What should worry Pakistan is the security-related part of the agreement that is strongly ant-Iran though the word ‘Iran’ itself has not even been mentioned. It is important to note that Israel and the UAE reportedly already have security ties, but the agreement brings them into the open and formalizes and probably extends them. Pakistan is a direct neighbour of Iran, the country that first recognized Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has a sizeable Shia population and while relations could be closer, they have improved a lot during recent years and offer attractive economic options. Given Pakistan’s special relationship with Saudi Arabia there is no doubt that it is the unenviable task of our foreign policy makers to keep a fine balance between the sides
After visiting Israel in May 2003 I wrote an article entitled “Visiting the Forbidden Land”, to quote, “At no time did I find any animosity or ill-feeling towards Pakistan, or Muslims for that matter. However a mistrust of the Palestinians was certainly there. However Except for a couple of retired persons, the Israelis generally acknowledged they would have to co-exist with Palestinians. Though not many relished the thought, because of Hamas in particular. Moving around Israel was like being in any European country with its stores, fast food outlets and chic boutiques, except that on the roadside and at bus stops you will occasionally find uniformed soldiers, young men and women carrying rifles. They are not on duty, they carry their personal weapons, when they go on leave. Reservists keep their personal weapons at home so that they can be at their pre-designated location bearing arms. Security was pretty tight but fear and apprehension were not so visible within Israel itself. This was in sharp contrast to the West Bank where you could see military vehicles in abundance and a palpable air of fear and suspicion between the Israelis and Palestinian pedestrians. In Jerusalem I travelled through the Christian, Jewish and Muslim quarters, without any restrictions. I managed a very special trip to the “Wailing Wall” and (at some risk to himself), into the adjoining tunnel where the excavations to discover the base of the ‘Second Temple’ were taking place”, unquote.
During my visit to old Jerusalem when Palestinian guards at the gates of the Holy sites were informed that I was a Pakistani, the Palestinian security personnel were unofficially deputed to take me on a conducted tour. I was privileged to say my Zohar prayers in Al-Aqsa itself and Asr prayers at the Dome of the Rock mosque.
To quote my article of 2003 further, “One cannot condone the Israeli brutality on the Palestinians in governing the Occupied Territories. But one must now search for a pragmatic means to end the occupation so as to mitigate the sufferings of the uprooted Palestinian millions. Suicide bombings, coming after 9/11, attracted an adverse world reaction and gave Israel an excuse to establish a boundary to keep a portion of the occupied territories it covets. The raging debate in Pakistan over Israel ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous. Why Jews are bad-mouthed in the country is a mystery. My parents, at least, never fed us this calumny. On coming into contact with Jews I found them to be as good (and as bad) human beings as anyone else. Why have we been demonising an entire race on the basis of religion? I certainly condemn the Israeli brutality against the Palestinians and have full sympathy for the plight of Palestinians. I also condemn ‘suicide bombings’ and the loss of innocent Israeli lives. Every action has a reaction and this deadly cycle must stop. I strongly feel that dialogue with Israel will bring them in from the cold and help in convincing them that a permanent peace based on co-existence with the Palestinians is possible. Recognition of Israel must not be weighed in terms of pluses and minuses of which one can enumerate many, but on the need to bring all human beings into the world’s melting pot, irrespective of race, religion or creed. We must convince Israelis about our sincerity of purpose by reaching out to them. For that, we must recognise Israel’s right to exist as a nation. If the cost of a permanent peace is to ensure an honourable place under the sun for Israel, that is a very small price to pay”.
One must note some offending words of the Israeli National Anthem, to quote “Let those who are our enemy shudder, Let all the inhabitants of Egypt and Canaan tremble, Let the inhabitants of Babylon shudder, To loom over their skies, panic and terror from us, When we plant our spears in their chests, And we see their blood being shed, And their heads cut off”. One can understand religious nationalistic zeal but why did Israel, a country that claims to be civilized and democratic, choose this rather bloodthirsty anthem of Zionist Israel carrying hateful religious slogans? If the Israelis want to live with their muslim neighbours in peace and harmony they must seriously think of re-phrasing their national anthem.
There is a difference between recognition of a state and having diplomatic relations with it, there is a vast difference between 2003 with the changed geo-political circumstances and the present environment in 2020. While I feel we can recognise Israel but any diplomatic relations must be subject to substantial progress on the way they treat Palestinians and the establishment of the Palestinian state.
Concluded
The writer is a defence and security analyst
