LONDON: “The United Nations’ decision for partitioning Palestine has been an eye-opener to us. It has shown that Arabs have been totally wrong in expecting justice from the West. Our pleadings with Britain and America proved in vain. Now it is time we should turn to the East: we must stand with the Muslim world,” declared Musa Bey Alami, who single-handedly organised the Arab Information Offices in the entire Western Hemisphere, in an interview to Dawn this morning [Dec 2].

Musa Bey, middle-aged, tall and well-built, spoke more in sorrow than bitterness. “Palestine may well prove to be a blessing in disguise: it may unite the Islamic world,” he said hopefully. Holy places in Palestine, such as Masjid Aqsa, were the concern of the entire Islamic world than merely of the Arabs. “We just happen to be there as its custodians, but they belong to the Muslims the world over.” Musa Bey admitted that the Arabs had too long played the Western game of nationalism, but they now realised it was all false. “Today,” he [said], “the existence of the Islamic world is in danger… . Let every Muslim … remember that disunity at this moment … will ruin us.” — Dawn London office

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2022