Prof. (Dr.) MOHD MAHTAB ALAM RIZVI, Director of Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has more than 20 years of teaching and research experience. Before joining JMI in 2017, he worked as Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Prof. Rizvi specializes in international relations, foreign policy and security issues, especially India’s strategic relations with West Asia and North Africa. His research also focuses Political and Internal Developments in Iran, Iran’s Nuclear Programme, Iran-China Economic, Political and Defence Relations.
Prof. Rizvi is a close observer of developments in the West Asia and North Africa region, Energy Security in West Asia and Peace and Conflict Resolution in the WANA region.
In an interview with MOHD NAUSHAD KHAN, he said Qatar is setting an example of being a mediating force before superpowers. Excerpts:
Qatar is a very small country as compared to big democracies but it has played a very important role which resulted in a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas. How would you like to respond to that?
Qatar is an independent and sovereign country and most of the time Qatar used to make independent decisions even before the present ceasefire related to Hamas and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). You can take the example of Qatar intervention and reconciliation process between Taliban and the USA. Qatar was the first country that hosted Taliban, opened its office in Qatar and mediated between the USA and Taliban. And today Taliban is in power in Afghanistan. So, the mediation process of Qatar is very strong.
Why does Qatar playan important role nowadays in the region? It is so because Qatar has good relations with western countries, especially the USA and also with the Muslim world especially the GCC countries except Saudi Arabia. So,the rest of the countries supported Qatar’s voice in the region.
My argument onQatar’s involvement inthe direct negotiation between Hamas and Israel is that Qatar hassupported the Palestinian cause since 1947, even since 1917 when the policy of the two-state theory came first. Even when Jews were allowed to settle down in the Middle Eastern country, that time also Qatar supported the Palestinian cause strongly. In light of all the above, Hamas finally agreed to release some prisoners of Israel and that is the reason Qatar succeeded in the process of the ceasefire between IDF and Hamas. Qatar is finally setting an example of being a mediating force before superpowers and big democracies of the world.
So how can India negotiate with the international community to ensure peace in that region?Should India take any lead just like Qatar?
Look, especially if you talk about the Palestinian issue, India is capable of talking to the Palestinians as well as Israelis because India has good relations with both countries; especially the PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas and India have good relations. India can convince not only Palestinians but also the Israelis to reach the final solution to the Palestine issue.The two-state solutiongiven by the UN Security Council in 1948 should be respected. So,India, making good use of its diplomatic relations, can play an important role.
One more important point is that without Iran we cannot talk about peace in the Middle Eastern country. Iran is a very important player. It has also very good relations with India, as we had direct diplomatic, political, economic, trade and energy relations with Iran. So, India is capable of convincing Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia also.
The UN was established to resolve conflicts between nations. How do you see its role in the present Israel-Palestineconflict?How has it played its role in the recent past?
The major purpose of the UN formation is to maintain peace and stability the worldover. There are some provisions to resolve the conflict in the world – not only in the Middle East region but the worldover. Chapter Seven of the UN Charter mentionsmaintaining peace and stability without using force. It means mediation is possible, negotiation is possible and the UN can also send a special envoy to these countries to negotiate.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has given several statements on Israeli attacks on Palestinians, especially innocent Palestinians. Despite the UN statementsand warnings, Israel is not ready to stop the attack on innocent Palestinians. So, in this sense, the United Nations has failed.
Also, Israel is not allowing food and water assistance and medical equipment to enter Gaza. Israel also stopped the UN mission’s entry into Gaza. Sothe UN should play a more active role in the region. All the superpowers,especially those who have veto powers, including the US must play a proactive role in resolving the problem. The UN must convince the five veto-powered countries to resolve the Palestinian issue.
In 1953, when the problem of the nationalization of Suez Canal came, Cornel Nasser was the president of Egypt. At that time Israel as well as Britain and France attacked Egypt and they were not ready to listen to the UN Security Council. When a resolution was proposed in the UN Security Council to withdraw their forces from Egypt and allow the nationalization of Suez Canal, France and Britain vetoed the resolution and they did not withdraw their forces from Egypt.
But at that time the USA played a very important role. There is a provision that if veto is used in the UN Security Council and a resolution is not passed by UNSC, this resolution can be taken in the General Assembly by any permanent member of the Security Council. So,the UN finally decided to take this issue in the UN General Assembly where more than two-thirds majority voted in favour of the resolution; only four or five countries, including France, Britain, Israel and one more country voted against the resolution. But most of the countries, including India supported President Nasser and wanted Israel, France and Britain to withdraw their forces and allow the nationalization of Suez Canal. At that time,the USA played a very important role.This type of proactive policy must be adopted by the UN on the Israel-Palestine issue.
So, do you believe Veto Power should be abolished to make the UN more meaningful and effective?
I don’t think veto power should be abolished but more countries can be accommodated as permanent members of the Security Council. There are lots of changes taking place the world over since the formation of the UN in 1945. At that time there were only two superpowers but today the world has become very multi-power.You can take the example of India which is much better than France, Britain and other countries. India and other countries that are eligible for permanent members of the Security Councilshould be accommodated. Then they can use veto. Only the five members of the Security Council cannot decide the future of the world. The Security Council should be more representative and inclusive.
As Director of Nelson Mandela Peace Conflict Studies Center, how do you think countries should behave during wars?
I think countries must follow the Geneva Convention.It is mentioned that during a war how should countries treat their prisoners and soldiers.The army should not target citizens and innocent people. These are mentioned in the Geneva Convention but unfortunately, this has not been followed by Israel. My take is that Israel should accept the UN Resolutions of 1948 and withdraw from the occupied Palestinian land.
As Director of the Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, we are more interested in promoting peace all over the world. So, I must say that the United Nations should play a more active role. GCC and OIC countries should also play a more active role to resolve the problem of the Palestinian cause as well as to resolve the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and other countries.
Ultimately an external player cannot resolve a problem. They will only protect their respective national interests and they will not protect the interests of the regional countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, etc. They should be proactive, they should be united, they should use the diplomacy to resolve their conflicts.
What should be the role of India to ensure peace in that region?
India’s role has been very clearly related to the Palestinian issue since 1947. India has a clear stand related to the Palestinian cause and strongly supports the two-state solution. Even when Israel attacked Palestine this time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the world that they are not supporting the terrorist groups.At the same time, he clearly mentioned that India is with the Palestinian people and those who are living in the camp, those who are living outside the country and have left their homes because of Israeli occupation there.
India is playing a greater role not only on the Palestinian issue but all over the world. That’s why our Prime Minister has visited a number of Middle Eastern countries and has also received the highest awards there. Prime Minister has very recently visited Qatar and the Sultan of Qatar is also likely to visit India very soon. This is good diplomacy and we expect something positive to come out from the meet. India will also be able to play a proactive role to ensure peace in that region.
What do you think should be the role of the international community to bring Israel and Palestinians to the negotiating table in order to find a long-lasting solution to the Palestinian cause?
Take the example of 1993, when the Oslo Accord came.At that time the USA played a very important role. Because of that finally Israeli Prime Minister Isaac agreed to return Jordanthe land that was occupied in 1967. Isaac and Yasser Arafat played a very important role mediated by the USA.
This time also, international powers like Russia, the USA, Britain, France and China should play a more active role to find a long-lasting solution to the Palestinian cause. They should try to restrict and warn Israel: if you don’t withdraw then economic sanctions will be imposed on Israel. But this type of action has not been taken by China too.