By Javed Hafeez
Palestinian issue has been on the UN agenda for decades and remains unresolved to date. The historic land of Palestine, which has the unique distinction of being revered by the followers of three revealed religions, has been reduced to a zone of perpetual conflict. This is a great paradox of our times as these three religions had brought divine messages for love of humanity, peace and amity.
Those divine messages have been violated with impunity, setting a wrong example for conduct of international relations. The Palestinian population has faced expulsion, occupation, unfulfilled pledges and dashed hopes. A large number of Palestinians continue to live in refugee camps, some of them in appalling conditions.
The Palestinian issue is not merely a conflict over land, not even gross violation of human rights alone, but has an added dimension of Al Quds Al Sharif, being the third holiest shrine for the Muslims. That makes it the central issue for the entire Muslim Ummah. The Arab countries have, all along, shown proclivity for peace and co-existence.
In blatant disregard of these rights, the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of Palestinian territory has been violated.
Through their acceptance of UN Resolutions 242 and 338, they recognized Israeli right to exist as a sovereign state within pre 1967 boundaries. This was also the gist of Fahad Peace Plan, later endorsed at the summit level. The quid pro quo from the other side has been sadly missing.
Similarly, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation(PLO), recognized by the Arab states and many others as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, made a serious bid for a lasting peace through the Oslo Accords.
The roadmap contained in these accords was not followed through. Instead more Jewish settlements were built at a fast pace in order to change the ethnic character of the occupied West Bank. A wall was constructed by Israel ostensibly for security reasons. Free movement of people, in their own homeland, has been obstructed by the occupiers, through this move.
A five-year period was given under Oslo Accords for further negotiations. Unfortunately, the Israeli electorate has been favouring the right wing parties for some decades now. The original bid for peace was spearheaded by the Labour Party which has a diminished political clout now.
Oslo Accords failed to fulfill the hopes attached to them in the beginning. Israel refused to follow through on the pretext that the Camp David Summit of 2000 had failed and that second Palestinian Intifada had started. The only solid outcome of Oslo Accords was mutual recognition between PLO and Israel. However, these accords were also used by Israel to gain time in order to consolidate occupation.
Resultantly, what we have on the truncated West Bank are ever increasing settlements and the Palestinian Authority with very limited powers. This is clearly a negation of two states solution which was originally envisaged in the Arab Peace Plan, later endorsed by various international forums. The Palestinian Authority is not even a shadow of a sovereign state.
And of late, the Israeli propaganda machine has been saying that the two states solution is no longer viable. Indeed that mutually acceptable solution has been deliberately made remote through a well thought out policy. Hapless Palestinian people have been shorn of their fundamental rights and many of them thrown out of their native land.
Israel is a leading violator of UN resolutions which have repeatedly asked it to vacate the territories occupied in 1967. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) holds that the establishment of Israeli settlements violate Fourth Geneva Convention. The ICRC also holds that displacement of Palestinians due to these settlements violates article 49 of Fourth Geneva Convention. Israel has been totally oblivious to several UN Human Rights Council resolutions. This body has condemned Israeli non-compliance of its resolutions umpteen times.
Israel is a leading violator of UN resolutions which have repeatedly asked it to vacate the territories occupied in 1967.
The Palestinian people have an inalienable right to self-determination including establishment of their own state alongside Israel. They, like all other people, also have the right to live in their own homeland. Palestinian refugees, on the analogy of other refugees, should be entitled to return to their homes and hearths.
In blatant disregard of these rights, the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of Palestinian territory has been violated. Millions were made to flee from their homes through terrorist attacks and intimidation to make room for people who came from a number of foreign countries. Followers of one Abrahamic religion have expelled the believers of two other revealed religions, the Muslims and the Christians.
Al Quds Al Sharif ought to have international status as a holy city for Muslims and Jews both. Moreover, eastern part of this city, which was occupied in 1967 by force, should be vacated, as demanded by the UN resolutions. Instead of promoting its international status, some countries have opted to move their diplomatic missions to Al Quds from Tel Aviv. This is clearly a move to consolidate Israeli control over the holy city.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation(OIC), through its resolutions, asked for reversal of this unfortunate move but to no avail. Encouraged by support of some powerful nations, the occupation authorities have started nibbling at some quarters of eastern Al Quds. Illegal efforts to evict Palestinians from Shaikh Al Jarrah quarters testify to the evil designs to modify the ethnic composition of the holy city, as well.
The Palestine and Kashmir issues are formidable challenges to the UN efficacy and image. Just and lasting resolution of these lingering issues would bolster the image of this world body and create international confidence in this organization which has been sadly missing. International relations ought to be conducted on the basis of legality, morality and justice. The champions of human rights should also care for the human rights of Palestinians, endorsed at international level many a time. Blatant disregard of international law and the UN resolutions by Israel has set wrong precedents globally.
The Ummah, represented by the OIC, should continue its endeavors for a just resolution of the Palestinian Issue based on two states. The envisaged Palestinian state should have the right to establish its capital in eastern Al Quds al Sharif.
To achieve that objective, unity and active co-operation amongst member states are essentials.
The writer is the former ambassador.
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