India with Israel in M-East Crisis

FOLLOWING the launch of an 800-kg Israeli spy satellite into orbit from Sriharikota on January 22, many a dimension of Indo-Israeli cooperation in the field of defence and both internal and external security, has come to light and is under scrutiny.

This so-called “commercial cooperation” coupled with the “strategic ties” has to be seen in the background of India’s original, moral stand on Palestine, as enunciated by the Father of the Nation and the ever-continuing territorial expansion and tyranny of the Zionists on the inhabitants of Palestine, and Gaza particularly.

What role the West as a whole played in the perpetuation of this aberration; what role the former Eastern Bloc, represented by the Soviet Union, played in maintaining status quo; what role the Arab world could play, but did not, and what role India, as an exponent of Non-Alignment, and above all as a Moral Power, could play, but has not, can just be recalled painfully.

CORRECT POSITION

The legal and moral position of Bharat as propounded by Mahatma Gandhi was: As Germany belongs to Germans, Palestine belongs to the Palestinians. Later on, similarly justice-based pro-Palestine policy was followed by the late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and Mrs. Indira Gandhi till Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao came to power and established full diplomatic relations with the transplanted state. Then began intelligence sharing between the two countries, particularly in the background of 9/11, terrorist activity in Jammu and Kashmir, demolition of Babri Masjid and post-demolition upheavals. It looked as if Mossad was driving our security apparatus. Everywhere our I.B. apparently discerned Muslim hand working at the behest of ISI. Even if there was an explosion in a mosque, the nation was asked to believe that Muslims were behind it. In this respect nadir was touched during the NDA period.

EXPECTATION

Muslims genuinely expected reversal of this callous and mindless policy when the Congress-led UPA government took oath of the office. Now it has been revealed that soon after its assumption of power, when the Israeli Defence Ministry Director General, Mr. Amos Yaron, visited New Delhi, the deal to launch three spy satellites had been signed between New Delhi and Israel. It has been reported in the Israeli press that the latest spy satellite would spy on Iran and Syria, the two countries with which India has good relations. Information on Pakistan is not outside the orbit of high-tech Tecsar. The second satellite of the series may be launched by the end of 2008. The commercial angle of the first launch is: now Bharat is richer by Rs. 55 crore. The question is: Is this mercantile deal worth it in terms of healthy politics, robust diplomacy and above all the international image of Bharat?

Not long ago, our defence experts, with nod from above, took Israeli military top brass to a sensitive State like Jammu and Kashmir. The wisdom behind this questionable step passed our commonsense. Now, once again, with added vigour, an effort is on to “jointly fight terrorism” and “exchange intelligence” on a regular basis. For the purpose, Brigadier General Pinchas Buchris, heading a 6-member Israeli defence team, had a 2-day interaction with Indian Defence Secretary Mr. Vijay Singh, Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor, Naval Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta and Air Force Chief Fali Homi Major.

The Israeli defence ministry chief also had a meeting with national security advisor Mr. M.K. Narayanan and Deputy National Security Advisor Shekhar Dutt.

2ND Largest WEAPON SUPPLIER

The Cabinet Committee on Security had recently cleared Rs 10,000 crore deal for joint production of Python, missiles in India for the Indian Air Force. Israel on New Delhi’s request has also agreed to speed up supply of Tavor, deep infiltration weapon system for India’s special forces and light fast moving patrol craft for the Navy. Israel has emerged as India’s second-largest weapon supplier, with arms sales touching almost $5 billion in 2007. The weapon systems and platforms sold by Tel Aviv to New Delhi range from Barak anti-missile systems for naval warships, Loros radars, light weapons and night-fighting visions to the Army and Navy and other specialised equipment and sensors.

TWO QUESTIONS

Now arise two questions: This extraordinary preparedness is directed against whom? If the answer is: against Pakistan, the reply is: Pakistan, although nuclear, is just a dot on the world map. It stands nowhere near Bharat in any respect.

Secondly, has New Delhi jacked up or tarnished its world image by going mercantile on an important subject, related to over 57 countries, having majority of the one-fifth of mankind?

It is, and should be a matter of utter shame for the Congress that Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Mr. Arun Gandhi has, because of the outrage by pro-Israeli academia, been forced to resign from a peace institute that he himself established in the US. What incurred the Zionist displeasure was his sound view: “Apparently, in the modern world, so determined to live by the bomb, this is an alien concept. You don’t befriend anyone, you dominate them. We have created a culture of violence (Israel and the Jews are the biggest players) and that culture of violence is eventually going to destroy humanity.

NOW A PARTY?

Justice loving people the world over, we believe, subscribe to this view. Before the Indo-Israeli defence cooperation, before active intelligence sharing, before launching Israel’s spy satellite, New Delhi was just a fence-sitter, a neutral party as far as the Arab-Israel’s conflict on Palestine was concerned. Now New Delhi appears to be a party. Now we, to the chagrin of India’s Arab friends, are helping the belligerent, the aggressor and the occupier. Be it, to name a few only, Beirut or Sabra or Chhatilla, New Delhi has been a dispassionate observer of the Arab victims.

Now the situation has drastically changed. Now New Delhi is not an unconcerned capital. Now it is very much involved by siding with the oppressor. Even for the sake of record, neither our External Affairs Minister, nor the Foreign Office has issued a powerful statement, condemning blockade of Gaza. What has emboldened Tel Aviv is that both the NDA and the UPA have similar views on Israel. Both condone Israel’s crimes against Muslims and humanity and allow it at large to spread its noxious tentacles in plural Bharat.

EFFECTIVE SIEGE

The oppressive Israeli siege deprived the Gazans of water, power, oil, medicines, foodstuffs and what not. There were not even coffins to bury the dead with dignity. To quote Mr. Karen Koning Abu Zayd (Commissioner General for UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East): Living standards in Gaza are at levels unacceptable to a world that promotes the elimination of poverty and the observance of human rights as core principles: 35 per cent of Gazans live on less than two dollars a day; unemployment stands at around 50 per cent; and 80 per cent of Gazans receive some form of humanitarian assistance. Concrete is in such short supply that people are unable to make graves for their dead. Hospitals are handing out sheets as funeral shrouds.

This because of a home-made crude rocket-attack on Sderot, a southern Israeli town in which only a few Israelis had received injuries. To it the Israeli Prime Minister’s response was: “it would continue without compromise, without concessions and without mercy.”

One may ask why do Hamas militants keep firing crude, inaccurate rockets at Israel giving Tel Aviv the pretext to go on a killing spree? The to-the-point reply has been given by Mr. S. Nihal Singh, an eminent political commentator: Hamas wants to tell Israel that it cannot bury the Gaza Strip in neglect and deprivation in a prison house while pretending to talk peace with the Fatah faction.

MIND-BOGGLING

The situation is mind-boggling. No one is coming to the aid or even extending moral support to the oppressed. The world at large is silent. The outlaw knows that as long as this silence continues, no law upon earth, can make any dent in its edifice. How? Even UN cannot do anything as there is US for the use of veto!

The Palestinians, in their own humble way have, till date, proved to the hilt that their right of return to their homeland is not up for negotiations.

Tel Aviv, on the other hand, is determined in its resolve to continuously expand beyond its present borders, which, if fact, are not its borders. A part and parcel of Israeli expansion is its original map, which includes the region extending from the Euphrates to the Nile, including parts of Lower Egypt, Southern Lebanon, Southern Syria, lands east of Jordan and the northern part of Hedjaz and Medina.

Israel is not prepared for the sake of peace, for the reaffirmation of the 1967 borders; it believes in no return of the Palestinian refugees; no dismantlement of Israeli settlements and no sharing of Jerusalem, housing the Quibla-i-Awwal of Muslims.

WHAT TO DO?

The Left has vociferously demanded suspension of Indo-Israeli defence ties till justice is done with the Palestinians. But the Left is the only group to do so. It has occurred to no other party. They appear to be unconcerned with the lasting injustice being meted out to Palestinians.

Let the Muslim organisations and institutions chalk out a viable strategy to correct the course which, in ultimate analysis, is not only against the Muslims but Bharat as a whole. It is aimed at subverting national sovereignty via Israel.

Our concerned view is: what can show reason to Israel and its patrons is the world Muslims’ peaceful (repeat peaceful) resolve to Jerusalemise the Palestine question, which, in fact, is an Islamic question. In a totally open atmosphere this view should be discussed at various fora. Justice-loving people are not in scarcity in the western hemisphere. Let the world Muslim leadership, represented by the OIC take an initiative in this regard.

Let the various Muslim parties, after proper consultation, call an All-India convention on the Indo-Israeli defence cooperation and its dangerous implications and ramifications for Asia.(Radiance Viewsweekly)