A new ‘Nakba’?
The day of ‘Nakba’ or catastrophe as referred to by Palestinians to mark May 15 — the day of Israel’s declaration of statehood — has been marked by bloodshed as firing by Israeli troops killed at least 13 protesters.
Would these deaths be a turning point for the decades-old conflict that has seen Israel encroaching more and more on Palestinian territories? Moreover, its dogged refusal to meet peace efforts even half way has resulted in a bitter stalemate that can only be resolved if Tel Aviv implements a halt to its illegal settlements. Further, in line with the earlier peace agreements, Israel’s withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders along with the recognition of an independent Palestinian state are the parameters of the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz peace plan that gained wide international support. It was also a plan Israel agreed to when initiated. In return, Israel was to get due recognition by all Arab states along with a normalcy in relations.
While this may sound ideal on paper, it has failed to materialise because of Israel throwing in the spanner on every conceivable point. Owing to intense Israeli lobbying, even Washington that initially threw its weight behind the settlements issue in favour of the Palestinians was forced to retreat positions.
Larger number of Palestinians may have died before at the hands of Israeli forces but the recent deaths come at a critical juncture. Wedged in between states that are currently undergoing political instability and growing unrest, the Palestinians may have at last caught on the idea of the Arab Spring. This may well prove Israel’s nemesis if the Palestinian leadership is successful in mobilising peaceful protests for the implementation of a peaceful two-state solution. The question is if such a tactical move can be peacefully integrated in the efforts aiming at
Palestinian statehood.
Faced with a large number of Palestinians on the borders with Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, Israel’s overtly forceful and unwarranted response reflects sheer nervousness and panic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to blame Iran and Syrian leadership for the provocation in order to deflect attention from Syria and to exploit Palestinian nationalist feelings in the light of the unrest sweeping the region. Ironically, he vowed to defend the Israeli borders and sovereignty. Of course, these are the same borders that Israel has illegally extended and enforced in other
states’ territories.
The question is will Israel be able to fend an onslaught from all sides if Palestinians will to bring on the struggle for a separate state on the lines of the pre-1967 borders themselves? With what justification will Tel Aviv or its allies support the use of force against peaceful protests. It is time Israel submits to the winds of change sweeping across the region for it still retains a chance to make peace before it’s too late.
Opting for talks in Libya
The crisis in Libya has not been addressed in totality. Talks between Libyan authorities and the United Nations representative on Sunday were, however, a good omen.
This not only underscored the importance of diplomacy, but also the indispensability of getting back to the table. Though nothing concrete came out of those talks, it could at least have come as another avenue for reaching the embattled leadership in Tripoli. The seriousness on the part of the world body to explore new options for deescalating the crisis in North Africa was evident from the personal phone call that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made to Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Al Mahmoudi. The very fact that the premier has solicited UN intervention to defuse the crisis is a positive development. Libya’s earnest request to the UN chief to prevail over the NATO forces who, according to him, seem to be more concerned with bombardment business than ensuring solution of the dispute at hand. This is a serious comment on the part of a senior Libyan leader and cannot be brushed aside, intrinsically.
It is, however, not clear what the rebel factions have told the UN envoy that met him in Benghazi. Rebel forces, which have set up a provisional government headquarters in the east, are reportedly lobbying for seeking the arrest warrants of Muammar Gaddafi from the International Criminal Court for his alleged crimes against humanity. If this is what the opposition figures had discussed with the UN point man, then it goes without saying that resolution of the dispute is
far from over.
Such legal-diplomatic issues will further compound the situation, plunging the war-weary country in more bloodshed and violence. It has to be taken into account that Gaddafi is neither a spent force nor Libya a signatory of the Rome Statue that established the ICC. In such a scenario, it is incomprehensive to believe that extra-legal factors would be able to cow down the entrenched dictator. The focus of discourse should be on how to restore peace and tranquility in the country — and not on vendetta in the political realms. The over-stretched NATO mission has literally divided the country, turning it into a safe haven for warlords and greedy oil-barons. The ball is back in the UN court to shift the focus, altogether.
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