The Muslims of South Asia have long empathized with pan Islamic causes and Palestine attracted the attention of Pakistan’s founding fathers even before the creation of the country in 1947.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and acclaimed poet Mohammad Iqbal, who conceived the idea of a separate Muslim nation in South Asia, both established links with Palestinian leaders and their statements in support of the Palestinian cause are a part of historical record. They echoed the sentiments of their followers who have a sentimental attachment with Al Quds and viewed imperial plans to evict the Palestinians from their homeland with concern against the backdrop of the Balfour declaration.

The UN resolutions call for the vacation of all territories occupied by Israel in 1967 to facilitate the two states solution. An independent Palestinian state would have its capital in East Jerusalem, which was also occupied in 1967.

More than half a century has elapsed and the Arab position has been principled but not rigid. They forsake the military option and signed the Oslo Accords. Instead of implementing those accords, Israel has consistently tried to change the demographic character of the West Bank by encouraging illegal settlements in occupied territories in clear violation of international law.

The Israeli government’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank next month, where settlements are constructed, has few supporters. A vast majority of the UN member states support the Palestinian right to self determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, after the occupied territories are vacated. UN Security Council resolutions 224 and 338 clearly envisage that vacation.

In their statement of 10 June, the OIC foreign ministers have unequivocally condemned the Israeli move and asked the UN and its own member states to take remedial measures. Pakistan, as a founding member of the OIC, believes in the centrality of Palestine and Al Quds al Sharif issue for the Muslim Ummah, and will never be found wanting in its support of this just cause.

Javed Hafeez

Pakistan has always supported the right of Palestinians to establish an independent, contiguous and sovereign state of their own. This was reiterated by Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Aisha Farooqui, recently, who said unequivocally, that any annexation of occupied Palestinian territories would be a serious violation of international law and a dangerous development in an already volatile scenario.

Ominous developments in Palestine inevitably remind Pakistanis of the plight of Kashmiris across their own border. In Kashmir too, efforts are being made to change demographic composition. If and when 30 percent of the West Bank becomes part of Israel, its Palestinian population will neither be granted citizenship nor equal rights. They will inevitably become second class citizens in their own land. Having seen the situation of the Kashmiris from close quarters, Pakistan can anticipate what may well be in store for the Palestinians. In both cases, there is a gross violation of fundamental human rights.

A detailed look at three parts of the territories proposed to be annexed shortly may be instructive. East Jerusalem, part of Jordan till 1967, is important for all Muslims from political and spiritual angles, Al Aqsa mosque being their first Qibla. Muslims are against even the bifurcation of the holy city and many suggest that it could be the capital of both states. Jordan river valley, also part of the annexation plan, is home to 65,000 Palestinians. This valley supports their livestock as it has perennial water supply. Annexation of this area would severely impact lawful residents and sever their links with the West Bank.

Even more dangerous would be the annexation of an area where Israeli settlements have sprouted in recent decades. The occupying state, after changing the demographic composition, now wants to gulp up this area in violation of international law and UN resolutions.

As a prelude to this sinister move, a Trump-backed plan called “deal of the century” was unveiled early this year. The proposal was rejected out of hand by the Palestinian Authority. And when the annexation plan was clearly enunciated by the Israeli government last month, the Palestinian Authority declared it was no longer bound by previous agreements. Now Jordan has warned that it will walk out of the peace agreement if the Israeli government goes ahead with its annexation plan.

The right wing Likud government in Israel is bent upon destroying whatever progress was made toward peace under the Oslo Accords. Even after Oslo, Israeli progress on the implementation of a road map was tentative. This increased the trust gap between the two sides tremendously and the latest Israeli move, dangerous as it is, may well be the final nail in the coffin of the peace process.

Egypt will come under pressure to annul its peace agreement with Israel, should the West Bank annexation plan go ahead. In their statement of 10 June, the OIC foreign ministers have unequivocally condemned the Israeli move and asked the UN and its own member states to take remedial measures.

Pakistan, as a founding member of the OIC, believes in the centrality of Palestine and Al Quds al Sharif issue for the Muslim Ummah, and will never be found wanting in its support of this just cause.

*Javed Hafeez is a former Pakistani diplomat with much experience of the Middle East. He writes weekly columns in Pakistani and Gulf newspapers and appears regularly on satellite TV channels as a defense and political analyst.

Twitter: @hafiz_javed