Akhtar Raja
Sometimes imagery is everything and the issue at the heart of a matter is buried deep within it in a casket. At other times imagery created by words will seize hearts in truth and make them weep – as do the captivating lyrics of ‘Olive Branch’ sung by Elyanna.
Recently, Andrew Marr, the accomplished British journalist, author, and commentator took a look ‘below the surface’ at Trump’s state visit to U.K. The U.S. President was lavished with pomp and ceremony to win favour and avoid him going off-piste. Marr raised a question: whether British democracy was being surrendered by its vassal state. American technological giants are poised to take over everything from defence to data centres, and from artificial intelligence to social media, while retaining profits and control in the U.S.
The emergency summit of Leaders from across the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) rallied in Doha to express a position on Israel following its September 9 attack on Doha. Six people were killed.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani justifiably sought a “fierce” and “firm” response and accountability for Israel’s crimes.
After Israel’s unlawful assaults in seven jurisdictions Qatar rightly sent out invitations to Muslim states and those nations correctly honoured their host by attending. Brotherly etiquette. But what exactly have the steps to activate a joint defence mechanism been? I expected, at the very least, Pakistan and Turkiye to immediately ink a treaty with Qatar to ‘openly’ support its defence thereby also, indirectly, protecting Qatar’s ability to continue acting as a mediator and being an unwavering voice for Palestine by allowing, amongst other things, the Al Jazeera media network to continue to document history and collect evidence (even though its journalists are being murdered).
Instead, a ‘Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement’ between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was announced. Whilst it remains unclear what exactly this entails and whether there are any undisclosed confidential terms as part of the agreement, the pact does not appear to benefit the Palestinians. Without more, there is a danger that for old timers like me, interpreting the visuals of the Pakistani delegation is something more akin to a scene out of Fawlty Towers (with the two characters: Basil and Manuel), rather than a power play in the collective interests of the Muslim world. How exactly are Pakistan’s nuclear-armed military and ace pilots going to contribute to saving Palestinian lives – directly or indirectly? Some media coverage has hailed this as the Muslim world’s ‘Article 5’ moment.
Article 5 is the collective defence clause of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members, requiring each other member to take “such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area”.
Whilst this a good development, potentially in support of a larger multilateral cohesive force, the priority and timing may not be. This could be seen as a message to Israel, and therefore the U.S, that any misconceived ideas about a Greater Israel will not be tolerated. But that signal is far weaker than realpolitik at present.
On the one hand Pakistan is sensitive to protecting the land of the two Holy sites but on the other hand it is also a gun for hire looking for much needed help for its own economy. Pakistan has a long tradition of militarily supporting its Saudi brother state. But wherein all of this does the ideological duty to prevent the annihilation of Palestine and its people lie? The imperative for a Muslim state is to do everything it can to turn a Palestinian child’s visible rib cage into a body clothed with muscle, health, and safety.
Okay, so if not Qatar, then why not the provision of security guarantees for Yemen? Are the definitive statements of the Prophet (pbuh) not enough: “The best of men are the men of Yemen, belief is Yemeni and I am Yemeni”. The Prophet (pbuh) invoked blessings on the Yemeni and identified them as possessing an understanding of faith and sagacity whilst also being a source of assistance (it seems, in conflict).
Yemen has remained steadfast in its support for Palestine and has paid heavily in return including, by suffering the killing of the prime minister and other ministers of the Houthis’ government in the capital, Sanaa, by Israeli air strikes.
Pakistan and Turkiye will eventually come good. The Doha conference should have been a salutary lesson in how and when to grasp the nettle and consign outcome to faith and not imagery, material gain, or any lesser purpose. Qatar and Yemen deserve unwavering support to precipitate and fortify the first step in a collective effort for Palestine.
— Akhtar Raja is a British lawyer based in London and Principal of Quist Solicitors
