Al-Quds and the Muslim world
ON the occasion of Al-Quods Day and the Day of Nakba, it once again highlights the important responsibilities of the international community, specifically the UN, in bringing to an end the organized occupation of Palestine, including the occupation of the city of Al-Quds. One of the countries that has declared its full support for the Palestinian people non-stop and without any change and shake in the positions is Iran. The international community and significantly influential Muslim countries such as Pakistan should try to use and concentrate their capacities to urge the UN to help the Palestinian people to determine their own fate and form an independent Palestinian State with the city of Al-Quds as its capital.
Self-determination being a key international and human right has long been delayed for decades due to the inactivity and passive positions and approaches by the world. More than seven decades after the occupation of the historic land of Palestine by the Zionists, the international community specifically the UN needs to take urgent and effective action to bring to an end Israel’s crimes and atrocities against Palestinians. The ground should be paved for the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homeland, and also to bring about conditions for a comprehensive and inclusive referendum in Palestine in which all Palestinians, from Muslim to Christian and Jew, can take part to determine how they want to run their country and to determine their fate and that of their future generations.
On the Day of Nakba in 1948, the illegal Zionist regime came into existence and the expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland surged afterwards, amounting to one of the largest and dolorous ethnic cleansings in the contemporary history. The Zionist regime has continued its existence with wars, crimes, aggression and occupation of other people’s lands. Today the Zionist regime is the real cause of instability in the Middle East and is a real threat to regional peace and security. The date 15 May 2019 marked the 75th anniversary of the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian people from their homeland. Nearly 75 years ago, an ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people started by the Zionist militias in 1947-48. This is the epicentre of the Palestinian tragedy as well as the collective Palestinian struggle for freedom that still continues.
On International Quds Day, support is extended to the oppressed Palestinian nation and the Palestinian cause every year. This is commemorated by most of the Muslim countries and free thinkers around the world. Palestine is the most important issue of the Islamic world. Although Al-Quds has special significance to Palestine and the Palestinian cause, but beyond that, it is the axis of unity and integration of the Muslim world. It is the day of unity of Muslim countries in fighting against oppression, massacre and occupation. This day is an opportunity for the world to remember more than 70 years oppression of the displaced Palestinian nation and to renew the commitments regarding the formation of an independent Palestinian State based on the principle of self-determination.
Iran has always been supportive to the cause of Palestine and it is its open /declared stance. Supporting the oppressed people of Palestine is not a short-term and tactical policy and not only rooted in religious beliefs, but most importantly, it has humanitarian aspects and a humanitarian duty based on objectives and nature of Iran and its Constitution. The heroic nation of Palestine has no expectations from the arrogant powers that support international Zionism. Muslim countries and international institutions that claim to protect human rights are expected to take appropriate and timely action against these continuous crimes and condemn this oppressive regime to frustrate it from the continuation of these crimes.
One of the reasons of the failure of the solutions of the Palestinian issue is that all proposed solutions have been unilateral, inequitable and biased. Iran has presented a democratic and fair plan to solve the Palestinian crisis, entitled “Holding a national referendum in Palestine,” which is submitted and registered in the UN Secretariat. In this plan, the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homeland and holding a referendum to determine the future and the type of the political system in Palestine, are regarded to be the most effective solution to this conflict. Based on this plan, Muslims, Jews and Christians of Palestinian origin can choose their own legal system and enjoy their rights freely and equally. The plan of Iran has been compiled and presented based on the principles of democracy and international law accepted by all the governments and nations. This plan is a good alternative to the failed and destabilizing plans such as the deal of the century and the Abraham Accords.
Until the time this important goal is archived, Iran considers its duty to support the resistance of the Palestinian people against this fake regime as much as possible and support them to achieve their legitimate and legal rights. Iran considers the basic and vital principle of resistance to be the only way to win and to completely liberate the land of Palestine from the hands of the Zionist demons. While commemorating Quds Day and reiterating the need for the establishment of an independent Palestinian State based upon the proposed plan, Iran and Pakistan are committed to protect Palestinian rights and the two brotherly countries share a close position on the issue of Palestine and Quds.
Quds Day is a growing global campaign to condemn violence, massacre and discrimination to assert the rights of the Palestinian people and to defend the right to self-determination. Iran underscores the importance of the complete freedom of Palestine, as a pivotal issue of the Islamic world and has emphasized the necessity of confronting the occupation and expansionism of the Zionist regime. It invites all Muslims and free people all over the world to join the campaign of the International Quds Day.
—The writer is editor, book ambassador political analyst and author of several books based in Islamabad.
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