A Reality
By Humayun Siddiqui
San Diego, CA
According
to a news item in the New York Times of April
16, "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel
and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president,
met in Jerusalem, resulting in some mixed messages
regarding a resumption of their long-dormant peace
efforts". Earlier on, during its last meeting,
the Arab League had revived the offer of Israeli
recognition under certain conditions.
I was in Jerusalem, after about a month of the
ceasefire of the Lebanon war. It was an eye-opening
and educative trip, especially as to how a country,
which came into existence one year after Pakistan,
was doing so well.
The highlight of my trip, apart from offering
prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of
the Rock, was a day's visit to the Israeli Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA), courtesy Mr. Gilad Millo.
Viewed in the light of the above news item, what
I was told at the MFA sheds light on the Israeli
policy-makers' thinking vis-a-vis the Palestinian
problem.
Since childhood I was told the Jews cannot have
a country of their own; this was the divine ordain!
I didn't know much about Judaism till I came across
Max I. Dimont's "Jews, God and History".
The book tells the 4,000-year story of the Jewish
people, their trials and tribulations under different
civilizations. Most of those civilizations do
not exist now. Since 1948, however, the Jewish
state – Israel -- does exist.
I wanted to see Israel first hand, feel its soul,
and spirit. I thus contacted the Israeli Consulate
General in Los Angeles’ Mr. Gilad, Consul
for Media and Public Affairs, and Ms. Natan, Director
Public Affairs. They were helpful and told me
that being an American passport holder, I did
not need a visa. Thus, I, a Pakistani-American
Muslim freelance writer, visited Israel on my
own.
I met men and women, young and old. I could sense
in them pride, commitment and patriotism for their
country. They know they have no place to go as
their country is bordered by Arab countries -
Lebanon in the north, Syria and Jordan in the
east, and Egypt in the south-west; their only
exit is the Mediterranean Sea in the West. Thus,
they have to make or mar, do or die in this land,
to which they have a religious and spiritual attachment
and for which their ancestors had yearned for
centuries.
I stayed in Jerusalem for seven days. I would
not go into the details of the trip, which have
already been published in Pakistan Link (Feb 23).
Perhaps, I was the first-ever Muslim free-lance
writer to visit the Foreign Ministry and meet,
one-to-one, with five senior officials -- the
Directors of Economic Department III, Policy Planning
& External Relations Department, Center for
International Development Cooperation ((like the
USAID), and the Head, Bureau of Middle East Affairs
Center for Political Research.
They gave me an overview of their respective areas
of operation. The Director of Economic Department
III, on being asked, discussed what Israel could
do to help Pakistan. The Head, Bureau of Middle
East Affairs Center for Political Research, a
career diplomat with about 20 years service, had
served in Egypt and twice in the US. He talked
about the Israeli-Arab issue. His job, along with
about 25 analysts, is to analyze the world situation
and make recommendations accordingly.
The high point of the meetings was a lunch-cum-discussion
with the Director South and South East Asia and
the Deputy Director, in the cafeteria of the MFA.
The meetings were quite open and frank. I was
allowed to ask any question and also take notes.
This is what I noted:
# The meeting at Turkey was not the first one.
It was a step forward and was given media exposure.
# Israel desires to reach out to the Muslim world
and would like to have better relations. These
countries are very important. Israel recognizes
moderate voices in the Muslim world.
# Israel is ready to compromise, does not want
confrontation.
# In Israel, schools teach Arabic, Qur’anic
ideas and the history of Islam objectively and
students are taught that Muslims believe in Jewish
and Christian prophets.
# Palestinian State (PS) - Israel has accepted
the idea of a viable PS alongside Israel. Israel's
security interests have to be safeguarded.
# Boundaries of Israel - open for discussion on
closer to '67 borders with a buffer zone with
restrictions on both sides; open borders, free
trade.
# Israel has evacuated Gaza Strip and removed
15,000 Jews from there and is ready to evacuate
more settlements.
# Lebanon War – it was a setback. But, now
there is a strong UN force with a stronger mandate.
Arab governments gave the message to go ahead
and attack Hezbollah. (During my stay in Jerusalem,
I read in newspapers that Officer Commanding Northern
Command, Maj. Gen Udi Adam, had resigned and called
for additional dismissals and resignations, including
that of Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen Dan Halutz.)
# Fences/Wall - motivated by security concerns
and does not reflect final borders.
# Iran - we have better information. If Iran has
a bomb, it is not only the issue of attacking
Israel, but it will create an umbrella of Iran's
influence in the Middle East - Jordan, Saudi Arabia.
#Demolition of Al-Aqsa - No intention whatsoever.
#Relations with India - relations have improved
significantly since the establishment of diplomatic
relations 15 years ago.
What Israel can do for Pakistan:
# Upgrading industry to compete in world markets.
# Building less expensive houses that can be assembled
in days. (Aid was offered after the earthquake,
but rejected). Israel has built a mosque in Turkey.
# Help in water management and agriculture, especially
in seepage control, to avoid wastage of water.
Indisputably, since its inception Israel has been
backed financially, politically, and morally by
the United States. It is also said that Israel's
existence depends on the US military help. May
be so. But, in this context an adage may be relevant:
"In a war, it is not the gun but the man
behind the gun that matters".
Israel is a country no bigger than New Jersey
with a population of over five million - Jews
80% and Arabs 20%. Arabs have learnt Hebrew and
carry Israeli ID cards.
Israel is a democratic republic, has a parliamentary
system with universal suffrage and a 120-member
parliament (Knesset), in which seats are allocated
to political parties on a proportional representation
voting system. Elections are held every four years.
Twelve parties are currently represented in Knesset.
Like the US, Israel can be called a country of
immigrants. Aliya – 'ascent' in Hebrew –
is the name used to refer to the immigration of
Jews to Israel. All a Jew has to do is to land
in Israel and proclaim himself a citizen.
One can find people of all colors and hues, from
about 130 countries, the majority from North Africa,
especially from Ethiopia, Europe and the former
USSR. I also met a family from Karachi.
Israel is a reality. I could also sense that Israel
wants to be recognized by the Muslim countries,
including Pakistan. We are considered as the gateway
to Muslim countries.
The process can start with a dialogue between
Israel and Arab leaders. Its recognition by Muslim
countries will allow the presence of their diplomatic
missions.
In a speech about Israel at the Cornell University,
New York, on Sept 27, 06, President Musharraf
said: “We cannot do something that …
isolates us from the Muslim world. This issue
is extremely sensitive … and I would destabilize
myself.” However, the President, added:
“But ultimately we have to do it.”
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