Jamal Zweid

Bahraini Author

Published on 28/9/2107 in Omani Shabiba Newspaper

A few years ago, we used to mock the condemnation and denunciation statements issued by our Arab and Muslim countries at times of massacres and slaughter committed in some Muslim countries in general, and Palestine, fortunate at the time to be addressed as ‘occupied, in particular. I believe all peoples perceived these statements, back then, as the helpless’ only possible thing to do because nothing could be done that would compare to the horridness of the crimes.

Now, however, a political shift has occurred due to which such statements and the word ‘occupied’ disappeared. ‘Israel’ became a reality that must be welcomed and considered as an existing state that can be visited, normalized with and protected from terrorists and extremist who see ‘Israel’ only as a tumor that must be dissected.

I remember when we were children, reporters on TV would ask children, “Why do you hate Israel? Why do you support Jihad – before that word was uprooted from the dictionary – against it?” One of the best answers than was, “Would you love a thief who stole and took over your house, and kicked everyone inside out?”

Of course, the thief has not changed. The house remains stolen. However, its owners have forgotten that their home has been taken from them, and started discussing its retrieval as a logical right, and inviting the thief to accept living with them at their stolen house!

Last week in New York a true state of humility and loss was spotted when some Arab leaders and representatives tried to force ‘Israel’ to accept their initiatives, and earlier when they agreed to sit together and have a dialogue about living with the Palestinians and achieving peace at the Palestinians’ stolen home. Perhaps the clearest case of begging was when the Palestinian President presented his efforts to make ‘Israel’ accept negotiations, his initiatives, the UN Security Council resolutions and his plea to the UN. All which led him to wondering: After all these efforts and attempts, where do we go?

A good response to his question would be: to Allah. Let’s go to Allah. He, alone, is the only One Who humiliated the Caesars, pharaohs, and emperors of the past. Continuing to beg countries and organizations in the east and the west, exerting all these efforts, and paying all that money will not return a stolen home nor will it compensate for the spilled blood.

It is unfortunate that resisting the occupation, which used to be a source of pride and dignity, has become a synonym to ‘terrorism’ along with other terms that have been limited to our great Islam in this era of defeat. No one now accepts saying that the Palestinians defend their occupied lands and abused holy sites, or saying that Palestinians’ retaliation is only natural to a people whose father, mother, or family member was killed. No one accepts saying that the Palestinians defend their honor. That has become ‘terrorism’, an act which must be condemned and prevented. This is similar to the Buddhists who burn Muslims in Burma alive, and displace tens of thousands in the deserts and seas. These – o – do not fit the profile of ‘terrorism’.

We had hoped that in the UN General Assembly anyone – anyone – would condemn the double-standard distinctions, definitions, and identification of terrorism which have excluded murderers, killers, butchers, war criminals and occupation from all religions and races. However, instead, US President Trump, head of the ceremony, declared it clearly when he said they fought ISLAMIC terrorism!

Reminder: In our glorified Islamic history it has been said that after the Crusaders had occupied Al-Quds, the leader Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi, as recorded by historians, acted like a mother whose child had died. He moved around the people encouraging them to participate in Jihad and calling, ‘O, Islam’. He also once said, “How can I celebrate or eat or sleep peacefully when Bayt Al-Maqdis is in the hands of the Crusaders?”!