On the last day of another despondent year for the Ummah of Palestine, the UN Security Council unsurprisingly rejected a resolution proposed by the so-called ‘authority’ of Palestine to end the Zionist occupation within three years. Deemed as a “preposterous unilateral proposal” by the Israeli delegate in front of world leaders, Palestine was politically humiliated. This is besides offering even more concessions such as shamefully sharing Jerusalem as the capital with the Zionist entity, excluding the consideration of illegal settlements as well as limiting the withdrawal to the 1967 borders, as if the ubiquitous talk of a two-state notion was not degrading enough.
Even with these concessions, the US had made her intentions very clear – US State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke mentioned that the US will not be supporting the draft resolution and said “We don’t believe this resolution … advances the goal of a two-state solution.”. The low standards that Abbas expects are still not low enough for the criteria of a two-state solution, which in reality as demonstrated by Israeli intentions, is completely impractical. Abbas has threatened though, that if this resolution is to fail then he will “no longer deal with the Israel government” – repeating this same threat on multiple occasions without any substance. For example, Abbas threatened after the recent Gaza massacre, to take the case to the International Criminal and backtracked, the same way he backtracked his threat to cut security cooperation after the killing of a Palestinian Minister.
The perpetual negotiations and tireless pleading to the same institution that legitimizes the illegal occupation of Palestine is indicative of the colonial mentality that continues to exist amongst those who have chosen to tread the path of secular politics. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “A believer is not stung twice (by something) out of one and the same hole.” Yet days after the humiliation, the PLO vows to resubmit a resolution again! When asked during an address in the city of Ramallah about the rejection of the resolution, Abbas responds “We didn’t fail, the UN Security Council failed us. We will go again to the Security Council, why not? Perhaps after a week”.
The political naivety of the PA however, is not representative of the unequivocal demands of Muslims all across the world to remove the unrecognised Zionist entity. It is for this reason, that secular politicians such as Mahmoud Abbas frame their proposals using the demands of the Ummah, such as calling Israel “Occupiers” and Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian permanent observer stating in his speech “whilst our lands are being colonised” albeit their zealous security cooperation with the Jewish state on a day to day basis. Abbas only recently expressed his spineless attitude in recognising Israel using the term “the peaceful state of Israel” in his visit to New York [5]
Uncompromising Zionism
The Zionist ideology doesn’t allow for such concessions to be made on their part considering their expansionist policy and to realise the vision of Ben Gurion, the first Israeli president and original architect of Zionist plans for the region.
The incestuous relationship between Israel and the Muslim rulers means that the Jewish entity enjoys their tacit approval and protection from the likes of Sisi and King Abdullah, who so ardently demonstrate their support by staying silent went Israel fires rockets over Palestine, but defend Israel’s right to defend themselves when the Palestinians resist. Having this backing by the neighbouring Arab states while sharing regional interests further empowers their influence over the remnants of Palestine, above off course their complete military advantage over the Muslims of Palestine. The recent strategic partnership bill passed by US congress aims to significantly boost Israeli defence and weapons stockpile all the more.
Considering the level of influence and authority Israel enjoys, it certainly is not prepared to concede, nor does it feel obliged to compromise an inch away from their Zionist ambitions. This can be seen from the viewpoint of their historical development ever since the Balfour agreement in 1917, to the rampant migration that followed, to the 1947 UN’s imposition of the partition plan (assigning 56 % of Palestine to the Jews who owned less than 6% of land), to the Nakba and generally all expansion/ethnic cleansing plans pre and post 1967… So why would they halt their Zionist progress now to adopt a peace plan and compromise for the powerless? And feel the need to sacrifice their ambitious plans for the region to settle for a lot less and effectively reverse their progress up to date? Netanyahu’s recent outright rejection of the proposed resolution and needless to say, the interval bombardments of Gaza referred to, by Israel military strategists, as “mowing the lawn” shows the way by which Israel views Palestinians and yet still, the PA feel the need to come to an agreement. Above this, Netanyahu also desires indefinite military presence in the West Bank and has a firm intention to hold on to Jerusalem in spite of criticisms.
Abbas’s servile approach will lead only to embarrassment and more concessions while the Jewish entity sternly rejects all such attempts due to its inherent insecurities. Further negotiations with the UN Security Council will only legitimise and preserve the Zionist entity and its illegal occupation of Palestine, humiliating the Ummah even further.
“O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason.” (3:118)
