, 2023, Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) revoked the suspension of the disgraced Hindu extremist Raja Singh, who had abused Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) using derogatory language. The Muslim countries should ask Narendra Modi as to why the suspension of the abuser of the Prophet, extremist Raja Singh, was revoked. Modi also rewarded Raja Singh with a BJP ticket to fight the Telangana Legislative Assembly elections in the Telangana State to pit and polarize the majoritarian Hindu community against the minority Muslim community. This is also in preparation for the Indian Parliament elections scheduled for 2024. Narendra Modi’s intentions were clear when India abstained from the ceasefire resolution at the United Nations. Perhaps he wants a redux of the 2002 Gujarat Muslim Genocide, but this time in Palestine. The Modi government should stop buying petrol from the Arabs and recall the alleged extremist Hindu diaspora from the Arab countries before standing with Israel. It is suicidal to sail in two boats at the same time! Gandhi’s peaceful India should not be made to stand with war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu.

    South Africa surely understands that Israel’s actions, like the illegal occupation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Christian sites, are responsible for violence. The Gandhi of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, famously said: South Africa will never be free until Palestine is free. Mandela had also observed: We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasized his country’s historic support for the “just struggle” of Palestinians and offered to help mediate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    Gaza and Palestine can be saved from whatever remains if the Arab countries and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) impose economic sanctions on the West and those regimes that stand fully with Israel. An extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League held in Riyadh was a terrible failure after the Muslim rulers shamelessly bowed to the diktats of the United States (US) not to take any harsh decisions against Israel. Biden’s threats worked on the timid and spineless Muslim rulers. Some of the countries, like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and others, are not even willing to sever ties with Israel. They even blocked a proposal to snap all ties with Israel. They have fallen into an abyss. Perhaps they are waiting for the Arab Spring moment. They are going against public sentiment to perform ‘action’ to save Gaza. The least they can do is impose an economic blockade on the West and Israel. The petroleum and gas-producing countries of the Arab League and OIC must stop selling gasoline to the war mongers and bring them to their political knees. Not only can the Gaza genocide be stopped, but a permanent solution can also be found in the form of the establishment of the State of Palestine.

    There is a growing demand from Arab citizens that the anti-Muslim diasporas from Asia and the West working in the Gulf and Arab and Muslim countries be sent back to their countries forever. Those spreading hate against Islam, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Al-Aqsa, and Palestine on social media while working in Muslim countries must be put on trial and executed expeditiously.

    It is beyond the timid, intoxicated people in the Middle East to redeem Palestine. Therefore, Palestine must not give up the just search for a Salauddin Ayoubi 2.0 to march triumphantly into the Palestinian undivided capital, Jerusalem! Children, women, and the elderly in Palestine and Israel should not be cannon fodder in this war.

    The creation of the absolute and independent state of Palestine is long overdue. Let peace prevail! An immediate and functional ceasefire is the first step towards lasting peace.

  • “O West! Do you want to start a Crescent-Crusader conflict again?”

    “O West! Do you want to start a Crescent-Crusader conflict again?”

    I left my home for Atatürk Airport about two hours before the scheduled time on the call of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. I managed to come out of the Atatürk metro station after about half an hour. The metro station was fully packed with people. It was hard to believe that so many people could come through one metro. Suddenly, the slogan ‘Takbeer’ was raised in the crowd, and then ‘Allah Akbar’ echoed throughout the crowd. Then the series of slogans continued.

    Now I entered the main gate of Atatürk Airport. The sound of the song ‘Palestine will be free’ hit my ears. For a moment, it surprised me how Turkish people are playing English and Arabic songs today. But as soon as I moved ahead, wading through the crowd of people, I realized that these songs were not being played; rather, Mehar Zain himself was present on the stage and was singing. The enthusiasm of the people was worth seeing. People were dancing to his songs, and at the same time, slogans for Palestine were also being raised in their respective languages. Artists like British musician Yusuf Islam (also known as Cat Stevens), famous Turkish singer Ömer Karaoğlu, and Resul Aydemir were present on the same stage. All these together had filled a different kind of enthusiasm among the youth present here.

    This might be the first time in the whole world that the President of a country himself has invited the people to come and be #United4Palestine. It is obvious that when the President gives a call, it is natural for people to come and join it. 

    Now on stage was British musician Yusuf Islam. Now it was his turn to speak. He was speaking in English, but at the same time, his speech was also being translated into Turkish. He clearly said, “This is not a battle between equals.” He also urged Israelis to recall the message of the Torah and forsake “the path of doom and destruction.” And he thanked Türkiye “for taking the right stand” on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been reeling from relentless Israeli airstrikes for three weeks.

    On this grand stage, President of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, Vice President of Türkiye, Cevdet Yılmaz, President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Federal National Council, United Arab Emirate, Saqr Ghobash, Palestinian Ambassador to Türkiye Faed Mustafa, along with most of the leaders of Türkiye’s ruling party were present. Almost everyone spoke in Turkish, I was not particularly interested in what they were saying. However, it was announced from the stage, “Today is the biggest day of Istanbul. Today will always be remembered in history that we are not silent on Israel’s atrocities and massacres but stand with the people of Palestine.”

    The truth is that, like the rest of the people present here, I too was waiting for President Erdoğan. Suddenly, his helicopter appeared in the sky, and people were filled with enthusiasm again. But during this time, the recitation of the Quran by the President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye, Ali Erbaş, was soothing to the heart.

    Now Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was on the stage. It was clear from the way he spoke that our chacha (uncle) was going to announce something big today. However, I failed to hear any such announcement. But what is certain is that he openly declared himself to be standing with Hamas and clearly said that the real terrorists are Netanyahu, Israel, and America. And Western countries. He said that Hamas is fighting for the rights of Palestinians.

    Just last night, Israel carried out a lot of bombing in Gaza by cutting off electricity and internet services. On this, Erdoğan fiercely targeted Israel and said in clear words, “One night your turn is also going to come…” Erdoğan did not stop at this; he said, “What was the state of Gaza, Palestine, in 1947, and what is it like today? Israel, how did you get here? How did you get there? You are an occupier; you are an organization, and Türkiye knows this… The West owes you, but Türkiye does not. That is why we speak without hesitation…”

    Today, in Mr. Erdoğan’s speech, along with Netanyahu and Israel, western countries were also his targets. Challenging the Western countries, he said, “O West, I am calling on you. Do you want to start a Crescent-Crusader conflict again? If this is your intention, you should know Turkiye is not dead…” There is a very deep meaning in this statement. Ulemas having knowledge of Islamic history and Hadith can understand it very well.

    Today’s historic meeting was over. The crowd of more than 1.5 million slowly started moving outside. I and a friend of mine were busy discussing how great their management was that they were handling such a huge crowd with ease, and the patience of the people was on a different level.

    After walking about four to five kilometers, I returned home by taking a taxi. As soon as I posted today’s video on social media, one of my Indian friends expressed his displeasure with Erdoğan. His anger is justified. The same question is repeatedly flashing in my mind: what will happen by just speaking? People are dying there, and Israel is openly killing innocent Gazans. Powerful leaders will have to do something to stop it.

    When I talked to a Turkish friend of mine regarding these questions, he agreed with me but also said that Erdoğan is doing more than he should, because everything is not so easy in politics here. You are probably forgetting that Türkiye was the first to recognize Israeli sovereignty in March 1949. Political figures belonging to that ideology are still present in this country. While listing the names of many universities, he said that all these universities were established here by the Jewish people. They have a considerable influence on the economy here. Now that the country’s economic condition is not good, the value of the Turkish Lira is continuously falling, and inflation is increasing in the country, Mr. Erdoğan has to think about this also.

    Secondly, he said that we also need to understand that the USA is looking for an excuse to destroy Türkiye in the name of this war. Their warships are standing in the sea here. In such a situation, the government must take every decision very thoughtfully. Right now, my friends are telling me that Israeli diplomats have been asked to leave Türkiye. Türkiye has already recalled its diplomats present in Israel. Amidst all this, Türkiye is celebrating its centenary of the Republic. Under this pretext, Türkiye has showcased the strength of its military arsenal to the world. You can congratulate the centenary of the Turkish Republic, and yes, I congratulate the people of Türkiye for entering a new century.

  • Rule-based world order goes for toss when it comes to Israel

    Rule-based world order goes for toss when it comes to Israel

    The ongoing deadliest war of Israel on Gaza, killing hundreds of innocent Palestinians, including women and young children, following a barrage of rocket attacks and the invasion of villages of Jewish settlers by Hamas, a militant Palestinian group in Gaza, will have terrifying ramifications for the world in time to come. For the last 75 years, Palestinians have been subjected to severe oppression at the hands of Israel, which has taken a toll on thousands of innocent people on both sides, with the majority of Palestinians. Even so, there is no sign even today that the deadliest flashpoint of the world would be solved any sooner, thanks to the so-called champion and proponent of a rule-based world order who not only kept watching the dance of death but also thoroughly participated in it in all possible manners.

    Yes, the ghastly attack by Hamas on innocent Israelis must be condemned in the strongest possible term but the world has to see the wider picture on the canvas and ask questions like how come Hamas entered villages of Jewish settler when every nook and corner are heavily guarded by the Israeli Defense Forces, how the US made weapons reach the hands of Hamas, why Israel ignored an official warning from Egypt of a possible attack from Gaza days before Hamas’ attack, and what was Israeli intelligence doing to prevent the attack of such scale from the one who has been under seize for almost 16 years? These are the troubling questions that raise the suspicion of something more sinister than what we are forced to believe by the media narrative.

    Considering the unmatched reputation of highly sophisticated Mossad, the coordinated operation of such scale and speed with Hamas flying motorized paragliders and driving gun-mounted trucks through the lanes of Israel is astonishing and beyond imagination. However, it is too early to guess anything about how and what exactly happened; it is a matter of deep-down investigation. But based on what we see and know through the media so far, it appears that it is the plot of a dirty game backed by their masters.

    The United Nations, which was set up to prevent conflict and war, failed time and again to follow the rulebook and stop Israeli occupation and aggression. But when it comes to operations in countries of its master’s choice, like Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and so on, they immediately jump to take note of it. For quite a few decades now, the UN has deviated from its founding principle of role and functioning and has been under the question that it is allegedly working under the influence and interest of a group of elite countries.

    The US’ unequivocal and unlimited support for Israel is not surprising because a country that was created by UN Resolution 181 (also known as the Partition Resolution) in 1948 enjoys all rights to feel emboldened and pampered by its mentor. Such resolute, one-sided support for Israel gives ample indications about their intentions to solve one of the biggest flashpoints the world is facing now. It was also very unfortunate to see all these civilized nations remain silent while Gaza was destroyed to dust; women and children were mercilessly murdered.

    The Arab World, which was kept under oblivion from how the real world works, is now silently watching the stream of blood in Gaza and can’t have the courage to speak even a single word in support of an already wiped-out country called Palestine. If they still don’t realize the deception, betrayal and fraud of their supposed ally even now, then the stream of blood will reach their doorsteps too. Saudi Arabia, which enjoys a good amount of respect and power in the Arab world, needs to review its role in the region and broker a just and lasting peace deal between Israel and Palestine before normalizing its ties with the former.

    And, if some romance is still left in Saudi’s relations with the US, then they must utilize it and rush along immediately to ensure an effective ceasefire to the ongoing devastating Israel-Palestine conflict with equitable and lasting peace resolution as Israel and Palestine are two independent states in line with the 1967 border, failing which the region may explode to become the greatest humanitarian catastrophe in human history.

  • फ़िलिस्तीन के समर्थन में अमेरिकी उप राष्ट्रपति कमला हैरिस के ख़िलाफ़ मिशिगन यूनिवर्सिटी के छात्रों का विरोध-प्रदर्शन

    फ़िलिस्तीन के समर्थन में अमेरिकी उप राष्ट्रपति कमला हैरिस के ख़िलाफ़ मिशिगन यूनिवर्सिटी के छात्रों का विरोध-प्रदर्शन

    अमेरिका की मशहूर मिशिगन यूनिवर्सिटी में पिछले गुरुवार को छात्रों ने फ़िलिस्तीन पर इसराइल के क़ब्ज़े और फ़िलिस्तीनियों के नरसंहार के ख़िलाफ़ विरोध-प्रदर्शन किया.

    छात्रों ने ये प्रदर्शन तब किया जब अमेरिकी उप राष्ट्रपति कमला हैरिस यूनिवर्सिटी के विज़िट पर आई थीं. छात्रों के इस विरोध-प्रदर्शन के दौरान फ़िलिस्तीन के समर्थन और इसराइल के विरोध में जमकर नारेबाज़ी की गई. प्रदर्शनकारियों ने फ़िलिस्तीनी नरसंहार के ख़िलाफ़ अपने नारों में कमला हैरिस को भी निशाना बनाया.

    छात्र नेताओं ने अपने भाषणों में बाइडन प्रशासन की निंदा भी की. बाइडन प्रशासन पर “इसराइली रंगभेदी सरकार” को $3.8 बिलियन की सैन्य सहायता प्रदान करने पर हमला किया.

    इस विरोध-प्रदर्शन का आयोजन स्वतंत्रता व समानता के लिए काम करने वाली छात्र संगठन ‘एलाइड फॉर फ्रीडम एंड इक्वलिटी’ से जुड़े छात्रों ने किया था.

  • नेतन्याहू की सरकार में वापसी के क्या परिणाम होंगे?

    नेतन्याहू की सरकार में वापसी के क्या परिणाम होंगे?

    इसराइल के चुनावों के आख़िरी दौर के नतीजों ने यक़ीनन अमेरिकी उम्मीदों व कोशिशों को एक झटका दिया होगा, क्योंकि उन्होंने पूर्व कार्यवाहक प्रधान मंत्री यायर लापिड पर अपना दांव लगाया था. इन परिणामों से यह भी पता चला कि वे हारे हुए घोड़े पर दांव लगाते हैं. संक्षेप में, इसराइल की लंबे समय से प्रचारित छवि को बनाए रखने के अलावा लापिड और बेंजामिन नेतन्याहू के बीच राजनीतिक परिणामों के हवाले से बहुत अंतर नहीं है.

    इसके बावजूद नेतन्याहू, जो “इसराइल के बादशाह” के तौर पर काम करते हैं (पहले ही छह बार प्रधान मंत्री रह चुके हैं), अपने अहंकार और दूसरों के मामलों में दख़ल देने के कारण उनके प्रति अमेरिका और अन्य जगहों पर बहुत नफ़रत है. वे हमेशा हेरा-फेरी करने वाले सेल्समैन की भूमिका निभाने की कोशिश करते हैं, जो आपके पैसे लेना चाहता है लेकिन बदले में आपको कुछ नहीं देता. वह वही है जिसने अरब के नारे “शांति के लिए भूमि” को “शांति के लिए शांति” में बदल दिया, यह अच्छी तरह से जानते हुए कि धमकी देने वाले अरब दर्जनों F-35 विमानों और इसराइली हाईटेक हथियारों का मुक़ाबला नहीं कर सकेंगे, जिसमें अमेरिका और यूरोप की तरफ़ से इसराइल को दिए गए परमाणु बम भी शामिल हैं.

    कुछ महीने पहले, जब लापिड की सरकार ने पूर्वी भूमध्य सागर में गैस भंडार के मुद्दे को हल करने के लिए अमेरिका के माध्यम से समुद्री सीमाओं पर लेबनान के साथ एक आपसी समझौता किया, तो नेतन्याहू ने टिप्पणी की कि अगर वो उनकी जगह होते तो बदले में कुछ दिए बग़ैर सब कुछ ले लेते. उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि उनके लिए ये समझौता हिज़्बुल्लाह के प्रति वफ़ादारी का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है, और अगर वह चुने जाते हैं तो वो इस समझौते को “बेअसर” कर देंगे, जैसा कि उन्होंने ओस्लो समझौते के साथ किया था.

    इस बार नेतन्याहू की “प्रतिभा” का रूख फ़िलिस्तीनियों और अरबों की तरफ़ नहीं है, और नेतन्याहू ने इसराइली मानकों के मुताबिक़ प्रमाणित अपराधियों से मिलकर एक गैंग से कम सरकार नहीं बनाई है. कई लोग उनकी सरकार को इसराइल के “इतिहास” में सबसे चरमपंथी सरकार के रूप में वर्णित करते हैं.

    एक भविष्यवाणी के तरह इसराइल के पूर्व प्रधान मंत्री लापिड ने अपने विदाई भाषण में नेतन्याहू और उनकी टीम को यह कहते हुए संबोधित किया कि उन्होंने इसराइल को अच्छी हालत में सौंपा है और उम्मीद है कि वे इसे उसी हालत में वापस कर सकने के लायक़ होंगे, जब वो अगला इलेक्शन जीतेंगे.

    इसराइल में बहुत से लोग नेतन्याहू और उनकी सरकार से बेहद परेशान और चिंतित हैं. कुछ ने सड़कों पर विरोध-प्रदर्शन किया तो कुछ ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट का सहारा लिया. यहां तक कि कुछ लोगों ने नेतन्याहू पर यह आरोप लगाते हुए देश छोड़ने का फ़ैसला किया कि वह इसराइल को एक “अछूत राज्य” में बदलने और जनता का समर्थन खोकर सरकार की क़ानूनी हैसियत को तबाह करने का काम कर रहे हैं.

    द टाइम्स ऑफ़ इसराइल ने यह नोटिस किया कि जब इसराइल में अमेरिकी राजदूत टॉम नाइड्स ने प्रधान मंत्री बेंजामिन नेतन्याहू और उनकी नई सरकार को बधाई देते हुए ट्वीट किया, तो उन्होंने यरूशलम और वाशिंगटन के बीच मज़बूत संबंधों की सराहना की, लेकिन इस बात पर ज़ोर नहीं दिया कि यह साझा मूल्यों की आदत है. इस संदेश में संकेत दिया गया कि इसराइल ने पहले ही अमेरिकी समर्थन खोना शुरू कर दिया है और अमेरिकी मॉडल और मूल्यों से बहुत दूर चला गया है.

    नेतन्याहू व्यवस्थित रूप से इसराइल को वैचारिक स्तर पर, न्यायिक स्तर पर, संसदीय स्तर पर, शासन स्तर पर, सैन्य स्तर पर, सुरक्षा स्तर पर, विदेशी मामलों के स्तर पर, आर्थिक और सामाजिक स्तर पर कमज़ोर कर रहे हैं.

    क्या नेतन्याहू ऐसा इसलिए कर रहे हैं कि गठबंधन बनाने का यही एकमात्र तरीक़ा है या इसलिए कि उन्होंने हमेशा कट्टर और चरमपंथी विचारों को आश्रय दिया है? क्या यह महज़ संयोग है कि प्रोफ़ेसर बेंज़िऑन नेतन्याहू के बेटे हैं, जो मिलिशिया नेता (militia leader) और आतंकवादी ज़ेव ज़ाबोत्स्की के निजी सचिव रहे?

    अपनी योजनाओं को क्रियान्वित करने के लिए नेतन्याहू को क़ानून में संशोधन करना पड़ा, जो कि क़ानून के राज्य की अवधारणा के लिए एक गंभीर झटका है, जिसे इन्होंने मार्केट करने की कोशिश की.

    इसराइल से नफ़रत करने वालों को आराम करना चाहिए और ये मंज़र देखकर आनंद का अनुभव करना चाहिए, क्योंकि नेतन्याहू ने इसराइल के मंदिर के हर स्तंभ को तबाह कर दिया है. ये वही व्यक्ति है जिसने कुछ महीने पहले दावा किया था कि वह आंतरिक और बाहरी दुश्मनों के ख़िलाफ़ इसराइल की एकमात्र गारंटी है. वही आदमी – शायद – आंतरिक विभाजन को बढ़ावा देकर और बाहरी समर्थन खोकर इसराइल को उसके अंजाम तक पहुंचाने वाला है, जैसा कि बहुत से इसराइली नेता ख़बरदार कर रहे हैं.

    (लेखक ने ये लेख मिडल ईस्ट मॉनिटर पर लिखा है, उनकी अनुमति के बाद इसका अनुवाद करके इसे यहां प्रकाशित किया जा रहा है.)

  • “Inaction by international community encourages Israel to continue its occupation”

    “Inaction by international community encourages Israel to continue its occupation”

    Millions of people throughout the world yearn to step foot on Palestine’s holy territory but are unable to do so. Dr. Makram Balavi’s name is one among millions of such people. Their greatest aspiration in life is to at least once meet their people in Palestine and to visit the magnificent Al-Aqsa Mosque, but they are unable to fulfil either of these desires.

    53-year-old Dr. Makram Balawi is an academic and writer based in Istanbul. He is the founder and president of the Asia Middle East Forum. He is also an acting member of the Union of Palestine Academics. The author of 43 books, Mr. Balawi is best known for his writings on Asian relations and the Palestinian cause. Despite being born in Jordan, he has a strong connection with India, rather, he considers India as his second home. He spent the most significant days of his life in India. In 1989, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in English from Nagpur University, and then in 1993, he received his master’s degree from the same Nagpur University. After that, he moved to Malaysia and completed his Ph.D. at the International Islamic University there.

    Dr. Mohammad Makram Balawi talks about his experiences of living in India and the situation in Palestine in this interview.

    Have you ever been to Palestine?

    I have never been to Palestine. I am not even allowed to see Palestine, let alone visit it. In fact, most of the 7 million people forcibly displaced from Palestine are not allowed to return to their homeland, i.e., Palestine.

    If you were born in Jordan, what is your relationship with Palestine?

    In 1948, most of the Palestinians were expelled from their own homes and homeland. My family was also one among them. At that time my father was only nine years old when my grandparents had to leave Palestine. Both of them were buried in Jordan with the desire to return to Palestine. My father stayed in Jordan, where I was born. All my siblings were born there. Even my uncle was born in Lebanon and Jordan. But since then, we have been waiting to go back to our homeland. The United Nations General Assembly founded an agency called UNRWA, dedicated to assisting Palestinian refugees. We were given ration cards till that date. This is the only document that proves that we are Palestinians.

    What do you think about displaced Palestinians now?

    I think every person has the right to live in his own country. He has the right to be considered a citizen of the country where his parents were born, and where he was born. He should not be treated as a foreigner or a refugee. I am also one of the approximately 7 million Palestinians who live outside Palestine. We are not allowed to return to our homes, villages, or cities and avail of our properties. Not because there is a military or security reason, but because the Israelis occupy them.

    If you ever get a chance to visit Palestine, where would you like to go first?

    I would certainly like to visit Al Quds, Masjid Al-Aqsa, and also, I would like to see the Mediterranean Sea because I was born in Jordan which is almost a landlocked country. However, going back would not be easy because there are a lot of harassment and security restrictions imposed on visitors especially the Palestinians by the Israeli Authority.

    How do you look at International Community in this regard?

    The International Community basically taught Palestinians and the rest of the people of the region, that no serious hope could be expected from these international organizations because they only talk, and when they should implement or follow their resolution, they act as if the Israeli occupation has certain international impunity.

    The parts of Palestine that Israel occupied in 1967, 55 years until now, there is no serious action against Israel to compel it to withdraw from this part of Palestine which was recognized as Palestine not Israel even by the United Nations and the Security Council. I think many people in our region now believe that unless some concrete actions are taken, the only solution for this tragedy is using force and this is why we see war after war taking place. Because Israel does not compel by international law and does not take international organizations seriously. Superpowers and other big countries do not take any serious action against Israel such as imposing restrictions, punishment, boycott…nothing.

    On the contrary, they build pressure on the side of Palestinians to make more and more concessions to the Israelis to a degree that now Israel controls almost 94% of Palestine and Palestinians are left with only 6% of Palestine.

    Recently Amnesty International released a report on Palestine. Israel called it anti-Semitic. What is your take on this?

    This is ironic because nobody discusses this report, be it the United States or Germany, or other Western European countries. They just reject the report without discussing whether the information is correct or incorrect. They are not concerned with the facts or what’s happening on the ground, they simply want to protect Israel. It aligns perfectly with Israeli policy.

    By the way, the report by Palestinians or people who are observing the situation is the basic information because all of us know what’s happening on the ground. The international organization or big powers should recognize these facts and act on them. But unfortunately, they don’t want to recognize because they don’t want to act. They are on the side of Israeli occupation not on the side of the right people.

    We see that very often Israel is perceived as a small yet powerful country. What are your thoughts on this?

    If there is something good about Israel then take it. As Palestinians, we don’t want it. We simply want to go back to our country. If you like Israel, you may have it but yet, it is an irony because you are doing this at the expense of others and siding with the oppressor. This is unethical, even if it is more profitable at the current time. Yet, the question is, is it the only thing that states are supposed to do? No. The state is supposed to protect the people, not only to produce money and goods and weapons. Many big companies are much bigger than Israel but they’re not recognized as a country. Even some ‘Mafia gangs’ have a lot of money and power; do we have to recognize them as states? No. Our problem with Israel is that it was illegally founded on other people’s land. Not only this, they forced the inhabitants out of their own land. Whoever was left in the country is treated as mere objects as if they are not human beings. The Amnesty report is only one example of what’s happening on the ground.

    What is your message to the Muslims around the world who are concerned about Palestine?

    We thank those people deeply, not only because they have an Islamic sanctity but because for us, Islam is not just a community it’s an idea and a group of ideals. It is a bunch of lofty ideals such as freedom, justice, and equality. So, it is not only for Muslims even non-Muslims who side with Palestinians, who are actually siding with them because they are right and because they have faced oppression. Therefore, these people have a righteous nature. For that, we thank them very much and we ask them to pursue their struggle for justice and freedom not only for Palestine but all over the world because if it does not happen in Palestine which is at the center of the old-world continent then it would not happen in a remote place. This time it happened in Palestine, some other time it will happen to you or your neighboring country. Just keeping silent on what’s happening in Palestine is actually waiting for another war. It might spread to the other region and the whole world. By siding with the Palestinians, you actually side with humanity, justice, and peace.

    How do you look at India-Palestine relations?

    We know that politics in India and Palestine are alike and went through many changes. Basically, we need to know that India was always the biggest supporter of the anti-colonial movement and in my opinion, being a realist should not make us ignorant of principles and long-term objectives. We have to understand that India’s long-term interest lies with its neighbors, not with a foreign power that is sponsored by colonial powers.

    What was the objective behind formulating the Asia Middle East Forum?

    I always felt that after the era of colonization, the bridges between our region and Asia and west Asia became weak. So being a person who lived in many Asian countries, I knew that the future belongs to Asia. I have been close to many Asian people, and I think we should rebuild these bridges. We have been very close in the past but in recent, maybe one hundred years, people became less engaged and they don’t know enough about Asia and Asian countries. To fill this gap, my objective is to create a platform for extending information and ideas on the future of relations between West Asia and the rest of Asian countries.

    You have spent a few years in India. How was your experience?

    I consider India as my second homeland because I graduated with my B.A. and M.A. from Nagpur University, India. I am a frequent visitor to India. I have been there in many states and have many many friends all over India. I believe that we share a strong historical bond with India. At a time, it was a pillar of our civilization. Still, we share a lot of common things with India. Thankfully, I have positive memories and thoughts about India. I wish the Indian people always peace and prosperity.

    Do you have any message for Indians?

    My best wishes are always with Indian brothers and sisters. May Indians set a good example of peace and harmony for which its civilization has been known. I hope that this would continue because people everywhere in the world respect and honor great people like Gandhi and Nehru. I hope Indians stick to these ideals in their internal policies and give a very good example of harmony and internal peace.