This is with reference to the report “HRW: Israeli house razing ‘war crime’” (Nov. 23). I fail to understand when will the so-called champions of human rights pay attention to such reports. What motivates them to lend unflinching support to Israel? Since its creation, Israel has been crushing Palestinians with impunity. Despite its ugly track record on human rights violations, countries like the United States and the United Kingdom are continuously supporting the Zionist state and even call on other nations to “protect” Israel from “aggression.”
They don’t appear to recognize that Israel itself is the aggressor. Who gave it the right to annex other people’s land? The state of Israel is basically a blot on the face of the world. It is a perfect example of “might is right.”
The world leaders never miss an opportunity to criticize a killing carried out by a Palestinian in response to Israeli atrocities but whenever Israel attacks and pulverizes Palestinian lands and people, they call it Israel’s right to self-defense.
This hypocrisy fuels extremist tendencies in people. When nobody in the world is ready to do anything to address the issues facing oppressed nations, what else they can do. At the end of the day, they take up arms and start striving for their rights. The international community’s apathy toward the Palestinians has only stoked radicalism in the Muslim countries. The United Nations only pays lip service and plays hostage to the whims and wishes of a few powerful nations, who are great Israeli benefactors.
It is not only the case with Palestinians; the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are also left to rot. We remember the swift international response to the issue of East Timor. The bifurcation of Sudan took place recently. There are many other examples that clearly show the world’s bias toward Muslim countries. It is due to the injustice meted out to Muslims that give an opportunity to certain elements to misguide people in the name of Islam. The world powers talk about peace and stability in the Muslim world but fail to take any concrete and meaningful step to address the issues that are behind the turmoil. The blind western support to Israel is a major issue. If the international community is really in search for peace, it should revisit its policies toward Israel. I am sure this will help reduce the simmering anger in the Muslim world. — Faraz Azeem, Dammam
Israeli crimes and the world
