ON 25 May 2020, a 46 year handcuffed black American died when a racist white American police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. His desperate cries of “I can’t breathe” had no impact on the four police officers, nor did pleas of a few passers-by. For over 46 days over 14,800 innocent Palestinians have died, including over 6500 children. This figure does not include over 3500 that are buried under debris of residential buildings. Almost 65% of all residential construction in Northern Gaza strip have been demolished, including hospitals, schools and refugee camps, by relentless IDF bombardment. Their water supply is disconnected whilst American Administration justified this as Israel’s right of self-defence. The fact that white phosphorous bombs, classified as chemical weapons, have been dropped on civilian population does not seem to bother the West. Cries of Palestinian children, infants, women and the elderly, including the handicapped, do not bother the extremist Zionists within the Israeli government or their supporters such as President Biden. All the three Monotheist religions Islam, Christianity and Judaism based on belief of one Almighty Allah SWT preach tolerance and forbid killing of innocent human beings. There is no space for extremism or hatred for other human beings, who are all considered creation of one God. Unfortunately, the rise in extremist fundamentalism, racial biases, such as white supremacists or the Buddhists in Myanmar, Hindutva in India etc., especially countries possessing nuclear weapons is a recipe for disaster and an Armageddon in the making. This genocide in Gaza is as worse as the Holocaust committed by Nazi Germany on Jews, whom Hitler considered to be an inferior race. Israel’s DM has called the Palestinians “Human Animals” not worthy of any human rights. Yet, a few within American media project the Israeli state as victims, instead of perpetrator of genocide, mass killings and collective punishment. American corporate interests and the influence of a powerful domestic influential group, the fundamentalist extremists within Evangelical Christians have prevailed and damaged their internationally acclaimed image of a country that believes in basic human rights and democracy.
People who have visited America would vouch that average Americans are kind hearted Christians who interact civilly with members of other faiths. President Jimmy Carter was a God-fearing Evangelist, who believed in human rights, democracy, equality and dignity of all human beings. He was a farmer, and not associated with the establishment, dominated by cartel of Armament and Petroleum industry, unlike most others who followed or preceded him. The powerful and influential Zionist minority in the US, has influenced and brainwashed American public. The Zionist-owned American media has played a role in the indoctrination. We must remember that these Zionists are very different from Jews, who believe in Torah and Ten Commandments and oppose the tyrannical occupation of Palestinians. The biggest demonstrations against the atrocities being inflicted on Palestinians living in Gaza were held by these peace-loving Jews, holding placards “Not In My Name”, in NYC and other parts of USA etc., calling for cessation of bombing and creation of a Palestinian homeland. It shocks Muslims that Prophet Christ PBUH, whose miraculous birth as a prophet, is misconstrued by mainstream American media channels that he was born a Jew. All Prophets, including Abraham PBUH, were ordained to be messengers of God. President Carter stated 10 years ago that America has failed to restore justice and peace in Israel and secure rights of Palestinians to live in a separate independent state. In response to a question, he stated that even Hamas would agree to peace and accept Israel if the Palestinians are given the right to live in secure borders with dignity in an independent state. This interview with Piers Morgan is available on YouTube. The fact is that Israel collects taxes from Palestinians living in West Bank and Gaza and not PLO. Palestinian Administration is denied even this right to collect taxes and spend it on their people. Majority of them are refugees, living in congested area, under occupation, subjected to daily torment, humiliation with unlimited powers given to IDF, to detain anyone without any due process, for as long as they desire, with no right to seek judicial relief. In 2011 while talking to Council on Foreign Relations in response to a question, President Carter talked about a substantial, and influential Extreme Right Fundamentalist group, within the Evangelicals, who believe that “The final coming of Prophet Jesus PBUH can only occur after the entire Holy Land is taken over by Israel and that includes for instance the destruction of the Dome of Rock (Masjid Aqsa) and other Arab or Non-Christian groups and – I will be brief- in the final stages, though it also calls for, the execution or conversion of all Jews to Christianity. Those are the two elements to it, and they believe very firmly in this, and they have been the major factor in raising funds to promote the settlements on West Bank and in Gaza in the past and they have also condemned any withdrawal from Holy Land”. He further states that ‘technically Gaza was never part of the kingdom of either David or Solomon. It was under control of Palestinians”. This group, in league with extremist Zionists, lays claim on Jordan and parts of Syria etc. as part of greater Israel.
These extremist Zionists have distorted Judaism, just like the ISIL/ISIS have distorted Islam. Sanity must prevail to prevent further massacre and possibilities of an enlarged conflict, given the lethal weapons in possession, capable of destroying life as we know it. Historically there was never a conflict between Islamic world and Judaism. In 1218 King Henry-III made it mandatory for members of Jewish faith to display their religious identity in England, just like Nazi Germany did. By 1290, King Edward expelled all Jews. A few of them migrated to France, whilst thousands sought refuge in Spain, ruled by Ottoman Empire, where they heaved a sigh of relief.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
