Now that there is a cease-fire and a break in Israeli hostilities, the question is what should Arabs and Muslims do to confront such challenges in the future.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon started in response to Hezbollah’s capture of two Israeli soldiers for the purpose of exchanging them for the Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel’s response could have been justified if they limited their attacks to military targets, but unfortunately the targets included Lebanese civilians.
It is clear to everyone that atrocities committed by the Israeli government against Lebanon were not motivated by the capture of two Israeli soldiers. There is a hidden agenda behind Israel’s attack on Lebanon and other Arab countries.
Israel’s savage air, naval and ground attacks on Lebanon is indicative of a plan to terrorize the Lebanese people and inflict maximum damage on their country by destroying its infrastructure.
Many of those killed remain under the rubble of their homes where they still cannot be reached. The death toll is mounting day by day and includes women, children and even the handicapped. The number of injured is several times more than the dead. More than a million people have been displaced. These are clear indications that Israel wanted to destroy Lebanon and its peace-loving people rather than just the fighters of Hezbollah and its arsenal of weapons.
If Israel wanted to recover its soldiers and “eliminate the threat of Hezbollah” then why did it destroy every bridge, have every road blocked and literally dismember the country? Why did it repeatedly shell the runways at Beirut’s International Airport when it has been rendered inoperable? Why did it destroy every moving and even stationary truck and prevent the delivery of food and medicine to cut-off villages? Why did it destroy every fuel storage facility when most people had become dependent on power generators for electricity? Why did it repeatedly shell the biggest bridge in the Middle East, which is the main link in the inter-Arab highway network? Why did it repeatedly shell civil communication towers and antennas, and why did it target industrial plants including those at dairy and poultry farms? The list of violations of international laws and the Geneva Conventions is a long one, and clearly amounts to war crimes under any free judicial system.
It takes years and years to build a country and construct its infrastructure but seconds are enough to destroy and demolish everything. Though the international community including the UN had called for a cease-fire to end the hostilities in Lebanon, which Israel totally rejected, it is time for the Arabs and Muslims to act and think of all possible ways to stop such acts of death and wanton destruction by Israel directed against Muslims, Christian and even Jews.
Even in such a dangerous situation, the UN was unable to play its role effectively and constructively. It was very shameful of the UN to have failed to take action against Israel. It seems that the UN is synonymous with the US. We have seen how the US used UN power and prestige against Iraq and Afghanistan.
On present indications, the US might as well turn against Iran and we wonder whether there is a need for the UN anymore when the US could act in defiance of all international laws and conventions but on behalf of “the international community”.
This is the time for all the Arabs and Muslims to wake up and act and use all possible ways to protect and save not only Lebanon but also the entire Arab world. We don’t want to flex military muscles, but we should show our solidarity with the hapless people of Lebanon and Palestine. It is time to protect our values and struggle to defend what we believe in. It is time for all worlds to stand together and protest against Israel and United States for their joint killing of innocent civilians in Lebanon and Palestine.
How one wishes we had leaders like Moathesim Billah, who organized his entire army and fought to save a Muslim woman from the enemies of Islam, when she shouted, “Oh Moathesim Billah, where are you and your army?” Now the entire people of Palestine and Lebanon are screaming for help from their brothers and neighbors, but we all keep our hearts shut against them and remain in our comfort zones. If we Arabs and Muslims fail to act now, we will lose the entire Arab lands to the Israelis. First, they took Palestine and who knows what will be next.
Where is our obedience to Allah and our Prophet (peace be upon him)? Allah teaches us to help each other, show our solidarity to each other and stand united to protect our suffering brothers. I scream in the ears of all the men and women of the Middle East to gather their strength to protect all Arab lands in general and our religion in particular. At the same time, we also urge people around the world regardless of their religion and belief to stand together against Israeli atrocities to stop killing of children, women and old people.
— Abdulrazaq Ali Alturki is the managing director of Namma Cargo Services. He is based in Alkhobar. E-mail to [email protected]
