Writing and Research:
Ayesha Mujeeb, Iman Asghar, Ayesha Shabbir, Saad Rasool
In the recent past, many Muslim countries have disputed the historic Palestinian-Israeli conflict due to a lack of vocal diplomacy. This is true because there are many factors influencing the foreign policies of the mentioned nations and the aforementioned silence can be attributed to these factors.
First of all, there are a few main reasons for such an approach, and one of them, undoubtedly, is the political connections and interests in the said area. Unfortunately, most Muslim countries have allied themselves with superpowers that are sympathetic to the state of Israel. These alliances usually result in a reluctance to comment negatively on Israel for fear of offending such allies and suffering possible consequences in the form of economic or political pressure.
Second, in the context of Muslim-majority countries, internal political factors are usually important in determining how they will stand on the issue of Palestine and Israel. This may mean that some leaders will focus on maintaining domestic order in their own country rather than actively engaging in an international crisis. Nations that are critical of Israel may experience conflict within their political systems or may experience instability within their own governments by challenging Israel’s authority.
Domestic considerations also play an important role. Governments in the region, dealing with their own internal challenges, ranging from economic crisis to political unrest, can avoid creating tensions on Palestine that could exacerbate their domestic instability. Public support for Palestine remains high, but governments wary of fueling dissent may prefer to focus on domestic issues rather than international conflicts.
Furthermore, regional politics, especially divisions within the Muslim world, are also blamed for the continued silence on the plight of Palestinians facing Israeli forces. Due to various political, cultural and economic differences, the political unity of various Muslim countries is not possible due to which there is a lack of unity in solving this problem. This is because it reduces any convergence of intentions for negotiation that might help resolve the conflict.
However, it is also important to remember the implications of global power relations. However, it must be argued that superpowers and influential countries are in a position to shape the narrative and discourse of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Muslim countries may feel powerless to say how conflicts will be resolved, leading to predestination.
In summary, it can be concluded that the Palestine-Israel conflict is a complex interaction of politics, economic implications and international relations. Although the underlying and governing factors behind the persistence of this silence may indeed be complex, it is still necessary to have a spirited and sustained debate on principles at various levels for a comprehensive and final resolution of the conflict. Human rights, international law and dialogue as a means to provide the much-needed justification for the never-ending pursuit of the long-desired, long-overdue and much-deserved favorable peace for all victims.
