K. C. Tyagi

Former Member of the Indian Parliament

With Benjamin Netanyahu back as the Prime Minister of Israel, the tensity in Israel-Palestine relations is imminent and war a distinct possibility 

Elections have been held in Israel five times in the last three years. Governments formed by coalitions and manipulations

usually do not complete their terms but definitely succeed in creating unrest and controversies regarding the implementation of their aggressive agenda. The newly-elected government of Israel is also engaged in repeating the past history more rapidly, but the apprehensions being expressed about the Benjamin Netanyahu coalition Government are not proven wrong.

The existence of the current Government hinges on the support of many extreme right-wing radicals. Radical ideology has been given priority even in the division of portfolios of the Council of Ministers. This time a new ministry has been formed in the name of the ‘National Mission’ Ministry. This ministry has been given the responsibility to teach pro-Jewish history in pre-primary classes and at the same time prepare a program to deal with the anti-Palestine movement. Opponents have even given it the noun of ‘Zionist ministry’. The Mission Ministry will be headed by fundamentalist leader Orit Stook.

Similarly, the command of the Heritage Ministry has also been handed over to extreme right-wing leader Amihai Eliyahu, with the intention that he will try to reverse history. Obviously, this can be proved dangerous, especially to those historical signs and buildings that belong to non-Jews in Israel.

The controversy began soon after the formation of the Netanyahu government. Israel’s hardline leader and the country’s National Security Minister Ben-Gvir has created excitement recently by visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque. At present, the entry of Jews in this area is limited. A war-like situation has arisen due to rising tension after the minister’s visit. In fact, the Jews say that the place where the Al-Aqsa Mosque stands today was originally a holy place for the Jews, which was demolished to build a mosque.

The fundamentalists are again cherishing the dream of the holy temple of the Jews in place of the mosque there. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered by Muslims around the world to be one of their three holiest places. This mosque is also marked as one of the symbols associated with the Prophet.

During the famous “Six-Day War” of 1967, Israel managed to capture many areas of the Gaza Strip, including areas near mosques where worshipers’ places of worship are protected. Earlier, as the custodian of the mosque, Jordan used to look after the Islamic Trust, but under an agreement with Jordan in 1994, Israel’s role became prominent here. Security forces have been deployed here who also do the work of searching for the worshipers and namaz has also been banned in the area of the mosque grounds.

Palestinian Muslims gather here in large numbers, especially during the month of Ramadan, but the number of worshipers has been reduced due to new restrictions. People protested Israel by gathering in large numbers, agitated by the ban imposed by the Israel Police. After the death of Yasir Arafat and the weakening of his organization, the Palestine movement was captured by Hamas.

Hamas is occupied by the organization of ultra-enthusiastic youth and now a large part of the Palestinian people also feel that only Hamas is capable of taking care of their religious and territorial sovereignty.

Actually, the Israel-Palestine conflict is almost 100 years old. After defeating the Ottoman Empire in World War I, Britain managed to capture a large part of West Asia, known as Palestine. After the Second World War, Jews from the Soviet Union to Eastern and Western countries started settling here. The major reason for this has also included being a religious place in Jerusalem. But the tensions between Jews and Arabs reached a peak when the international community took up the task of creating a separate state for Jews inside Palestine. In the fourth decade of the 19th century, there was a large increase in the number of Jews in this area, including many refugees from European persecution.

In 1947, with the active cooperation of the United States and Britain, a resolution was passed by the United Nations to divide the country of Palestine. The United Nations was dominated by the superpowers, so the way was cleared for the partition of the Jewish state and Palestine. But Jerusalem was declared an international city which was rejected by the Arab people.

Meanwhile, Mahatma Gandhi also condemned this resolution and issued a speech strongly advocating for the Palestinian nation, considering it as their official country.

The first war between Arabs and Jews took place on March 6, 1948. America and European countries were providing all kinds of military material to Israel. But due to the indecisive attitude of the rulers of the Arab countries, the Palestinians had to face many challenges. More than a million Palestinians took shelter here and there as refugees, and Israel was able to occupy a large part of Palestine.

The area occupied by Jordan is called ‘West Bank’. The part that Egypt managed to capture is known as ‘Gaza’. As far as Jerusalem is concerned, Israel has occupied the western part of it and Jordan has managed to capture the eastern area. Now Israel is trying to establish its claim on the whole of Jerusalem. America has also recognised Jerusalem as the new capital in place of Tel Aviv which has deepened the controversy further.

The current crisis has been a focal point of discussion in the United Nations Security Council. An emergency meeting was called at the request of Palestinian, Islamic and some Non-Aligned countries. Palestine’s ambassador to the United Nations recently met with ambassadors from Arab countries, the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and representatives of the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement over Israel’s Defense Minister Ben-Gvir’s visit and the widespread extremism surrounding the new government.

The prevailing environment has been cited as the reason for the present tension. He has accused Israel of aggression against Muslim religious places including Al-Aqsa Mosque. From Jordan to Saudi Arabia, all Islamic countries are seen standing with Palestine. On the other hand, the Israeli army has created tension by firing several missiles at the Damascus airport, the capital of Syria. Remember, a large area of Syria is occupied by Israel, although the United Nations has passed a resolution asking to return it to Syria, but the construction work of the colony in the name of ‘Trump’  has started there during Trump’s regime.

Heads of countries like Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Iran, and Turkey have termed this visit as a desecration of holy places and a violation of international law. Hamas, the ruling group in the Gaza Strip, has warned of dire consequences in the strongest terms.

When the United Nations asked the International Court of Justice for its opinion on the Israeli occupation, the court also ruled in favor of the Palestinian residents. Now all the signatory nations are demanding to implement this order, the same has been denied by Israel. Both sides are aggressive toward each other. In the near future, it may take the shape of a war by surprise to the whole world.

Source: Daily Pioneer