Israel Challenges Western Myths On Human Rights – Will They Accept?

Israel’s lethal attack on Gaza aid flotilla on 31st of May has once again put Israel in the realm of Zionist pugnacity that has really shaken the global conscience on human rights. Like such other episodes earlier, this action on the high seas against unarmed activists that were taking much needed aid to besieged Palestinians of Gaza, challenges the Western myths on their human rights beliefs. Is it the time that the West wakes up to the Israeli defiance of international laws or does its conscience awaits more deaths and destruction at its hands before it can be dared to stop? Is it the time that Israel is made accountable for gruesome murders of peace activists aboard the aid flotilla? May be they will since a few Westerners were also killed in the raid.

The dark episode might make them realize the true face of Israel. They had seen it earlier in January last when Israel mercilessly bombed Gaza, they had seen it in December 2008 Israeli Operation Cast Lead (1400 Palestinians dead), its intransigence in expanding Israeli settlements in captured areas, its usage of British and Australian passports in killing of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. These faces are well known by Palestinians as they see them daily but others have to be naïve not to recognize them.

The dastardly attack created diplomatic crises around the world. The Muslims strongly condemned the brazen attack whereas US, and Europe cautiously regretted it. India, following the global lead, also reluctantly condemned the incident. Amongst Israel’s Muslim friends Egypt condemned the excessive and unjustified use of force while Jordan was contented in handing in a press note. Israel defended its ferocious attack in the name of ‘self defense’ against non armed activists.

Across the world tens of thousands protested on the streets to show their anger and frustration of Israeli intransigence. At places the protestors were so enraged that they burnt effigies of Israeli leaders and their international supporters. The incident once again proved global helplessness to contain Israel as the latter focuses once again on US to head off the clamor over aid flotilla attack. It faced isolation internationally, though momentarily, as the world demanded a globally acceptable inquiry into the incident. Elsewhere in Geneva, the 47-member UN Human Rights Council was due to hold a meeting to discuss appointment of an international fact finding mission. In New York an emergency session of the UN Security Council called for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation that would satisfy international standards. Does the UNSC decision once again appear to buy out time to defuse the existing outrage and anger over the aid flotilla attack by Israelis and bail the latter out of the quagmire? It is still to be seen.

It was quite amazing to observe the news black out that Israel managed and exercised strong control over the Western media wherein only the Israeli spokes persons dominated the air waves over the international incident. The Western media is increasingly fitting itself in the equations of power wherein they appear perform the duties of stenographers to the dictates of global media tycoons most of which happen to be Israelis. The US and other global media stations and publications like BBC, CNN, Time and Newsweek sometimes make it so obvious. The mere fact that Israeli government approved and send its commandos to attack the ship, whatever circumstances of the confrontation arose; it is surely a big war crime. The fact that 1.5 million ordinary Palestinians residing in the Gaza strip are facing starvation for the past four years due to the Israel’s illegal blockade of the sea routes to Gaza is a fit case for crime against humanity.

Why did the activists decide to go to Gaza and help their fellow beings in need? It was due to the fact that world conscience over Israeli atrocities still sleeps. It was because their leaders and politicians had failed their expectations over the right causes. The biggest ally, the God Father of Israel the United States found itself contended in saying that, ‘the Obama administration was working to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragedy’. No outright condemnation was made just the regret. Seeing the previous US stances over Israeli state terrorism, the international community does not perceive any change in the US approach to the Israel. Had it been a Muslim country US would have taken the decision from the UNSC for invading that country in the name of state terrorism. Media to the likes of CNN, FOX, TIME and NEWSWEEK would have taken out special supplements crying foul all over it. Israeli state terrorism, the words are just not to be found by the US and the West in any dictionary or document. The West has been subjugated completely by the Israeli dictums? The West, India, the advanced and developed nations have learnt to walk hand in hand with Israel on the issues of barbaric killing of Arabs as the Israeli generations and generations learn to grow up through killing of Arabs.

As Israel routinely invests in Western and European countries heavily, especially in the US, it therefore relies on them heavily also to cover its terrorism. If not nailed, Israel one day will take the region down with it. Today it were international waters, tomorrow it can be anywhere deep inside oceans and even the sovereign countries. Israel will continue to follow the path of destruction and mayhem till the time it is made to pay for its state terrorism and crimes. But then who can bell the cat? Will it be the community that calls for sanctity in preserving international laws and human rights? You can draw your own conclusions as no algebra is involved in here. Meantime Israel will take full advantage of US administrations US Congressional elections this November and force the administration not to support any global action and censure for its unbelievable and completely wild action. Let’s see if the Western morals on the issue take priority over routine election campaign in the US.

Having said that all, the final word, Turks have emerged as a strong Muslim nation after the Israel attack. It lost precious Turkish lives at the hands of Israelis. The collective response and actions at diplomatic levels of the Turks and their government on Israeli terrorism at high seas was matchless. The peaceful street protests that followed the incident reflect their ego, the pride and the unity on national security issues. Pakistan is proud to be a friend of Turkey and joins them in their moment of grief with utmost love and sincerity.

By: Bassam Javed