Recognition Campaign for Israel
By Syed M Tariq Pirzada

THE late king Fahd of Saudi Arabia had a wish to offer a prayer in Al-Quds Al-Sharif (occupied Jerusalem), a city that became Qiblat-ul-Awwal, the first direction of Muslims, in prayers, following the inception of Islam.

The King died on August 1, and so did millions of Muslims, since the 67 Arab-Israeli war as they watched, while they lived, their dream dismembered by Israel’s continuing occupation of their holy city—an occupation, accomplished, of course, about four decades ago, with the overt assistance of the entire West.

The Arab capitulation began, however, not with their defeat in June 67, but in the 73 Arab-Israeli war, with president Saddat contending that he could fight the Israelis, but not the might of a super power, the United States.

Similarly, Pakistan, also caved in to India, not in 65 war, but in 71 when it failed to defend it’s ideology on Dec 16. Since the 1971 debacles , the capitulation in wars has further degenerated into capitulation on broader security policies, and wider Islamic interests. Leaderships have emerged that are compromising on the matters of faith, and, the lost territories.

Finding ways to recognize Israel, the forgiven and the forgotten occupier of Al-Quds and Palestine has become, across the board, a priority foreign policy objective in the Muslim capitals.

Like the Arabs, Pakistan’s highway to Israel is profiled in the president’s policy — the recognition of the Jewish State. Guiding his campaign are the following: The presumption is that such a policy shall help soften the image of Pakistan as a moderate progressive state, and that embracing Israel — formal recognition, and diplomatic ties — shall convince the West that Pakistan is not, in any way, opposed to the vital security interests of the US-led West, presently represented by Israel, in the heart of Muslim mainland.

Thus, Israel’s recognition could help eliminate Western hostility towards Pakistan, and consequently, fuel economic growth at home.

Regardless of how well intentioned the policy is, the ground realities ought to be remembered. The West is not a community of the naïve.

The US-EU Trans-Atlantic unity has a clear set of strategic objectives on the larger world of Islam.

The West is aware that Pakistan is an ideological state, the upholder of a civilization— one that confronted the West, and recovered (under Salah-ud-din, the Saladin), the same holy city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) from the crusaders (this month, Rajab 27,583, A.H.).

Despite such a history, the presumption that the recognition of Israel can be used as a tool to win the West, and the West shall, therefore, open the flood gates of political and economic, and military empowerment to Pakistan is nothing but a wishful thinking.

What can Israel’s recognition, thus, achieve for a distant Pakistan? Short answer: nothing substantive for the obvious reasons.. The ally against terror, that is fighting a US war with over 70 thousand troops, is, being intensely maligned by the West as a culprit behind international terrorism.

When the regime is sharing Pak- centrifuges, and sensitive security information with the IAEA, the US and EU are demonizing Pakistan as the chief proliferator of nuclear technology.

Though the harmless schools of ordinary education of the Holy Qur’an and Islam (the so-called Madaris), which are no match for the extremism of the Western Catholic schools, are being harassed, or, shut down, yet the West wishes their total decapitation. So, in its exercise for Israel’s recognition, the Pak-foreign policy may, yet, have to return empty handed.

The other presumption is that Israel’s recognition could undo the ideological clash between Islam and Judaism, and thus, a friendly Jewish State would be one less security threat to Pakistan.

This approach was aggressively pursued by the Musharraf regime a few weeks before his visit to Camp David in June, 2003, followed thereafter by his address, again on Israel, before Parliament of Azerbaijan.

The truth is that the May 19-20 visit to Islamabad by the President of Palestinian Authority, Mahmood Abbas, was arranged by the Government solely to secure an invitation for the president, not just to visit the occupied Al-Quds and the territories, but also Israel, because, Al-Quds has been declared as it’s capital by the same Israel that issues, as Mr Musharraf knows, the visit visas, or the entry permits.

The recent Jewish history, and the Israeli strategic objectives, are clear. If accommodating a modestly equipped Syria, or a mild Palestinian resistance, is not a tolerable option for the Israelis, then, certainly,Tel-Aviv can’t afford to nurture, through it’s cooperation, the growth of a nuclear tipped Pakistan, a Muslim giant, about 30 times the size of Israeli population, as a risk worth taking.

An other presumption is that somehow relations with Israel can drive a wedge between India, and, the Jewish State, and that the fast flow of lethal high tech from Tel-Aviv to New-Delhi could be halted, or decelerated, in the hope that one day Pak-Jewish ties could, help Islamabad, access Israeli military technology.

Granted that Pakistan has ideal relations with Israel, the fact that India is a huge military market, would always dictate Israeli military sales against Islamabad just the way it is controlling Moscow’s denial of major weapons to Pakistan, and also influencing Washington.

While Mr Schlom, the Israeli Foreign Minister, is sure to have diplomatic relations with Pakistan in the next few months, Mr Musharraf is to address World Jewish Council in New York

With Israel’s recognition, Pakistan may face a result, a disaster of historic proportions could, indeed, be unleashed within the country, subjecting the ideological fabric of it’s already fragile society to an unmanageable crises of faith among it’s Muslim populace.

Building a temptation of political and commercial gains from the US-led West, and Israel, in return for the recognition of the latter, could steer our nation to an ideological suicide. Stop recognition campaign for Israel as Pakistan can survive without Tel-Aviv.●

© 2005 Syed M Tariq Pirzada