My fifth Published Article

Iranian nuclear program and Israel’s unrest

Iran has been facing the declarations of war on the accusation of developing nuclear weapons. The accusation has now been echoed strongly by Israel. It has been trying to ignite the forest fire which can engulf the whole Arab world by the intention of attacking Iran. America on the other hand doesn’t want to interfere directly as they know that it will cost them much as their experience in Vietnam. But still they are giving silent support so as to put an end to Iran’s nuclear project.

Israel wants to handle the case of Iran in four methods. One is by strengthening the propaganda that the Iranian nuclear project is a threat to the humanity through the media, political circles etc. Second is by strengthening the economic sanctions against Iran. Thirdly is by murder the Iranian scientists involved in the nuclear project and bomb the military areas of Iran. Fourthly is by openly declaring the destruction of atomic energy manufacturing centers.

The first three methods have been continuing for a long time now. The fourth one is being discussed in the media. Ha’aretz reports a statement of Ehud Barack, the defense minister of Israel that the nuclear project should be stopped within one year or else Iran will have moved the enriched uranium to a safer location.

The allies of America – Britain, France and Germany are all on the same side of the court. But they don’t want a war as it will adversely affect their already crumbling financial sectors in these countries. All of them have gone ahead with economic sanctions and the decisions of rejecting the import of oil from Iran. Even though their policy was not stagnant in the Iranian case in the beginning at present they have shifted their policy in favour of Israel.

The Arab Spring which has sent shock waves to the dominance of America and Israel in the region have infact frustrated the position of Israel. Israel is also feeling the pressure of the Anti-Israel tendencies that is been spread around the Arab world. Israel will surely utilize this opportunity to start an attack against Iran and give a warning to those anti-Israeli trends and ensure their dominance in the region.

There are also some frustrations in the Arab camps with some of the Iranian stands in some cases. The support of Iran to the Syrian government, the interference of Iran in Iraq etc. fade the light of the creative and determined stands in the case of Palestine and against the American supremacy.

America, Britain, China, Russia and France who are the permanent members of the Security Council are the declared nuclear powers. India, Pakistan and North Korea have declared that they possess nuclear bombs. But Israel is the only country which has hidden its fact of possessing nuclear bombs.

Israel is the only country in the Middle East that is sitting on a huge pile of nuclear weapons. Israel has 200-400 nuclear bombs which can be attached to submarines and fighter planes. On Dec 12, 2006 Israel’s then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in an interview with the German Television declared Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons; but the international community didn’t happen to be struck by this declaration. America said that without the official declaration of nuclear weapons by the State of Israel, no step can be taken against them. Iran has demanded that the whole Israeli project of nuclear reactors should be brought under the UN investigating agency. If Israel refuses to co-operate then the 7^th section of the UN charter which declares punishment of economic sanctions and military interference should be applied by the UN.

The important atomic reactors of Israel had started its functioning in the early 60’s. CIA had discovered this in 1968. But still they continued their functioning for two decades. When the former technician of the Israeli atomic reactor Mordechai Vanoonu leaked this matter to the Sunday Times in a very suspicious manner in 1986, the world came to know of Israel’s hidden nuclear project. However Israel’s effort was to hid its mistake and attack the nuclear projects in the Middle East. They had the full-hearted support of America too. In June, 1981 in a combined attack of America and Israel, the atomic reactor started by Saddam Hussein in the 80’s was destroyed and erased from its location.

Iran’s claim

Iran’s nuclear program has been functioning since 1953. Infact America themselves had signed the agreement with Sha Riza Pehlavi during his reign. But when the tide of revolution turned matters upside down and brought down the fall of the Sha, America withdrew the pact. France and Germany who had promised help in the development of nuclear reactor also withdrew their support following the strong pressure from America.

Iran hasn’t till now declared that it will produce atom bomb. Tehran has made it clear that the nuclear program is purely for energy production. Infact the former director of the International Atomic Agency Muhammed Al Baraidi has made it clear that there is no evidence of Iran making any atom bombs. But America and its allies are making the scene worse by saying that Iran is heading in the production of the atom bomb. In 2010, Iran had made a declaration to pacify the western powers that it is willing to transport the uranium in their hands to Turkey. The agreement was signed in a discussion between Brazil and Turkey. But America and its associates are not ready to agree this too.

The building of nuclear reactors and the production of nuclear bombs are both different matters. There is no international law blocking any nation from producing nuclear energy. America is trying to misguide the world by saying that nuclear plant means nuclear bomb. America is the world’s biggest nuclear power in the world. Times magazine reports that America has so far conducted 1030 nuclear tests. The real issue is that America and its allies want only Israel as a nuclear power in the region. The rising of Iran as a nuclear power will affect the supremacy of Israel in the region. Israel will have to control its atrocities. America can’t continue their dominance as the world police in this region. At the same time, the main issue for the Muslim countries in the region especially the GCC countries is the dominance of Iran rather than the threat from Israel. America has succeeded to some extent in turning the issue in that direction.

Sanctions

From 2006 to 2011 in various phases under the supervision of America seven motions were brought against Iran on the nuclear issue in the UN. Six of them were considered with the applications of sanctions and their prolonging. Only in 2010, four Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in very suspicious manner and one was critically injured. Mustafa Ahmedi Roshan who was working in the uranium enrichment plant in Nathans was the latest victim. Iran has accused America and Israel for the killings of the scientists. In the latest incident of Roshan Iran accuses Azerbaijan for leaking the information to America.

Some bad news that has been originating in Iran for a couple of years is the accusations and allegations against Ahmedi Najad and the problems of interior department. We are yet to see the end results of all these in the coming parliament elections. The sanctions which effect the seven and a half population are an important and active topic of discussion. The sanctions have infact caused trouble to the Iranian people. But the experience of survival gained from the sanctions being imposed by America since 1979 has provided the fuel to withstand the new sanctions also. Not only has that America’s order not to buy oil from the second largest producer of oil been rejected by countries including India. Tehran exports 13% of its oil to India. Turkey has declared that it will continue to buy oil from Iran. Turkey buys two lakh barrels from Iran. China is the largest buyer of oil from Iran (22%). 18% of the oil of Iran is exported to the European countries. Iran calculates that in a situation where the European Union will face shortage of oil, it will lead to the failure of the sanctions.

Threat of war

Israel’s plan is to attack the uranium enrichment plant in Nathans, Fordo plants, reactors in Araq and the conversion plants in Isfahan. But this is not going to be an easy task which has been clarified by the American defense officials. The biggest block is that to reach Iran America will have to go through the air space of the countries who are not their allies. Bombs can be showered on the reactors that are functioning underground only after crossing thousands of miles and the defense mechanisms of Iran. There will be a need of 100 planes to accomplish the operation successfully.

Even though many are yelling to bomb Iran Lt. General David A Deptula who had headed the 1991 Gulf war and the operation in Afghanistan in 2001 warns them that it is not so easy to do so. Israeli planes can only enter Iran either through the air spaces of Turkey in the north, Saudi Arabia in the south or Jordan, Iraq in the middle. Jordan is the only country which has a kind of friendly relations with Israel. Iraq which had been under the occupation of America doesn’t have an effective defensive mechanism. Besides that after the withdrawal of the American troops in December, Americans have themselves withdrawn from the responsibility of the air space in Iraq.

Even though Jordan gives permission to Israel to pass through its airspace obstacles are still there. The American made F-15, F-16 warplanes will need a fuel capacity to travel 2000 miles if they intend to go, attack and comeback. Even if American made airborne planes which can refuel from the air can be used, Israel doesn’t have enough of them. Israeli planes can only attack Iran by jamming the air defense mechanism of Iran. Iran still has the 2010 air force defense mechanism after Russia had rejected the sale of new S-300 missiles. But the pentagon officials are stating that Iran’s missiles are a threat to the air force of Israel.

Another headache for Israel is that the missiles of Iran are capable of reaching the cities of Israel. The warplanes of Israel even though they would be able to penetrate the Iranian airspace cannot destroy the plant in Nathans because it is built underground up to 30 feet and also strongly concreted. The plant in Fordho is in between the mountains. The pentagon experts doubts whether the US made Bunker Buster bombs can be used effectively. The former democrat senator Charles F. Wald had demanded to Obama foreseeing these obstacles, the sale of the latest G.B.U kind of 200 bunker buster missiles and three airborne refueling aircrafts. In short when Israel is searching for every means to attack Iran many obstacles are still there on its way. We can hope that Israel will have the consciousness to realize that Iran is not Gaza or Lebanon as they had perceived earlier and act accordingly.

The implications of an attack on Iran cannot be calculated. What will be the reaction of Iran to the attack? Will Iran in turn attack the American naval and army bases in the Gulf? How will it affect the oil prices? What will be the reaction of Hizbollah soon after the launching of the attack? How will the Shia Arabs react to the attack? In the end will America be dragged into a war of which it is hesitant to start? As long as these implications hang as a democlas wall over the head of Israel, we can expect that the attacks may not take place soon.

The Companion, May 2012, Vol:6, Issue:12

My fourth published article

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin – remembering a martyr

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, a name that reverberates the streets of Gaza and Palestine, a name that thrills the mind of Palestinians and every mind that wishes for the freedom of Palestine, the spiritual force behind all the resistance movements had his long awaited wish of martyrdom fulfilled on the break of this day (March 22 2004) while being wheeled out after the early morning prayer from a mosque near his house in Al Sabra neighbourhood, South West of Gaza city.

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, the founder of Hamas was the symbolic leader of a wide political spectrum of the Palestinian society. Hamas represents the courage and steadfastness of thousands of Palestinians who do not want to give up their right to self-determination and to return to their homeland. Hamas had taken over from where PLO, Fateh have emerged defeated in acquiring there rights. The growth of Hamas should be seen in the context of the deceit experienced by the Palestinians when PLO signed the Oslo agreement. It was on the basis of this agreement that the justification of the settlements was made and the Palestinian Authority formed to silence the protesters.

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin has no connection with the so called Arab terrorists of Afghan or with Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilizations’. Even though some of the Hamas activists might have indulged in such activities Yasin was seen as a moderate inside Hamas. He was the one who declared that they were ready for ceasefire in return of the withdrawal of Israel to the 1967 borders. All the movements including Hamas will not be satisfied with no more less than the pre – 1948 Palestine. The refugees of those days infact joined Hamas and the Nationalist movements of Palestine.

The Palestine issue has displaced around five million Palestinians from their houses. The vigorousness and instinct of these people is the fuel of Hamas and other movements. These human rights violation and the critical army interference is the encouragement for suicide bombers. The suicide bombing tactic, even though Hamas is famous for it, Hamas was not the first movement to use such tactics in the fight against Israel.

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin had clarified the facts in an interview that the aim and goal of the present Intifada is to drive out the invasion after 1967. He also emphasized the point that Palestinians are willing for a peaceful nation along with the Jews and Christians. But Jews are in favour of a racial supremacy. Hamas doesn’t want to dominate over others. All human rights must be safeguarded.

The assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yasin was to hide the shame caused to Israel by the Gaza withdrawal of Israeli troops in 2000. Sharon had boasted that the Palestinian resistance will be curbed and broken down to pieces within hundred days. But the second Intifada had unleashed a strong and powerful resistance from all the groups including Fateh and Hamas which forced the Israeli army to withdraw from Gaza.

Sharon knew very well how the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yasin will effect the resistance movement. One of the former Israeli army colonel opined that the Israeli Security Cabinet would have been very sad if Sheikh Yasin had died of a heart attack and he had slipped from their hands. He also added that Israel was searching for a mega attack to strengthen the fight against terror and balance of power. This wish has been totally fulfilled.

Israel’s planned assassination killed many of the Palestinian activists including Rantissi and Yasin. The assassinations were carried out by use of explosive devices set in mobile phones, by the side of roads under cars or triggered from the safety of helicopters or F-16 military aircraft. But even then Hamas leaders including Yasin refused to take even the most basic security measures.

A glimpse of his life

How do you expect someone who has been paralyzed since childhood and fighting various diseases to lead a movement against the biggest tyrant in the world backed by America? Well that was Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, paralyzed below the head and leading his people to fight the illegal occupation of Israel. He was an embodiment of intellectual Jihad in which many of the Islamic movements lag behind.

He led a simple life. On several occasions he turned down the request of Yasir Arafath to build a new home. He said “by working hard on earth I will be rewarded with a nice home in heaven”.

He always listened to the needs of the Palestinians with patience and tried to fulfill their needs. This made him more powerful and acceptable among the masses.

His had a prophecy that Israel would disappear off the map of West Asia within three decades. He held this prophecy on the basis of the verse 20 and 24 of Surah no. 5 of the Holy Quran. Zaki Chehab quotes his words in his book ‘Inside Hamas’ “in 1948, the Palestinian people were defeated and lost large tracts of their country, forcing them into refugee camps abroad. Almost forty years later, in1987, a new phase began with the Intifada. I believe that this generation will take the battle to liberation. Twelve years have passed since then and so, from today, Israel has only twenty eight years left. I may be bad at sums, but I’m good at interpreting the meaning of Qur’anic verses.”(Inside Hamas, Chehab Zaki, pg. 105)

His moderate stand on the Palestine issue can be made out from his words about Taliban. Zaki Chehab quotes him, “How dare they ban woman from contributing in our lives by preventing them from working and teaching? Their ways can only harm the Islamic religion.” (Inside Hamas, Chehab Zaki, pg. 108)

Yassin in his own words

On different occasions in interviews with Al Jazeera, the Palestinian leader highlighted his movement's position on the Arab-Zionist conflict, the peace process and resistance. This is a selection of some of these quotations:

"The Oslo accord, as we see it, is an unjust and a bad agreement that will not fulfill our people's aspirations and goals. In my view, [the Oslo Accords] sowed the seeds of disunity among the Palestinian people and aimed at halting the Intifada against the Zionist army. The agreement has fulfilled no goals. What was implemented of it was too little to meet our aspirations, which made this agreement null and void. No Palestinian was convinced that this path will lead to peace, secure Palestinian territories or establish a Palestinian state.

What I believe is that the Palestinian Authority has no option but to go back to the path of resistance, unify the ranks of the Palestinian people in the face of the Zionist occupation. Up to the moment, the position of Hamas is that jihad is a strategic option that we will not deviate from, unless Israel agrees to a truce.

As I see it, Israel was founded on oppression and the confiscation of land. Any entity which is based on oppression and land grabs is doomed for disintegration. If I am killed there will arise a thousand like me. They [the Zionists] should know that the battle will continue and that our people will hold them to account and make them pay the price of their crimes.

I believe our predicament is tough and calls for sacrifices and patience. But the future is on our side, God willing.”

His last moments

When he woke up, as usual, one hour before the dawn prayers, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin had no idea this was the day he long dreamed of and yearned for. Sheikh Yassin performed his ablution, read some verses from the Holy Qur'an and supplicated for God to liberate Palestine from the Zionist occupation. The wheelchair-bound spiritual leader of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas was then helped by two associates to Mujamah Al-Islami mosque, only 200 meters from his home. There he waited until the dawn Adhan [call for prayer] was raised (around 03:00 GMT).After prayers, worshippers flock to greet him and inquire after his health, as if they were giving him a farewell. The Criminal hand came down to destroy the silence of the dawn prayer. The aircrafts fired three rockets at the paralyzed man. They wanted to put an end to his beliefs. Instead, they rose over the clouds and showered down on those thirsty for water. Despite the thunder or treachery, the good people received the water gladly. Wailing their sirens, ambulances raced to the scene while dumbfounded Palestinians gathered the remains of the nine victims, including the dashed out brains of Sheikh Yassin. Two of the aging leader’s sons, Abdul Hadi and Abdul Hamid, survived the Israeli strike with serious wounds

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin was a fearless brigadier of God’s army. Even when he was alerted that Israeli forces had closed in on him to finish him once and for all he feared only God. Zaki Chehab describes the moments just before his assassination: “Around three hours before, Yassin’s son, Mohammad, had remarked to his father that a reconnaissance drone had been spotted in the sky. ‘We seek martyrdom to Him. We belong to Him and to Him we return,’ was the Sheikh’s reply to his son. As Sheikh Yassin was leaving the mosque after dawn prayers, another of his sons, Abdul Ghani, warned him: ‘Father, there is an assassination plane in the sky.’His philosophical response was: ‘My son, I’m waiting for it’. (Inside Hamas, Chehab Zaki, pg. 121)

For Palestinians, the 66-year-old veteran resistance leader is symbol who left his indelible marks on the history of the Palestinian cause against the Israeli occupation.

The Companion, April 2012,Vol:6, Issue:11

My third published article

Libya In The Throngs Of Change

March 25, 2011

By The Companion

“Blame the era in which we live, don’t blame me. I am going and I will not be coming back. Notice I haven’t cried and no tears have fallen from my eyes. There is no room fro reproach or blame in the ages of treachery in the People’s land. I am not feeling normal and not in my right state. I am travelling and I ask who leads the travel to forget.”

These are part of expression posted by the Tunisian

Youth Mohammed Bouazizi in Face book

addressing his mother before he committed

suicide. The repercussions of his suicide led to the

revolution in Tunisia.

The shock wave of the Egyptian and Tunisian revolution

has now started its tsunami effect in Libya with the

opposition gaining ground. The protests that broke out in

the major cities like Benghazi have now reached the

outskirts of the capital Tripoli. The 42 year regime of

Muammar Al Ghaddafi is under serious threat. He has

resorted to violence to curb the protests which in turn has

resulted in the initiation of a civil-war like situation.

Libya’s strongman Muammar Al Ghaddafi who came to

power through the 1969 coup was indeed a leader of the

people in the initial stages. His determination for Arab

Nationalism which he gave up after two decades won him

many laurels among the Arabs.

Libya’s oil riches and tiny population – Libya has the

world’s ninth largest known deposits and just 6.5 million

people – allowed him to spend money freely on pet causes,

including the PLO and a number of Islamic groups.

Relatively little was spent on his people: a Gallup poll

released last year showed that 29% of young Libyans were

unemployed and 93% described their condition as

‘struggling’ or suffering. Even a large section of the society

is living on an income of less than two dollars at present.

Libya’s eastern part which was the power centre of

King Idris who was toppled by Ghaddafi in 1969, felt the

weight of discrimination under Ghaddafi. The Gadhafa tribe

to which Ghaddafi belongs, residing in Tripoli got much of

the benefits during Ghaddafi rule. So, there is no amusement

that the revolt started from Benghazi, east of Libya.

Human rights issue has also sparked the present

rebellion. The detention of Fathi Tebril, a human rights

lawyer based in Benghazi was the ignition that fuelled the

rebellion. He represented the families of around 1000

inmates who were killed in 1966 by the regime in Tripoli in

Abu Slim prison. The families of the inmates participated

in a planned protest following the detention of Fathi Tebril.

The youth in Libya has been inspired by the dethroning

of the dictatorship in the neighbouring countries. They have

realised that with careful preparations changes in the

traditional and dominant political structures is indeed possible.

Unlike the Tunisian and Egyptian youth the Libyan

youth has resorted to the use of a popular football site to

plan and organize the protests.

Another catalyst that has fuelled the recent uprisings

can be attributed to the offensive policy of the regime

towards its opponents abroad. Libyan expatriates who are

educated and left the country in the 1980’s have been

targeted by the regime for their anti-regime activities. Many

of them have been assassinated by the agents of the regimes

for raising opposition groups. They are playing active role

now in the internet to amass huge support for the Libyan

cause.In this critical juncture Ghaddafi has also alienated

the Libyan clergy who are now part of the revolt. In a recent

statement the network of Ulemas has condemned the use of

violence against the protestors.

Ghaddafi’s Libya or Libya’s Ghaddafi

Col. Muammar Ghaddafi toppled King Idris regime and

seized power on September 1, 1969. He had the help of his

own militia and the backing of other tribes. After the seizure

he never neglected those who supported him in the coup of

1969. Thus they remain loyal to him even today. He has not

allowed them to get strengthened and instead he has kept a

vigilant eye on the revolts inside Libya than the threats

from outside. Moreover his sons and the Al-Gadhafa

tribesmen control their own battalions and hold key

positions in the government.

The above situations defy the possibility whether Libya

can turn out to be the next in the house of cards to fall to the

public unrest. The fall of Muammar Ghaddafi and his regime

will not happen very soon as it occurred in Egypt and

Tunisia. Also the advantage of oil weapon which is the most

volatile one will make Libya less susceptible to international

pressure. The West will have to worry more than Libya if

Ghaddafi decides to shut down his pipelines to the

Mediterranean. It’s difficult to predict how it will end.

Revolutionary council: divided or united

The revolutionary council or the rebels fighting Col.

Muammar Ghaddafi seems to be not going hand in hand on

some issues. They have emphatically opposed foreign

intervention but are seriously considering to ask the

Western powers to strike key-military assets of Ghaddafi’s

army. They have added to this consideration that such airraids

fly under a UN banner.The unified decision on this consideration is yet to

come out. Some have shown their displeasure and

dissatisfaction that such air-strikes carry great risks. One

of the senior council official opined that he’d be happy if

Ghaddafi falls without intervention, but if he is going to

create a massacre his priority will be to save his people.

The council members who agree to the airstrikes want it to

be on a limited scale such as dislodging Ghaddafi from

crucial strongholds and radar stations.

On March 8, the rebels faced a setback in Zawiyah and

Ras Lanuf at the hands of Ghaddafi’s army. The opposition

council members have come out publicly with their

difference of opinions on foreign intervention. The

opposition’s capabilities will be decisive as they are having

troubles with the tribal division which the government plans

to exploit. Abdel Hafidh Ghoga, the deputy leader of the

provisional leadership has requested that international

community to start its duty. The situation seems to be

turning against the rebels as it looks like a mismatched

civil war.

In the initial stages effective weapons and plentiful

supply of ammunition added to the beauty of the

advancement. North Korean and Russian ammunition was

readily available. But these weren’t enough for them to

defend Ras Lanuf, a strategic refinery town.

Another feature of weakness of the rebels is with regards

to the leadership. Specialized branches of Libya’s army who

joined the fight have senior officers who are also seen at

the front. But the rebel soldiers include bankers, policemen

and the unemployed who are very much enthusiastic but

are hapless brigades.

No effective communication is visible between the

opposition groups and no leadership to take care of the

situation. Opposition groups in America, Europe etc. works

for themselves. Attempts to unify them have failed.

America and the Libyan uprising

US has been watching the uprising in the Middle East

and North Africa continuously. US officials have not

reached a decision on what position to be taken in Libya’s

case as they understand the consequences of the political

fallout if US again attacks a Muslim nation. Therefore they

are searching for other options to handle the situation.

US had intervened earlier in 2003 in a deal with

Muammer Ghaddafi to proliferate Libya of nuclear weapons.

The nuclear technology that Libya handed over to the US in

the 2003 deal was very large. There were more than 4000

centrifuges for producing enriched uranium. Also blue

prints for how to build nuclear bomb were also handed

over. Former president George W Bush said that with this

action Libya has resumed normal relations with the world.

Now as the rebels are begging for US strikers on the

Libyan troops and weapons so as to oust Muammar

Ghaddaffi US is considering options other than direct

interventions. The administration official said that

preparation for a passive operation like using signal

jamming aircraft operating in international airspace could

muddle Libyan government communication with its military

units are under way. Another tactic was to air-drop weapons

and supplies to rebels. Other options like inserting small

special operations teams, perhaps just a dozen drops to

assist the rebels. The support for a no-fly zone was voiced

both from the Democratic and the Republican senators.

The NATO’s positions on the use of armed force are not in

union. Russia has called the idea of a no-fly zone

‘superfluous’ and Turkey dismissed NATO military

interventions as unthinkable.

Libyan unrest and the oil world

Oil and petroleum which can be considered the mother

of all commodities is facing a crucial situation following

the unrest unleashed all over the Arab world. Libya which

is rich in oil resource has also not been exampled from the

crisis. The geographical positions of Libya also add to

European market commanded as important advantage over

Middle East oil. Also the country’s oil export pipeline runs

solely across the country’s own territory, making them less

vulnerable to damage.

But these advantages didn’t come to help when the

rebels started advancing in to major oil fields of Libya and

creating restriction on oil production. Several of the

refineries were left stricken by workers too afraid to go to

work. It might take weeks before normal production resume.

One of the main consequences of the Libyan uprising

is the shooting up of oil prices to $100 barrel again. Even

though the heavy weights like Saudi Arabia can make up for

the difference, it cannot be predicted for how long this will

continue. The balance between the supply and demand is

very delicate and it cannot withhold more disruption in

supplies.

Al-Qaeda and the Middle Eastern uprising

Don’t misunderstand that Al-Qaeda has something to

do with the unrest in the Arab regimes. In fact it has nothing

to do with it. Al-Qaeda who called for the downfall of the

Arab puppet regimes through extremism and violence has

faced a major setback. The demonstrators have shown the

world and the Al-Qaeda (if it exists) that autocrats can be

toppled by peaceful and non-violent means. They have also

treated Islam as an afterthought and embraced democracy

which are against the tenants of Al-Qaeda.

The existence and formation of Al-Qaeda needs to be

questioned here especially when Ghaddafi had alleged the

hands of Al-Qaeda behind the appraisals. Al-Qaeda is nowhere

in the picture of the changes happening in the Middle East. A

hypothesis can be this (that certainly require research to

reach any final conclusion) that Al-Qaeda was a creation of

US to serve their interests in the Middle East and when the

matters went out of their hands Al-Qaeda too had to be

submerged so that their interests are not exposed.

My second published translation

INDEPENDENT PALESTINE NATION
Still Far Away

By P.K NIYAS

Palestinians, who have been dreaming of a nation void of invasion for the last six decades, are on the move to consult the UNO for this purpose. The Palestinian Authority heading the PLO and the Fateh group of Mahmoud Abbas have come to realise, even if it is very late, that the discussions with Israel are futile. The hidden agendas of Israel that continues with the settlement activities in the occupied West Bank during the discussions and the silence of the Obama administration against it have come to limelight.

One hundred six countries of the UNO have recognised independent Palestine by now. Nine of the biggest nations based on the population, except America, have recognised Palestine. It should be noted that only 72 nations have recognised Kosovo Republic as an independent nation. But the irony that America, the biggest nation based on population, has recognised Kosovo cannot be ignored.

Likewise, Germany and Japan that hesitate to recognise Palestine have in fact welcomed and recognised the liberation of Kosovo. America that has sought and demanded more nations to recognise Kosovo has put forward some conditions for the liberation of Palestine. The important factor in this condition is that the independence can only be on the basis of the agreement that churns out of the peace processes.

Recently some of the South American nations have come up with the strong demand of an independent Palestine. Brazil was the first one to come forward declaring its support for the pre-1967 Palestine. Argentina, Equador, Bolivia and Uruguay have followed suit. The European Union’s stand on the recognition which hasn’t come up yet will permit the PA to advance the demand of the declaration of an independent nation to the UNO. Britain and France have in fact informed or showed signs of accepting an independent state.

These nations informed earlier that the legal procedures were the blocks for the declaration of the nation. But very lately they have come to realise that this is a political topic. The unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence has resulted in many disputes and polemics. But the International Court of Justice declared last July that there is no international law that is against the declaration of independence of any region. It is a sigh of relief that PLO and its allies, which have been blindly putting their trust in America, and some super powers have come to realise their tricks and deceit. Hamas and other resistance movements highlighted this conspiracy much earlier.

The first declaration of an independent Palestine was made in the PNC (Palestine National Council) held in Algeria in 1988. PLO didn’t have the control over any of the occupied Palestine. The Oslo Agreements of 1993 gave the Palestine Authority of Jericho in West Bank and limited areas of Gaza. Today Gaza is completely under the control of Hamas administration. The influence of Israel in West Bank under Palestine Authority is not visible in Gaza. But the two regions are open to the Israel army to attack, invade and drop bombs through the land and sea at any point of time.

UNO recognised the Palestinians right to an independent nation in 1974. UN had also made it clear, through a resolution in December 2009, that the supreme authority of the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, rests in the hands of the Palestinians. The resolution was supported by 165 nations even though eight countries, including Israel, opposed it and seven countries abstained from the voting. Palestinians have an independent passport which is recognised by 30 countries including America and Britain. But America is not ready to give the consideration of an independent nation to the Palestinians.

Palestinians shouldn’t be allowed to create their own army if the idea of an independent nation is accepted – this is the stand of Israel. America doesn’t have the big heart to gift the Palestinians a nation by annoying Israel. Bush and Obama are much the same in this aspect. Washington has strongly opposed the South American’s recognition of Palestine.

A huge chunk of the Muslims kept the notion that Obama would do something for them when he had come to power and when he addressed the Muslim World at Cairo. But Obama has not been able to move an inch ahead in the ultimate aim of an independent Palestinian nation. PLO and its main faction Fateh are now the accused for working and acting in the interest of America for all these years. Fateh has the tradition of sabotaging the resistance activities of Palestine. Wikileaks documents reveal that two years back Fateh had conspired with Israel in a war against Hamas to destroy it once and for all.

There are groups and individuals inside PLO that do not want to see an independent Palestinian nation. The future neighbours of Palestine such as Egypt and Jordan fear the control of West Bank in the hands of Hamas. Israel Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yelon has highlighted these causes for the opposition of the unilateral declaration of America and Europe. OIC and Arab League have been active in accessing the UN for recognition of an independent Palestinian nation with the help of the recognition of more countries other than American and Zionist allies. If East Timur and Kosovo can be realised, the moves to partition Sudan can be accelerated, the concerned authorities can also show the guts to declare that they will rest only after creating an independent Palestine.

[Translation from Malayalam Weekly Prabodhanam, Vol: 67, No: 31 by Mahboob Thaha]

(Radiance viewsweeklyVol. XLVIII No.46, 2011-02-20)