Mr. A. Faizur Rahman takes kind note of my comparison of Pakistan and Israel before claiming that Israel is unlike any other nation. Indeed, no two nations can be expected to be identical right down to the charter of their birth. The idea behind my article was to point out the exclusivist mindset that led to the creation of Pakistan and Israel, and how it has poisoned their societies and polities in remarkably similar ways.
Some of the “differences” between Pakistan and Israel that Mr. Rahman enumerates, in fact, reiterate my point. He says the partition of India was “a legally formulated and politically accepted division between two indigenous peoples,” while “Palestine was forcibly partitioned.” But there were no “two indigenous peoples” in India until the two-nation theory was introduced. And they were never consulted about the partition―it was the nizams and maharajas who decided which country they wanted to join. So the Indian partition was as forced as that of Palestine.
Mr. Rahman questions what colonial powers and colonial institutions did in one instance, but accepts as “legal” what they did in another. The British, or the League of Nations, had no right to decide the fate of Palestine. But then, did they have the right to decide the fate of India? In Palestine, their hand was forced by Zionist militias. In India, too, religion-based power politics was mainly responsible for the partition.
In any case, the motivations of colonial powers are peripheral to the argument. What matters is the rationale that led to the creation of Pakistan and Israel, and how it has stunted their national identities and blighted their societies. And even though it may be too late to right the wrongs of history, it may not be too late―for these nations and for others―to learn from them.
Keywords: Debate @ The Hindu, Israel-Pakistan comparison, creation of Israel, Zionism, Islamic fundamentalism
Israel and Pakistan are two different countries with differnt history imbibed into it. Pakistan was created fearing that the rights of Muslims in pre-partition India would fade away. But Israel was created after the fear unleashed on Jews during Holocaust.
The similarities between israel and pakistan are many. Both are client states of the USA though israel has great leverage with its political master whereas pakistan ( i.e its ruling elites are eager to kiss the US hand). Pakistan is an historical mistake whereas israel is theft of land and an illegitimate entity.
Another similarity between Pakistan and Israel is that at the time of
formation, a significant fraction of their population consisted of
immigrants unlike the case in India. A large fraction of immigrants with
grouse contributed to the radicalization of the nation.
What about Saudi Arabia? It is also a creation of colonial powers who conspired with arab warlords to defeat the Ottoman turks. The entire story is actually described in the movie "Lawerence of Arabia". The same warlords became the Kings of Saudi Arabia!!
So should it also be dissolved and placed under UN trusteeship? Why this special focus only on israel?
Similar comments apply to Lebanon (French intervention and defeat of Ottoman Turks), Iraq and so on. If we apply the standards used in these articles to other countries, we will find only a handful of countries that meet such high standards.
History is disturbing. Creation of Israel is a miracle. People who
wandered homeless for 2000 years cherished a dream to return to
their motherland proclaiming loudly Next year at Jerusulum at the end
of holy festival every year.Who is wrong who is right very difficult
to
judge.better to read novels 1)source by Michiner 2)Exodus3)O
Jerusulum.We have to note 1)Palestine or israel was the homeland of
Jews.2)Arabs jews belong to the same Semitic race 3)possibility is
the arabs of palestine might have been jews themselves or migrated and
settled.in any way the right of jews cannot be brushed aside
lightly.Time to live peacefully.
Mr.Yuvraj.........If you take a neutral view of History,you will find that Ottoman Empire gave refuge to the Jews unlike the Crusaders.
@Yuvaraj
The Jewish people do indeed have a long history of being subjugated and oppressed, but the narrative you provide is nevertheless rather simplistic. I find it difficult to reconcile the continued settlement-building in the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza and the increasing attacks on Palestinians in Israel with your view of happy co-existence. Mr Sahin is not making a blanket comparison of Israel and Pakistan; it is the exclusivist mindset that he finds to be a common thread.
First of all Rahman, you have to look at the Israel from a neutral
point of view not as a muslim,
Crusaders and Ottoman empire drew them out from the present Israel
when they ruled. and Jews got there time and they came back.
Its a nonsense to compare Israel with Pakistan, I lived there for 3
years, Its a democratic country Arabs and christian live happily
without any racial discrimination and there populations is on the
rise,Is this case in pakistan where the minority pollution is dwindling with time. The Indian media is biased against Israel.
Excellent counter arguments by Mr Shahin. I feel that Mr A.Faizur Rahman's article 'Israel is like no other state' was written with an emotional hand and not with and analytical hand. He does not rememeber the massive bloodshed of the Hindus and Muslims during partition. Had the partition of India been "accepted", as he seems to suggest, then the division should have been bloodless. He tries to argue by quoting Henry Cattan and according to HIM, division of Palestine was illegal. Well according to Gandhiji, the partition of India was illegal(I really feel sorry to say this because his arguments are so lame). India was forced to accpet partition becuause Nehru, Patel, Gandhiji had realised that until they accept the division people will be slaughtered. The communals gave them no option: either accept partition or witness massive bloodshed of people. This was the situation that led to the division of India.
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