The Question of Palestine: The shift of Power

Israel is an artificial state implanted in the middle of Arab-Muslim Middle East by the post-World War II powers.  The creation of Israel as a Zionist state serves two main motives, ulterior or otherwise:  the projection of Western powers in the Arab-Muslim world (hitherto a major power) and the resolution of guilt on the part of Europe for their gross mistreatment of Jews.  Since its inception in 1948, the Zionists of Israel have embarked on their agenda of expansion, grabbing lands through massacres and wars, the latter notably in 1967.  That the international law forbids the acquisition of land by means of wars never seems to bother the Zionists.  While they seized lands from the natives who were sent fleeing, they also coaxed Zionists worldwide, by means of attractive incentives, to settle in the 'promised land' of Israel.  Jewish settlements, the owners of which often resort to violence,  sprout in the middle of Arab neighbourhoods.  When the natives  resisted, they were labelled 'terrorists'.  Resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly regrading its behaviour in the occupied territories, unanimously apart from the US and its handful of protectorates, were never heeded by the regime in Tel Aviv.  In the critical centre of power that rules the world, the UN Security Council, Israel finds guardian in the now-sole-superpower, the US; any resolutions critical of  Israel have invariably been vetoed by the latter.
The international law has never recognised Israel beyond its pre-1967-war border.  Israel, backed by the US, always seek to prevent the 'peace talks' being played out in the wide community of nations, preferring instead to be conducted by the main power broker, the US with the addition of UK and Russia.  The main issues regarding Palestine are:  (1)  the border, (2) the refugees, (3)  the settlements, (4) the status of Jerusalem.  The international law is very clear on all of these issue:  that Israel has to withdraw to within its pre-1967-war border. that all Palestinian refugees displaced by the wars be allowed to return, that settlements built outside the recognised border be dismantled, and that East Jerusalem belongs to the Palestinian state.

However the not-so-impartial power brokers dictate the concessions the Palestinians must make in order to achieve peace, culminating in the 'Clinton parameters' which set about 90% as what the Palestinians could actually get back.    The Palestinians were willing to concede further, but the Israelis were never impressed.  The Bush administration further undermined the Palestinian cause by the doctrine that they must recognise 'facts on the ground' which rendered most of the things Israeli!

When the Obama first came into office, it seemed that finally a more reasonable settlement could be reached. However that was not to be:  Obama soon realised he would be going against a formidable force from within his own people whom the Israelis, and their agents, have so successfully rallied behind their own cause, for right or wrong.  In short, Obama got cold-feet.

With Washington firmly behind it, the Arab world fragmented especially after the Iraq war, the Palestininans themselves divided, the whole world terrified into submission by 911 phenomenon, Israel feels it can impose its own will vis-a-vis the Palestinian question.  In 2006 it launched an asymmetrical war against Hizbullah in Lebanon, trying to significantly alter the balance of power in its immediate neighbourhood; it failed miserably there.  Then in 2008 it attempted to liquidate Hamas in Gaza, killing many civilians and caused massive destructions, but failed in its objective.

The wanton behaviour of Israel, as depicted in Lebanon and especially in Gaza, while being condoned by its main allies, can no longer be concealed from the view of the citizens of the world.  The latter, apalled by what they saw and frustrated by the inactions of their own governments, have learnt to launch their own initiatives to correct the problems created by Israel and supported by the world powers.  The injustices in Palestine, showcased by Gaza, have been so gross as never seen anywhere else.

The Freedon Flotilla that set sail for Gaza recently was one of such initiatives.  The unfriendly treatment that they received from Israel further galvanised world public opinion

The world powers certainly have great wills.  But can they imposed their wills through inactions in the disguise of 'constructive engagements'?  They may, by the hard way, find they can fool some people all the time, all of the people some of the times, but not all of the people all of the times.

The power that decides the fate of Palestine can well now shift to the citizens of the world.  The question of Palestine indeed ushers in a new world order, that is the true democracy in which all citizens of the world can take part, not one in which there is a gross imbalance of power where the five major World War II powers, in the disguise of the UN Security Council, dictates the course for everyone on the globe.

Indeed this phenomenon is a testament to the blessed nature of Jerusalem as mentioned in the Quran (17:1):

Glory to (God) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things)