Anjum Raheel Jadoon
Author is a PhD scholar of International Relations
MY,University,Islamabad.
In a small woody cabin having tinted glasses all around, we were sitting in a peaceful and calm environment. His voice was echoing breaking the silence of deep pondering in a moderate temperature. We both were listening him very attentively with focus on each and every word he utters. Suddenly, he sounds about Promised Land and chosen people. I was astonished and it was a surprise for me at least. Keeping the continuity, he asked “whether is it a political slogan”.we both shook our heads in no. As per him, Promised Land and chosen people is a purely religious narrative linked to all three Abrahamic religions i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
This religious narrative is the main root cause of Middle East crises. All the three Abrahamic religions consider them the chosen people and claim the sacred city of Jerusalem. By going in depth, he said As per Hebrew Bible, God made promise of Kanaan land to prophet Musa and his descendants.
This was a covenant of God with Israelites and they were the chosen people of God. This is the religious base for establishment of Israel and greater Israel plan which encompasses most of Middle East area including some portion of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is also based upon this religious narrative.
On the other hand, there is some indication of Promised Land in holy books of Christianity but Christians take it more spiritual than the territorial promise. As far as the concept of Muslims according to their religious scriptures, Jerusalem city situated in the Kanaan area is of very importance. Among three most holy mosques, Aqsa mosque is in the city of Jerusalem city which is the Qibla-e-Awwal for Muslims around the world.
Due to above, religious reasons, many wars were fought for the occupation of this land especially the Jerusalem city. Among those wars, Crusades wars are very famous which were started in 1095. After series of wars, Saladin Ayyubi, the commander of Muslim army finally conquered the Holy city of Jerusalem. It was ruled by Muslims till British occupation in 20th century. Till First World War, Kanaan was called as Palestine and was part of Ottoman Empire.
In First World War, Ottoman Empire was initially neutral then entered into war on 02nd November, 1914 by a surprise attack on Russian ports in Black Sea. Ottoman Empire was one of the Central powers along with the German empire, Austria-Hungry and Bulgaria.
Ottoman Empire faced defeat in 1918 and eventually dissolved in 1922.Other side was Allied Powers which includes Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada and the United States of America.
Great Britain, one of the Allied Powers issued a public statement in 1917 called Balfour Declaration (on the name of British Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour), announced the support for the establishment of “National Home for the Jewish People”.
With the defeat of Ottoman Empire and its dissolution, thousands of Jews were brought to Palestine from all around the world especially from Europe and Russia. All these settlers were inhabited in Kanaan with the promise of a independent holy Jewish state. Hence, with the help of foreign powers Jews occupied some areas of Palestine and announced the establishment of Israel on 14th May, 1949.
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Muslim dwellers were killed or forcibly ousted from these areas. This forced displacement is called “Nakba” (meaning “catastrophe”) by the Palestinians. Due to this Promised Land, Arab and Israel have fought many wars such as 1948-49, 1956, 1967,1973,1982,2006 and 2003-present.
The latest is the Hamas attack on Israel on 7th October,2023 in which 1195 people were killed in Israel including civilians, ladies and children. In counter retaliation by Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) killed 50,886 Palestinians and 115,875 were wounded so far. As per media reports, Israel intend to get Gaza evacuated from Palestinians and settles them in the Syrian territory.
This proposal has been strongly rejected by Arab states. Now, millions of Palestinians are living in refugees camps while thousands fled from their homes to save lives are still living in other countries.
Majority of the Palestinians want their areas back from Israeli occupation and establish an independent state while Israel wants to dwell more Jewish settlers in the occupied territory in order to fulfil the divine covenant of Promised Land. For this, even she wants to expand its borders up to the some portion of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Now coming up to the possible solutions of this Promised Land, although followers of other religions i.e. Christians and Muslim don’t negate the covenant of God with Israelites but Christians are of the view that the covenant was more than spiritual than the territorial.
While Muslims say that the covenant was made with the righteous people than the ethnic group. No religion of the world supports killing and displacement of innocent people.
Human Rights activists and organizations irrespective of their religions are raising voices against genocide of Palestinians by Israeli Defence Forces. Even, in Israel, some organizations are protesting against the cruelties by their country. So, all the stakeholders especially USA and other great powers should play their role to bring peace in the region.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Qatar, UAE and other Muslim countries should also take part actively to resolve the long lasting issue. Negotiations must be initiated by following the Oslo Peace Accords in 1990s which were a milestone in Peace process.
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Israel was Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and PLO was given self-governance in West Bank and Gaza Strip. But, lack of interest seems from Western Governments and Arab states, perhaps due to the minerals under the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Gaza Strip which extends up to 200 nautical miles from coastline.
Some reports indicate that there is trillion of cubic feet natural gas and millions of barrels of crude oil reserves under this zone. Western multinational companies especially influential Oil& Gas companies want to get rights of extraction of this black gold.
So, hunger of Gaza minerals might be the hidden obstacle in peace process. The best and possible solution may be the two states formula. Israel currently due to the pressure of right wing political parties seems reluctant to accept this formula but this could be done by putting pressure on it from USA and its western allies.
Further, allowing and giving surety to the dwellers for their safe future whether their homes fall in any state irrespective of their religion. Otherwise Middle East will remain bloody due to the Promised Land and chosen people.
