Israel hopes for rapprochement with fifth Muslim country before Trump exit: minister
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Israel is working towards formalising relations with a fifth Muslim country during US President Donald Trump's term, which ends next month, an Israeli government minister told Ynet TV on Wednesday.
The White House has brokered rapprochements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco this year, with Morocco hosting an Israeli-US delegation on Tuesday to flesh out the upgrade in relations.
Asked if a fifth country could sign up before Trump steps down on January 20, Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis told Ynet TV: “We are working in that direction.”
“There will be an American announcement about another country that is going public with the normalisation of relations with Israel and, in essence, with the infrastructure for an accord — a peace accord,” he said.
Editorial: After Morocco, yet more Arab states may recognise Israel while paying lip service to Palestine
He declined to name the country but said there were two main candidates. One is in the Gulf, he said, giving Oman as a possibility while adding that Saudi Arabia is not.
The other candidate, further to the east, is a “Muslim country that is not small” but is not Pakistan, Akunis said.
Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country, said last week it would not recognise Israel as long as Palestinian statehood demands remain unmet.
Palestinians fear the normalisation of ties with Israel by Arab states will weaken a long-standing pan-Arab position calling for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory and acceptance of Palestinian statehood in return for normal relations with Arab countries.
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Comments (114) Closed
Dec 23, 2020 05:11pm
Thy name is BANGLADESH!!!
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Dec 23, 2020 05:14pm
Looks like Pak’s best friend in Far East is likely to ditch them. Hmm
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Dec 23, 2020 05:20pm
Hahaha Malaysia...Only Asia
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Dec 23, 2020 05:22pm
Pakistan should actively consider on UAE lines.
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Dec 23, 2020 05:22pm
To the east.....Malaysia?
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Dec 23, 2020 05:23pm
Muslim world is changing, even UAE Islamic authorities issued Fatwa .allowing use of Pork based Vaccine today for covid-19.
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Dec 23, 2020 05:24pm
Perhaps Bangladesh?
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Dec 23, 2020 05:26pm
Even Israel give shut up call to Shah Shb., now get over with diversion tactics and focus on country or go home, then go jail for fail policies.
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Dec 23, 2020 05:37pm
If it is not Pakistan or Indonesia, it has to be either Bangladesh or Malaysia.
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Dec 23, 2020 05:37pm
Amazing, what money and financial aid in return of recognising Isreal can do, ignoring the Palistinian struggle for self interests. This is because, Muslim countries are NOT united.
(Note: I have been advocating my impartial views for over 4 years against injustice, inequality, corruption, oppression and nepotism without supporting any of the political parties. My family, country and people's well-being are far more important to me than anything else. Please be aware of fake IDs!).
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Dec 23, 2020 05:39pm
Bangladesh is under Indian patronage and this is the next nation to recognise Israel.
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Dec 23, 2020 05:41pm
Definitely it is not Pakistan. Isreal knows that if Pakistan tries to get connected with Isreal, the first word from Pakistan will be please give loan.
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Dec 23, 2020 05:44pm
Malaysia or Bangladesh, then. Indonesia is too large to be referred to as "not small."
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Dec 23, 2020 05:51pm
Pakistan is a sore loser in all this.
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Dec 23, 2020 05:51pm
Pakistan the 5th ?
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Dec 23, 2020 05:55pm
Brunei is a possibility
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Dec 23, 2020 05:57pm
Pakistan should recognise israel
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Dec 23, 2020 05:58pm
It will be interesting if the country is BD.
If former east recognizes then no need to bother with west.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:00pm
My sources say Bangladesh is in talk with the US.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:12pm
All this is futile after Jo Biden takes office
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Dec 23, 2020 06:13pm
If Israel offer 5 billions USD on loan at minimum interest Pakistan may recognise
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Dec 23, 2020 06:14pm
It could be Kuwait.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:15pm
My money is on Bangladesh.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:21pm
Pakistan missed the golden opportunity. Now Bangladesh should recognize Israel and be the leading Muslim nation in South Asia.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:22pm
@Venkataraman Iyer, "If Israel offer 5 billions USD on loan at minimum interest Pakistan may recognise" 50.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:23pm
The earthshaking coup is Maldives
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Dec 23, 2020 06:33pm
it's an open secret that the US under Trump on behalf of israel (the US baby) steam rolled those arab states he could to clear the way for a greater israel.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:41pm
Another shocking news for Israel haters and loan takers.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:41pm
Love is winning and hate is losing... What a time to be alive!!
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Dec 23, 2020 06:42pm
What if all other Muslim countries recognize Israel one by one and only pakistan remains left?
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Dec 23, 2020 06:44pm
Again very Optimistic news coming from Gulf ... This will leads to more economic & political stability of the region...
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Dec 23, 2020 06:48pm
Oman is more likely than the Saudis to sign on to the blackmail by Trump to join the me-too Israeli club.
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Dec 23, 2020 06:53pm
Brunei
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Dec 23, 2020 06:53pm
Pakistan is just wasting time
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Dec 23, 2020 06:56pm
Bangladesh or Maldives, who else then?
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Dec 23, 2020 06:57pm
You sound disappointed that it's not Pakistan!
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Dec 23, 2020 06:59pm
My guess would be Bangladesh.
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Dec 23, 2020 07:04pm
Brunei or Bangladesh.
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Dec 23, 2020 07:11pm
Situation vacant at graveyard of empires.
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Dec 23, 2020 07:13pm
@T K in India ,
Pakistan's principle stance remains - establishment of a separate Palestinian State comes first. All nations can then recognise Israel!
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Dec 23, 2020 07:16pm
@Babu, agreed. Pakistan should also recognize Israel. If the Arabs are making peace with them why can't we?
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Dec 23, 2020 07:17pm
It could be Afghanistan
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Dec 23, 2020 07:17pm
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani, Amazing what disconnecting from religion can do to world peace and prosperity
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Dec 23, 2020 07:24pm
So much self importance. Pak will be last.
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Dec 23, 2020 07:36pm
Possibly, Oman or Bangladesh! The latter is is after all under India's influence !
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Dec 23, 2020 07:38pm
Obviously, because Pakistan is both -small and insignificant (unimportant)
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Dec 23, 2020 07:40pm
@Mahmood, That's exactly right.. But it's not Blackmail.. Mostly Gulf countries wants to make Good relationship with Israel, but they hesitate.. Because of Geo politics...
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Dec 23, 2020 07:40pm
Can we get a loan from Israel if we recognise?
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Dec 23, 2020 07:42pm
Pakistan is ready only waiting for the right price.
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Dec 23, 2020 07:47pm
Israel is reaching out to Muslim countries but not to Pakistan
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Dec 23, 2020 07:54pm
@Kashif Rehan, yes, with the blessings of India
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Dec 23, 2020 08:06pm
Iron brother also recognizes it. Turkey also recognizes it. Time to boycott?
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Dec 23, 2020 08:11pm
As of December 2020, 164 of the other 192 UN member states recognize Israel. 28 UN member states do not recognize Israel. If 2 more starts recognizing then only 26 will remain. Not very significant number. Anyway it does not mean much, countries can live without recognition. Taiwan is recognized only by 15 still it gets by :)
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Dec 23, 2020 08:16pm
@AAA, Bhutan and Palau are countries but no significance on world stage : What counts is Turkey with large muscles in NATO; Pakistan with Nukes and quite large land sea and air power: Iran with gas ; oil and muscle: Iraq with oil ; Hisbullah with borderlands and lethal capacity. Turkey relations with Israel but pro Palestine: Saudi don’t recognize Israel but very pro. Indonesian statement favorable to Palestine. In my opinion recognition not vital importance: But ground reality is!
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Dec 23, 2020 08:17pm
I think they are dreaming / that it will be IRAN!
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Dec 23, 2020 08:18pm
Pakistan government and Pakistani nation has taken a principled stand. No recognition of Israel until Palestinian issue is resolved and we are sticking to it. We are not interested in aid or loans. We want Palestinian state and return of all the occupied territories by Israel.
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Dec 23, 2020 08:20pm
@Sam Shinde, It can’t be Pakistan as Israel is in military joints with India against Pakistan. Recently, Pakistan shot down two military jets in Kashmir, one was Indian and the other was Israeli-US. The other reason is that Israel is 2nd largest weapon supplier to India.
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Dec 23, 2020 08:21pm
To recognize another country, you don't need to be their friend or enemy. You do it for several reasons - trade, bring in new technology, and improvements, learn best practices, get finished items rather than starting from zero. Mostly it's for selfish purpose but for a good cause - to make your nation a better place to live in. Turkey and China already have a long-standing relationship with Israel - it's time for Pakistan to think what it good for Pakistan first.
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Dec 23, 2020 08:35pm
@Hwh, what a statement.. bangladesh
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Dec 23, 2020 08:37pm
@Insane, "Iron brother also recognizes it. Turkey also recognizes it. Time to boycott?" Does Israel want or not?
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Dec 23, 2020 08:39pm
@Critic , “ All this is futile after Jo Biden takes office”
Why is it futile? Do you think that the recognition once granted will be reversed?
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Dec 23, 2020 08:43pm
Whichever country? Will be a winner for sure.
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Dec 23, 2020 08:45pm
@Pakistani Ahmad Dar Chodhary, "Israel is reaching out to Muslim countries but not to Pakistan" They know the price, apparently it has to be negotiated indirectly.
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Dec 23, 2020 09:03pm
pakistan getting isolated
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Dec 23, 2020 09:32pm
Malaysia.
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Dec 23, 2020 09:35pm
It maybe Afghanistan
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Dec 23, 2020 09:35pm
Or Bangladesh
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Dec 23, 2020 09:45pm
@raheel, You are not aware that BD has a larger GDP & forex reserves than Pakistan. BD & Bhutan command more respect internationally than a nuclear Pakistan. By 2050 BD will have twice the GDP of Pakistan.
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Dec 23, 2020 09:57pm
Bangladesh or Malaysia
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Dec 23, 2020 09:58pm
Correction,Before Trump and Netanhu EXIT!
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Dec 23, 2020 09:59pm
@Babu, I fully agree
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Dec 23, 2020 10:01pm
@M. Emad, I wish
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Dec 23, 2020 10:02pm
Look at the history, only country always stood by Pakistan are Iran and Turkey rest are opportunistic. They are trying to save “ unelected” governments and afraid of consequences like Syria, Libya or Yemen!
Trump said it few times “ kings won’t survive one week with out our help”!
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Dec 23, 2020 10:02pm
@Critic , not at all. No new US government will undo the good work of a previous regime.
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Dec 23, 2020 10:08pm
@Champoo, all the more reason for Pakistan to make friends with both Israel and India. Finish off war.
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Dec 23, 2020 10:09pm
@T K in India , good advice.
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Dec 23, 2020 10:15pm
most guesses might be wrong, it might be Indonesia
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Dec 23, 2020 10:20pm
Bangladesh. No recognition of Israel means no more US market to sell clothing made in Bang.
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Dec 23, 2020 10:26pm
@Critic , Joe Biden may keep Israel at a distance, like Pres.Obama did. However, Joe Biden is unlikely to ask other countries to de-recognize Israel.
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Dec 23, 2020 10:34pm
Bangladesh as it is hungry for Money!
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Dec 23, 2020 10:40pm
It is Bangladesh-with 100% guaranteed.
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Dec 23, 2020 10:40pm
@Hwh, have you seen world biggest barrower, that is incredible India
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Dec 23, 2020 10:49pm
Pakistan isolated due to poor foreign policy
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Dec 23, 2020 11:00pm
It's down to whether your public wants it, which matters in a democracy. If you are a dictatorship then your public doesn't have a voice and you can make friends with anyone. I personally don't think the Bangladesh public is ready, let's see.
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Dec 23, 2020 11:10pm
@Babu, no dont say that never
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Dec 23, 2020 11:16pm
if I have to bet, I will bet on Bangladesh. Malaysia or Afghanistan will not.
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Dec 23, 2020 11:21pm
@Love love,
The hate of Israel will not win in the end. let's see how long these imbeciles last after their betrayal.
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Dec 23, 2020 11:26pm
@Jaya, we always pray for Bangladesh and other our neighbor countries to be prosper and successful. We cannot succeed unless we all respect our neighbors and work together for the betterment of humanity!
“ Me first” can only bring miseries not success for anyone.
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Dec 23, 2020 11:27pm
That Indian colony known officially as Bangladesh?
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Dec 23, 2020 11:35pm
It is clearly Bangladesh. Pakistanis are very proud nation who fought for freedom with pride under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam.
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Dec 23, 2020 11:47pm
It will be one of central asian countries
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Dec 24, 2020 12:36am
Israel has a very effective broker / agent.....I wounder what they are paying him.
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Dec 24, 2020 01:31am
What else is called height of shameless coercion, ruthless intimidation, dire threats, spineless extortion and barbaric blackmailing?
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Dec 24, 2020 02:34am
@Dipak, technically the entire middleeast (except north Africa) is located in Asia. But when Israel says to the East it can only be countries in East Asia and Kuwait is not in the east.. It's in the gulf region and they don't need Kuwait on board.
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Dec 24, 2020 02:38am
@Ifti Malik,
You want to be friend's with a country where Muslims are killed for eating beef
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Dec 24, 2020 02:45am
Very logical, high time Pakistan also woke up to reality and improved its relations with India and Israel. War and warmongers no longer have any place in the post-Covid 19 world. Humanity must come together now.
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Dec 24, 2020 03:13am
Maldives.
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Dec 24, 2020 03:23am
Seems Pakistan is isolated
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Dec 24, 2020 04:01am
Maldives perhaps, since the country can get more tourists from Israel.
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Dec 24, 2020 04:38am
Bangladesh.
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Dec 24, 2020 05:30am
There is something like justice , money will come and go , the voices from across the border talk about the Dollar , but there is something like peace with justice , there cannot be peace without justice , is there no one to speak for the Palestinian rights , their rights to be acknowledged as a independent nation on their land .
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Dec 24, 2020 05:34am
This situation would not have risen if Iran had shown leadership and protected the weak Arab states instead of embarking on its own colonial enterprise. Recognising Israel would be recognising it as an hegemonic terrorist militarised entity, a natural ally of Maha Bharat.
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Dec 24, 2020 05:52am
Brunei or Bangladesh.
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Dec 24, 2020 06:15am
Is it Afghanistan?
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Dec 24, 2020 06:17am
Rejected.
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Dec 24, 2020 06:27am
They have been sweetening their offers and many people ignorant of history took the bait, but Pakistan is not for sale.
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Dec 24, 2020 06:30am
"Israel hopes for rapprochement with fifth Muslim country before Trump exit: minister"
Indeed, Israel is the only country that benefited the most during Trump era; great return on investment.
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Dec 24, 2020 07:11am
It's Bangladesh! Definitely India has influenced!
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Dec 24, 2020 07:18am
If it's Bangladesh; it won't be such a big disaster as Malayasia would be. That would be breath taking. Though either one would hurt the Palsetinians a lot. They should see the writing on the wall and make a reasonable and honorable compromise with Israel before they are left all alone. It is clear that the Muslim Ummah does not really care about their cause.
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Dec 24, 2020 07:20am
Palestinians have unrealistic expectations and demands and the Arabs are getting itred of it. They can not keep supporting the Palestinians when they themsleves can not get their own act together and Arabs have to pay the price for supporting a friend who does not listen to them. Arabs do not want to pay the price of supporting Pakestine any more.
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Dec 24, 2020 09:54am
@Shakeel Ahmad, Have you seen India’s foreign exchange reserves? Guess not.
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Dec 24, 2020 12:50pm
It can be Qatar for betterment of relations with GCC neighbours. Positives signs already showing up.
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Dec 24, 2020 02:28pm
It’s maldives! I mean the island is dependent majoritarily on foreign tourism, how could they not?!
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Dec 24, 2020 04:23pm
Why are we surprised. All this has been prophesied in the hadith. We are witnessing the destruction of the Arabs and despair and confusion of the Muslims.
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