Slamming Israel and US President Donald Trump over the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Palestinian Ambassador to India, Adnan Abu Alhaija said, ‘’Israel thinks that they are such who are not bound to follow the laws and they trample upon the resolutions of the UN and Security Council. Obviously, they are doing all this with the support of the US. Israel is the country which fosters cruel forces. They call Palestinians, who has the right to resist against the occupiers, terrorists and they are doing propaganda for it all over the world although their cruel forces and by committing massive persecution against the Palestinians. Jerusalem will always remain the capital of Palestine.’’ He was addressing a public meet, held by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, at Press Club of India in New Delhi on 21 December.
Thanking the Indian people and its government for standing by the Palestine, Alhaija said ‘’the sacrifices of Palestine is innumerable and infinite. But Palestinians need your support and I expect that India will continue to stand by Palestinians as it had previously been supporting Palestine. I thank the Indian government for all the supports that they lent to Palestine’’.
Commenting on the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel capital, he said “recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is the violation of all agreements, accorded between Palestine and Israel and the resolution passed in the UN. I expressmy utter happiness that the whole world has opposed the decision of Trump. That decision would be shot in the arm for Israel to heighten their oppression and persecution in Palestine.”
Castigating Donald Trump and the US for warning the countries voted against it of the aid cut, he further said that the world is in the peril. The peril is not because the recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital but it is because the US President Donald Trump is flexing muscles too much without showing any wisdom. Two days ago, US vetoed the Security Council resolution favoring Palestine. It is not a new development that US is vetoing the resolution but the new phenomena that US is threatening those who are standing by the Palestinians. Therefore, I have to say that the world is in peril.
Staking a claim on the Palestinian land, Alhaija further said “We are living in Palestine over for 5000 years and the history bear the testimony that we are the owner of the land. In 1947, the population of Palestine was less than 10 Lakhs. All powerful countries that were well-equipped with arms and ammunition could not shatter our courage and hope at that time. Now, the population of Palestine is around 60 Lakhs and that of Israel is also around it. Even Israel is now well-equipped with every kind of arms and ammunition but it is a fact that we are the real owner of the land. We fought lots of battles with Greeks, Romanians and now Jews, all went away but we stayed there.”
Presiding over the meet, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Nusrat Ali said that Palestine is definitely not the issue of only Muslims.This is the issue of peace and justice and liberation of a large number of people. It has different aspects. We have to look at it from various angles. But in an aspect it is also an issue of Muslims. Muslims cannot keep away from this issue since Palestine is the land of the Prophets and there is a mention of BaitulMaqdis (Jerusalem) in the Holy Quran. BaitulMaqdis is Qibl-e-Awwal (first direction of prayer). And larger population of Palestine is Muslims. The land of Prophets where the voice of monotheism and justice had been raised is now bleeding.
Swami Agnivesh, AryaSamaj scholar and chairman of Bonded Labour Liberation Front, came down heavily on the US President and his controversial policies. He said that the kind of policies he is adopting will lead the world to destruction and instability. Until now, only few policies came out but in future there is apprehension of more such policies. He also said that Palestine is not the issue of the Muslims only but it is an issue of humanity, justice and peace as well.
Former Indian Ambassador to Palestine, Professor Zikrurrahman said that whenever a chance of Peace emerges, extremist group of Jews Zionist comes to spoil it. After a long armed resistance, when Palestinian combatants agreed over peaceful solution of the issue, the leaders of the movement Yassir Arafat was assassinated by the Zionists. This extremist group is the biggest hurdle in the peace process.
Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Mohammed Salim Engineer said that Palestine is the land of the Prophets. There is a mention of BaitulMaqdis (Jerusalem) in the holy Quran. Jerusalem is sacrosanct not only for the Muslims but also forthe Christians. On that land, a controversial country has inhabited oppressively. We are seeing all kinds of persecution and injustice there.