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WHEN a number of Arab countries — led by the UAE — established ties with Israel last year under the so-called Abraham Accords, the million-dollar question was (and remains) when Riyadh would establish links with Tel Aviv.
There has been speculation in the media regarding secret meetings, with one report saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the northern Saudi region of Neom last November. Riyadh flatly denied the meeting took place, though Saudi officials, including the all-powerful crown prince, have softened their tone towards the Jewish state. In the latest indication that attitudes are changing, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan recently told CNN that normalisation with Israel would bring “tremendous benefit to the region”. In the same breath he added that Saudi-Israel ties depended on the establishment of a Palestinian state — Riyadh’s standard line.
Clearly, efforts are afoot to establish ties, yet the ‘thorny’ question of Palestine and its people stands in the way. The fact is that there are quite a few common denominators between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Primarily, they are both members of the US-led geopolitical bloc, while both states share great animus towards Iran — a feeling reciprocated by the Islamic Republic. However, while it was relatively easy for the UAE and Bahrain to make public their ties with Israel, Saudi Arabia faces a tougher challenge, as it hosts Islam’s holiest sites. Therefore, if it openly courts Israel, it will be seen as ‘betraying’ the Palestine cause.
The fact is that the Arab states that have rushed to establish ties with Israel had already ditched Palestine. The peace process is practically dead while the two-state solution is in intensive care, repeatedly battered by a rapacious and unforgiving Israeli establishment that is unwilling to see a viable Palestinian state, non-starters like Donald Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ notwithstanding. In such a scenario, any Muslim state that establishes relations with Israel has pretty much abandoned Palestine.
Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2021
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Comments (37) Closed
Apr 05, 2021 09:36am
"any Muslim state that establishes relations with Israel has pretty much abandoned Palestine."
Be careful, you will have to eat your words when IK does a U-turn.
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Apr 05, 2021 09:36am
So the question is: do Israelis love it's surrounding Arabs? I think we all know the answer.
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Apr 05, 2021 09:50am
The Palestine issue has been eclipsed by major geopolitical and geo-economic changes. The GCC petrodollars that kept the Palestinian issue alive is no more. GCC countries are hurriedly diversifying from oil and are partnering with economic powerhouse countries, like Israel, to survive the new economic onslaught. It's only a matter of time before KSA joins in. Palestinians have a choice, they can either follow GCC's example and survive or drive their territories into poverty and bankruptcy.
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Apr 05, 2021 12:25pm
The Palestinians were and are a wronged people. Even when the ideology of Zionism came into being in the mid 1800s. the Turkish Ottoman empire sold land to wealthy Jews of Europe who laid foundation for what later came to be known as the state of Israel
The Jews had their theology entangled with Christian and Islamic theolgoies and have suffered horrific indignities under both Muslims and Christians.They had earlier suffered under Greek and Roman rule as wel.
Time to ponder over injustices
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Apr 05, 2021 12:38pm
Pakistan is not an Arab country. I think that it will benefit us by establishing relations with Israel.
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Apr 05, 2021 12:43pm
Palestinians are corrupt and dishonest people from my own personal experience. Those that I met around the world have been the worst people i have ever met. Also, just like Pakistan is only Islamic by name, so are the Arabs and Turks. Why is anyone shocked that money and power is more important to people?
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Apr 05, 2021 12:47pm
It's geopolitics stupid.. Same reason why Pakistan have abandoned Uighur's issue and have convinently forgotten that millions of Muslims have been forced into camps.
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Apr 05, 2021 12:49pm
Any true Muslim would never have any sort of relation with that terrorist state. Every Muslim knows the fate of Israel so those who wish to follow the same fate please join them.
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Apr 05, 2021 12:57pm
Arab States tried vigorously for a solution for many decades through non communication with Israel . Nothing happened. If anyone thinks,Arab States would always stay emotional about Palistine,ignoring their own citizens/residents interests-he/it s living in a foolś paradise.
Patriotism /love of ur own land&its people is supreme most. Arab States made rational,logical& patriotic decision as Israel is technologically developed country& its good for Arab people.
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Apr 05, 2021 12:57pm
Arab States tried vigorously for a solution for many decades through non communication with Israel . Nothing happened. If anyone thinks,Arab States would always stay emotional about Palistine,ignoring their own citizens/residents interests-he/it s living in a foolś paradise.
Patriotism /love of ur own land&its people is supreme most. Arab States made rational,logical& patriotic decision as Israel is technologically developed country& its good for Arab people.
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Apr 05, 2021 12:58pm
The Arab countries are powerless and selfish.
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Apr 05, 2021 04:11pm
One-state solution is the only real solution.
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Apr 05, 2021 04:12pm
What you mean, the israelis should leave their own land and go as refugees somewhere? Refugee business is Pakistanis portfolio, going everywhere as refugees by hiding there nationality.
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Apr 05, 2021 04:12pm
American proxy an apartheid state of Israel has become most powerful state militarily, Arab autocrats in spite of Petro Dollar power have become subservient to Israel.
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Apr 05, 2021 04:34pm
Great editorial. Next you will suggest all Muslim states with diplomatic relations with China have abandoned Uyghurs.
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Apr 05, 2021 04:34pm
The only reason these Arabs are accepting Israel is because they want American help to keep their monarchies and hedonistic lifestyles alive.
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Apr 05, 2021 06:42pm
In 2002, King Abdullah started Arab Peace Initiative, in an attempt to make peace with Israel. The plan called for Israel to cede almost the entirety of the Occupied Territories to the Palestinian Authority and to recognize the PA's sovereignty. In exchange, Abdullah offered unprecedented concessions, including the ending of the Arab-Israeli conflict, a peace treaty with Israel, recognition of the state of Israel and the establishment of "normal relations" between Arab states and Israel.
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Apr 05, 2021 06:46pm
@Truth, Pakistan has abandoned even it's own Karachiites, leaving them living in garbage.
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Apr 05, 2021 07:02pm
The region has been the home of the Israelites for thousands of years. On another note, ever wonder why Arab, N. African, and Af-Pak Muslims fleeing war, poverty and poor governance, don't want to go to 'brotherly' Arab countries? You'd think they would.
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Apr 05, 2021 07:05pm
There are over 50 Islamic countries including more than a dozen Arab countries, but there is only one Jewish state. Would it be a reasonable thing for these islamic countries to accommodate the Palestinians in the name of peace. Jordan is essentially a Palestinian state; can they be helped by others to accept more Palestinians as its citizens..People are always passionate about their “homeland” and understandably so. But do you see any other viable option? Just something to think about.
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Apr 05, 2021 07:07pm
The World is tired of waiting for Palestine to get it's act together. They can't resolve their own internal conflicts and expect the World to resolve their conflict with Israel. Over the yrs there have been many reasonable compromises suggested but lack of a leadership in Palestine has resulted in no progress.
Arabs have more influence on Israel when they are talking/trading than acting like Pakistan and ignoring.
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Apr 05, 2021 07:58pm
Part of the reasons Arabs gave up on Palestine is because of the infighting within Palestine for leadership and power. What happened to the billions in aid given to Palestine so far. The Arabs are fed up. There was a golden moment for Palestine, but that moment is gong long ago.
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Apr 05, 2021 07:59pm
What is the big deal if palestine is given up. The whole world should be hostage to this old issue due to emotions. Time to Move ON
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Apr 05, 2021 07:59pm
Palestinians may not get their homeland but we will never let Kashmiri people down , we will help in their freedom struggle with our blood and money from Hindu India so that they are free to join Pakistan.
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Apr 05, 2021 08:12pm
It's time to move forward and stop this senseless bigotry. Accept that Israel is a country and that will not change.
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Apr 05, 2021 08:25pm
@Amjad, And yet, you don't say anything about China which is killing muslims by the thousands. The west is the only group that has condemned the Chinese about their treatment.
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Apr 05, 2021 11:18pm
A lost and unwanted cause.
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Apr 05, 2021 11:19pm
@Sikander Arshad, It will take 4 more decades or at least one more generation to realize this. Israel doesn't give visas to enemy nationalities and religious haters.
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Apr 05, 2021 11:46pm
The Palestinians Authorities are quite comfortable these days with Israel. No Muslim State give more money to Palestinians Authorities than Israel. Now coming to bilateral relations with Israel, every nation is free to have ties with Israel in bilateral interests.
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Apr 06, 2021 01:16am
Once again comments I made earlier on are not published . The history shown here is dishonest unless you tell us about Arafat and the generous and several peace plans proposed to him by Israel. At this rate with this censorship and dishonesty you will never get the support for peace in South Asia.
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Apr 06, 2021 01:39am
Pakistan should recognize Israel only if it reverts back to pre May 14, 1948 borders and changes its name back to Palestine and lets all Palestinians who were displaced return back to their land.
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Apr 06, 2021 01:44am
The Arab Ummah doesn't care what an editorial in a Pakistani online newspaper thinks. Who wrote this? No name? Reality is that the states have not exactly ditched Palestine. Maybe the author can look up the many Palestinians living good lives in Saudi Arabia. Even in Jordan they are given special treatment and living well. This is politics. Just like when our Pakistani government allies itself with Saudi Arabia and China knowing their human rights violations against Yemeni, Uighur Muslims.
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Apr 06, 2021 01:46am
Given the history of displacement and massacres that took place during Partition, it would seem that Pakistan, with no direct relationship with Israel nor beneficial rewards from its refusal to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, would be well placed to understand the difficulties of that region yet far better off economically by normalizing relations with Israel and engaging in international commerce with them.
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Apr 06, 2021 01:52am
Saudi have recognised Israel except on paper. They are taking to them for years. They don't care about palestine. Saudi will do what their masters the usa ake them to do. They are only in power because of the usa.
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Apr 06, 2021 02:40am
@Amjad, What about the bonhomie between China and Pakistan? There is no doubt that Uighurs and being slaughtered by the Chinese Hans. Look at yourself first.
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Apr 06, 2021 02:41am
Can Pakistan cut relation those countries who has diplomatic relation with Israel?
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Apr 06, 2021 08:12am
We do not hear this mythical concept of Muslim state from any other except Pakistan. Everyday main focus is on Muslim national identity which has failed throughout history
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