Accepting Israel!

[Truth Seeker]

Mohammed ElBaradei the UN’s nuclear watchdog reopened the nuclear debate in the Muslim world with his visit to Israel where he met Ariel Sharon and raised the issue of a nuclear free Middle East. This initiative as well as raising a number issues has to be seen in the context of the underlying objective it aims to achieve and that is of accepting Israel as a legitimate state and its right to exist.

 

"The prime minister this morning affirmed to me that Israel's policy [is] that in the context of peace, establishment of peace in the Middle East, Israel will be looking for establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East," Mr ElBaradei said. The UN official is keen to convince the Israelis that the best way to avoid further nuclear proliferation in the region is for all governments to join in a collective ban on nuclear weapons.

 

The reality is that Israel possesses nuclear weapons as does the western world yet the clear pressure has been on the Muslim world to disarm. The Muslim world has been coerced into signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with Iran currently insisting its nuclear program is peaceful but has been subjected to intense scrutiny from the atomic agency because of US-led allegations that it is secretly trying to build nuclear weapons.

 

Israel has never signed the treaty, and is the only Middle Eastern state that has not done so.

 

Israel has produced as many as 200 nuclear weapons on the basis of disclosures from nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu to a British newspaper in 1986 - making Israel the world's fifth biggest nuclear power. Recent United States intelligence assessments put the arsenal at around 80 missiles. Israel has gained long-range delivery systems such as missiles, submarines and warplanes, according to analysts citing satellite images. Some experts believe Israel also has "tactical" nuclear arms - mine-sized bombs.

 

However Israel has not been forced into signing the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, which means the International Atomic Energy Agency does not have the power to inspect Israeli nuclear facilities. This clearly highlights the lax attitude the West and the UN have towards Israel in comparison to the Muslim world.

 

Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu says the International Atomic Energy Agency is failing to adequately investigate Israel's nuclear program. Vanunu made the remarks to the Washington Times in relation to Mohamed ElBaradei’s visit to Israel. The former nuclear technician complained ElBaradei made no effort to get in touch with him even though the media has widely reported his whereabouts in East Jerusalem.

 

In contrast the Muslim world has faced many pressures for it to disarm and to prevent it from arming. These pressures have included threats of military action, actual military action (Iraq), sanctions and isolation.

 

President Bush imposed economic sanctions on Syria banning U.S. exports to Syria and freezes assets of Syrians involved in building its military capability. The sanctions also tighten restrictions on arms-related and dual-use exports and prohibited Syrian aircraft from flying to or from the United States.

 

President Bush stated that he would impose additional sanctions unless Syria stopped pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, withdrew from Lebanon and began cooperating fully with international efforts to stabilize Iraq.

 

Far from reducing stockpiles of arms and WMDs, a call to which the US enforces on the Muslim world through treaties such as the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the US has boldly continued to develop and strengthen its own weapons inventory, with the aim of maintaining its position as the worlds most powerful nuclear force. President Bush unveiled his latest budget plans stating, 'We will continue to provide whatever it takes to defend our country by fully supporting our military.' His budget proposals for 2005 saw a request for more funding from Congress - a 7 per cent increase on last year's total which now surpasses the $400bn mark.

 

Furthermore the Western interests are clearly served by having a dominant ally in the Middle East hence we see the hypocritical stance taken with Israel. Israel is in violation of more than 60 U.N. resolutions, and that excludes the ones that the US didn't veto, it has prevented the United Nations from imposing even the mildest sanctions on Israel to force it to comply with international law.

 

It was unacceptable for Iraq to occupy Kuwait, but it is necessary for Israel to occupy parts of Syria, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Even its one time part occupation of Egypt and a slice of Lebanon were acceptable.

 

The Western states support of Israel is in many forms and adds strength to its desire to become an established recognized state. The West aids Israel Politically, Militarily, Economically and through its recognition of it.

 

Politically the West through its statements supports Israeli interests as stated by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said a nuclear weapons-free Middle East would be possible only when the threat to Israel from Arab and Islamic countries was gone. "Then we can put a great deal more pressure on Israel to abandon its undoubted nuclear weapons programme, which has been there ... for defensive purposes," Straw said.

 

In April 2004 at a joint press conference with the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, President Bush blessed Sharon's disengagement plan by describing it "unrealistic" and therefore allowing Israel to keep West Bank settlements and that the five biggest settlements on the Palestinian side of the 1967 border would remain in Israeli hands.

 

America through its military agreements and aid provides Israel with Furthermore the US has recently provided the Israeli air force with the first two of a hundred US built F-161 jets, a new generation of war plane which will soon make up the backbone of the Israeli fleet. Experts say this ultra sophisticated development of the battle tested F16 has an increased range of 1500 km without needing in-flight refueling, allowing it to reach anywhere in the Middle East. The jets are part of a two billion dollar US military aid package to Israel. With the addition of another 230 Fighting Falcons, Israel will command the second largest F-16 fleet in the world behind the US.

 

Israel relies on America to maintain its economy, with a population of only 5.8 million people, Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid, and that Israel’s aid plus U.S. aid to Egypt for keeping the peace with Israel has, for many years, consumed more than half of the U.S. bi-lateral foreign aid budget world-wide.

 

The Western support of Israel is unparalleled which was only further shown by the World Court on Friday that 14 of its 15 judges ruled that Israel's West Bank barrier breached international law. Judge Thomas Buergenthal of the United States was the only judge to vote against the court's ruling that the construction of the barrier on occupied Palestinian territory breached international law.

 

This support of Israel allows it to act as it wishes in the region as America does on the World stage; Israel is able to do the same in the Middle East. It is this strategic aspect of Israel that supports America’s interest making this relationship so beneficial to colonial America.

 

The principle reason however for disarmament is to accept Israel as a legitimate state and its right to exist. This is unacceptable to the Muslims because it is Muslim land that has been stolen and the only legitimacy is that it is returned to the Muslims.

 

Israel argues that its military infrastructure is required due to the threat it perceives from the Muslim world and if this threat did not exist then it would disarm. Which means that if it’s guaranteed right to exist, and acceptance by all is achieved it will give up the weapons it does not need, if the Muslims are all bound to it as well.

 

This will leave the Israelis none the worse, since they are accepted and continue to be protected and favored by the western world. The Muslims however remain weak, and bound to their weakness in the shadow of the western world which seeks to grow ever more powerful.

 

Thus Muslim countries therefore should clearly reject this call to disarm and rather develop and advance their military capabilities. This reality however will not happen as the Muslim world is led by puppet rulers and dictators that take their orders from the West; they will clearly gladly accept Israel as President Musharraf of Pakistan stated "The debate should be serious. There should be no emotionalism of the extremists. What is our dispute with Israel? We should think." (on the possibility of recognising Israel).

 

'O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists, etc.) as friends, showing affection towards them' [TMQ 60: 1].

 

'So be not weak and ask not for peace (from the enemies of Islam), while you are having the upper hand. Allah is with you, and will never decrease the reward of your good deeds' [TMQ 47:35].

 

The reality is clear for all to see and that is that the Muslims do not have a sincere leader that looks after their affairs, this is apparent when we see that Kashmir and Palestine conflicts have gone on for 50 years without a clear solution. The Ummah needs a sincere leader that holds fast to the truth, implements Islam and allows its dignity to be returned.

 

“Indeed, the Imam is a shield, behind whom you fight, and are protected”.

[Viking]

I hope Tehran develops nuclear arms in the near future. That will help restore some sort of balance in that region.

[Truth Seeker]

Not going to happen with the current rulers we have.

[AbdAllah313]

Salaam,

 

Nuclear weapons are good as a deterrant, and as a show of power for political/diplomatic manuevers, but they're not any way to regain the Holy Land. Nukes mainly kill civilians, and render the land desolated. This being said, Nukes are a good defensive deterrant, since the kuffar are too scared to invade any nation which possesses nuclear weaponry. (Just look at the way in which Bush has completely "ignored" North Korea)

 

The Ummah should seek to aquire nukes wherever possible, to deter attacks, but in order to regain Palestine we'll need conventional weapons. (and a lot of fighters with good iman)

 

It's obvious that there is a double standard in the West's treatment of "Israeli" nuclear weapons versus Muslim nuclear weapons. This is just another clear proof that the American government and its supporters are the open enemies of Islam.

 

wslm

[NGONGE]

The Ummah needs a sincere leader that holds fast to the truth, implements Islam and allows its dignity to be returned.

 

?Indeed, the Imam is a shield, behind whom you fight, and are protected?.

Forget about dignity, saaxib. A drowning man never worries about his clothes getting wet. Whether we like it or not, the state of Israel EXISTS. The Muslims are weak and divided. The dispute amongst ourselves and with Israel only serves to make matters worse.

 

Thus Muslim countries therefore should clearly reject this call to disarm and rather develop and advance their military capabilities. This reality however will not happen as the Muslim world is led by puppet rulers and dictators that take their orders from the West; they will clearly gladly accept Israel as President Musharraf of Pakistan stated "The debate should be serious. There should be no emotionalism of the extremists. What is our dispute with Israel? We should think." (on the possibility of recognising Israel).

 

'O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists, etc.) as friends, showing affection towards them' [TMQ 60: 1].

 

'So be not weak and ask not for peace (from the enemies of Islam), while you are having the upper hand. Allah is with you, and will never decrease the reward of your good deeds' [TMQ 47:35].

General Musharraf, despite being a servant of the West does ask a valid question. Any chance of trying to answer it?

[Truth Seeker]

The solution that i work towards, as well as solving this particular problem solves all problems the Muslims face. Name a problem and i will explain how it exists due to the absence of Islam on a state level.

 

As to What our dispute is with Israel? It kills our Muslim brothers and sisters, it has occupied Muslim land. DOes not matter if you are a Muslim in Pakistan, Britain, America we are one Ummah and if one part of this Ummah is hurting all of it hurts. If our brothers and sisters are being persecuted then we have a responsibilty to them.

 

The solution to Israel is Jihad and this will not be waged until we have a sincere leader that rules with the kitab of Allah and the sunnah of his messenger.

[NGONGE]

The solution to Israel is Jihad and this will not be waged until we have a sincere leader that rules with the kitab of Allah and the sunnah of his messenger.

So, what you’re saying is that we first have to sort out the Khilafa then turn our attentions to Israel?

 

Fine, What’s to be done in the meantime? Attempt to do peace with Israel and ease the burden on our brothers and sisters there or keep things as they are and stay as a thorn in the side of Israel?

 

 

I like your ideas and agree with most of them but they’re only words that don’t offer anything to deal with situations as they currently stand.

[Baashi]

What's your take on the issue? Now we all agree that the ummah is weak and bacward relative to our adversaries, what does NGONGE do differently? I wanna hear it, if u don't mind...spill it plz!

[Truth Seeker]

Islam is complete way of life - for every problem it has a solution. Khilafah being the solution is not becuase i say it is, rather this is what Islam says.

 

You cannot acknowledge that Khilafah is the solution but then look for something else in the meantime, there is one solution anything else is not a solution.

 

For nearly a century many so called solutions have been put forward and have resulted in disaster, why because they are not solutions derived from the Quran and Sunnah. Nobody talks about what should we do in the meantime when these "solutions" are put forward. Yet when islam is shown as the solution the people start to become pragmatic. 50 years they have tried to implement democracy in Pakistan, people had the patience then.

 

As to what we can do in the meantime, again Islam goiverns this, it is not for us to decide. There is a concept in Islam called sbar and tawakkul, as painful as it is this is what is rquired whilst working for the return of Al Khilafah - patience and trust in Allah (swt).

 

As to saying that peace with Israel, this is haram, would it even stop the Israelis, which Muslims are we gfoing to decide that cannot have homes and which can?

 

Unfortunately the People rush to the solutions pushed by the kufr but when Islam comes with the true solution excuses are made left right and centre.

 

I just want to highlight the inadequacies of western solutions compared with those from Islam. Im not saying that lets not discuss the failiure of these but lets see these solutions for what they are - useless.

[Truth Seeker]

The reality is that the Israeli problem will not be solved until the peole that rule us rule with the Quran and Sunnah. As can be seen by the 50 odd years of complete failiure.

[NGONGE]

Well, by all means, we should work towards establishing a united Muslim nation (call it Khilafah if you will). But, this is a process that is likely to take decades (if not centuries) to achieve. In the meantime, we are still weak, the West is still controlling us and Israel still rains supreme. We’ve already tried fighting them in 1948 and 1967, we lost! I know that not every Muslim country took part in those wars but those that did were more than enough to deal with a small nation like Israel and raze it to the ground. They didn’t. For the past 50 years the Palestinians did all they can to dislodge this virus in our midst, they too did not succeed either!

 

Like they say, “To the victor the spoilsâ€. So, what’s wrong with peace with Israel? The Palestinians, those closest to the action seem to have accepted it now. They saw that the stalemate benefits Israel more than it benefits any of the Muslim nations. Because while we’re busy fighting losing battles, the Israelis are building up their nuclear arsenal, crying to the world about Muslim (and Arab) bullying and painting themselves as the victims of this conflict. Wars are not always won by brute force, cunning and diplomacy also wins you wars. Today we’re weak, we might as well submit, act meek and bide our time while pretending to cooperate. Don’t call it peace; call it a Hudna (temporary ceasing of hostilities).

One thing is for sure, if we carry on down the same path we’ve been on for the past 100 years, nothing is likely to change.

[NGONGE]

As to what we can do in the meantime, again Islam goiverns this, it is not for us to decide. There is a concept in Islam called sbar and tawakkul, as painful as it is this is what is rquired whilst working for the return of Al Khilafah - patience and trust in Allah (swt).

Words are great, saaxib but how do you turn those words into action?

You describe the concept of “Sabar and Tawakkulâ€; I’ll agree with the Sabar part but what we have here is Tawaaakkul (as in thinking of solutions then hoping that they’ll happen on their own without any input from us) rather than Tawakkul!

 

Like I said, we’ve got a problem that needs to be dealt with urgently , sitting and waiting while lamenting lost pride and dreaming of future victories will not solve our current predicament. Although I don’t agree with anything Osama Bin Laden and his follower’s do/did I can at least see that they’ve tried to bring about a solution to this problem. What is your practical solution to this quandary?

[Baashi]

Who is on the offensive? Peace? In the Lebanon conference the participants (Arab League) adopted a resolution put forward by Saudis, in it they offered peace to Israel and vowed that they will normalize relations with Israel. Brother, you sound as if the Muslims are on the offensive!

 

I agree that we ought to build our infrastructure, embrace the technology, diversify the economy, and so on. But are they going to let you manage your affairs and get stronger...NO and that’s big NO. Today the seem to justify their actions on WMD grounds. Tomorrow, it will be on hijab and the women issues...the day after it will be something else. We are in a fix and I for one don’t know the answer...all I know is it won’t be that simple.

 

They need to have an enemy to sustain their huge industrial-military complex. Ditto! they found one, the best one...the war on “terrorâ€, as Bush said it is about saving the civilization from the evil and it will take forever till the end of time.

 

We are in a big fix and it takes a miracle to find a way out of this one.

[Truth Seeker]

First of all we do not know how long it could take, victory is from Allah and he (swt) will grant as he wills. This could be tommorrow or the next milennia. But wee know that Allah (swt) says in the Quran, oh you who believe do righteos deed and you will be granted surety on the earth –i.e. you will be given khilafah.

 

This has two aspects to it we work and have tawakkul in Allah (swt).

 

The paralells are clear to see from the Method of the Prophet (saw) they were bieng persecuted Sumayah (the first martyr of Islam) Bilal etc…but the prophet (saw) continued on his method by culture the sahaba, create the public opinion for Islam (dawah) and seek the support of the tribes that could offer the rulership.

 

These are the practical steps that the prophet (saw) took to work towards the state and finally Allah (swt) gave the victory – and surely Allah (swt) is all powerful and is capable of making anything happen – this is the tawakkul – work and faith.

 

Like I said as Muslims we have many problems, starvation, occupation, rape, persecution, oppression, poverty etc… how are you going to solve these problems not one of them but all of them? The only solution is Khilafah, it is the duty of the Khaleef to protect the Muslims and provide for them. This is the practical solution of from Islam.

 

Hizb ut Tahrir works explicity to the method of the prophet (saw):

 

- It cultures its Shabab with the concepts to challenge the corrupt thoughts (kufr) in society.

 

As the Prophet (saw) did with the Sahaba in the House of Arqam

 

- It works with the Ummah to highhlight the plots of the Kufr and to show Islam as the correct Ideological alternaitve to Capitalism and how Islam can solve all problems.

 

As the prohet (saw) showed the corrputenss on the Quraish way of life by challenging there cheating in the market place (economic) burying of daugthers (social) inequality (politcial). Creating the public opinion for Islam

 

- It works in the Muslim lands to get the material support (nasr) from the Muslim military in order to establish Khilafah and resuem the Islamic way of life.

 

The Prophet (saw) went to many tribes to ask them to give him the authority, e.g. Taif, eventually Madinah gave the authority. The prohet (saw) was one man and in 13 years established a state, today we are an Ummah of 1.6 billion.

 

This is the only solution to our problems, it is radical but then when Islam first came it was seen as radical we as Muslims need to stop looking to the west for the solution but rather the Islamic soltiuon.

[NGONGE]

Who is on the offensive? Peace? In the Lebanon conference the participants (Arab League) adopted a resolution put forward by Saudis, in it they offered peace to Israel and vowed that they will normalize relations with Israel. Brother, you sound as if the Muslims are on the offensive!

Baashi,

It’s not a case of being on the offensive or not, saaxib. Yes, Israel occupied Muslim lands, yes they continue to humiliate and kill our fellow Muslims and yes they are backed up by the biggest super power the world has ever known. But, despite all of this, their “attacks†on the Muslims are very subtle and follow international conventions and laws. We on the other hand, keep on beating that loud drum of war while making no gains whatsoever!

 

Like you, I don’t have any concrete solutions. But, I believe it’s time we changed our methods and tried to play the game differently for a while. What’s there to lose? Dignity? Pride? Power? We’ve lost all of that more than two centuries ago.

 

Truth Seeker,

 

You’re still not saying anything new or different to what the Imams in mosques up and down the Muslim world have been saying every single Friday for decades now. Yours though, is a bit more confused than theirs. They at least preach unity and ask Allah for victory and strength. Their “sermons†are more educational and are performed as a reminder for people rather than being a blue print for future conduct and action.

 

To have a Khalifa is a great idea. It means that we’ll have a untied ummah, means that our decisions will be made by one god-fearing person and that those decisions will be made to the benefit of the entire ummah. Alas, I fear that you’re putting the cart before the horse again. For in order to have a Khalifa, you’ll need to have a consensus amongst Muslims to choose that Khalifa and give him the “baicaâ€(loosely translated as “electing himâ€), wouldn’t you agree?

 

Now lets assume you agree to the idea that in order to establish a Khalifa we will need to have the majority of Muslims agreeing and willing to forfeit their national sovereignties for such a noble aim. If these are the conditions whereby a Khilafa can be established, wouldn’t it be better for Hezb Et Tahrir and others working towards the establishment of the Khilafa to focus their energies on bringing the Muslims together rather than wasting their time “exposing†the West?

 

This is the only solution to our problems, it is radical but then when Islam first came it was seen as radical we as Muslims need to stop looking to the west for the solution but rather the Islamic soltiuon.

I agree with that point. We really should start looking for an Islamic solution to our self-inflicted Islamic problems. We also need to stop blaming the West for all our ills. The slogans, war cries and continues shifting of blame have been going on for years (still goes on in most “intellectual†Muslim media). We know it’s broke, when know it needs fixing, we know Islam is the answer, what’s the next STEP?