The recent Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon has ignited a wave of anger and condemnation across the Muslim world. A rare show of unity emerged at the extraordinary OIC-Arab League summit in Riyadh, where Muslim leaders united in denouncing Israel’s brutal attacks.
While the summit marked a significant step towards solidarity, concrete actions to hold Israel accountable for its crimes remain elusive. Despite calls for an arms embargo and economic sanctions, the international community has been largely indifferent. The Israeli government, emboldened by its impunity, continues to pursue its expansionist agenda, openly dismissing the possibility of a Palestinian state.
The stark reality is that Israel’s brutal tactics have pushed the region to the brink of a wider conflict. The Palestinian people, driven to despair, are left with no choice but to resist the occupation. The cycle of violence shows no signs of abating, as the Israeli government, backed by its powerful allies, remains committed to maintaining its dominance over the region.
The international community must wake up to the dangers posed by Israel’s aggressive policies. It is time to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and to support the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to self-determination. Only through a just and lasting peace, based on international law and UN resolutions, can the region hope to achieve stability and security. In Riyadh, the Muslim-Arab alliance was declaring sympathy with Palestine, while the Israelis were busy sabotaging the idea of a Palestinian state with full autonomy. Statehood is not a “realistic” position, according to the new Israeli foreign minister, but the radical finance minister of Tel Aviv has said that plans to annex the occupied West Bank are ready. Tel Aviv’s expansionist, homicidal practices will continue, and this is a strong indication that the Israelis are not prepared for peace.
Donald Trump is also putting up a disgraceful list of anti-Iranian, pro-Israel hawks to lead the State Department and the UN. Unless this “peace” means complete surrender on the part of the Arab side, it is safe to state that peacemaking will not be a top priority. Speaking at the United Nations exactly fifty years ago, Yasser Arafat informed the world that he offered both a liberation fighter’s pistol and an olive branch. Arafat said, “Don’t let the olive branch slip from my grasp.” Unfortunately, the Israelis’ conceit has essentially severed the olive branch, leaving the Palestinians with nothing but a gun.
The outcome of the Israelis’ continuous rejection of the olive branch was what happened on October 7, 2023. Today, the entire Middle East is on the verge of a firestorm, Lebanon is on fire, and Gaza is a huge cemetery. Israel’s only option is to halt its carnage and acknowledge that Palestine cannot be eradicated.
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