MA Khaleque: In the Holy Qur’an, the Almighty says to Muslims, `The Jews are your open enemy. Do not befriend them.` How true this warning of Allah SWT is can only be understood by looking at the Middle East. The anti-humanitarian Jewish state of Israel in the Middle East is pursuing a policy of ruthless repression against the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood day after day, regardless of any rules and regulations. Israel was also created in a controversial way. In 1948, three years after the end of World War II, the imperialist powers Britain and the United States reunited the Jews scattered throughout the world and arranged for their temporary residence in Palestine. Since then, the state of Israel has continued its brutal persecution of the peace-loving people of Palestine. And a number of countries, including the United States, have been unconditionally supporting and cooperating with them in their misdeeds. Israel`s aggression is not limited to the Palestinian territories, but continues to wreak havoc throughout the Middle East. The state of Israel continues to spread terrorism around the world. In 1956, 1967 and 1973, Israel became embroiled in conventional wars with neighboring Arab countries. With the direct help of the imperialist clique, Israel occupied many areas of the Arab countries in these wars. In addition, throughout the year, Israel has been attacking the people of Palestine and neighboring Muslim countries. No Muslim country supports Israel in international forums because of Israel`s inhumane behavior. Israel does not even have bilateral diplomatic relations with any Muslim country in the world. In the 1973 war, Israel occupied Sinai and other areas in Egypt. At that time, the Egyptian authorities were forced to establish a peace treaty with Israel. No conscientious Muslim country can ever support a state called Israel.

But to everyone`s surprise, the UAE signed an agreement a few days ago to establish bilateral diplomatic relations with Israel. In a few days, Bahrain also announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel. The country has already established diplomatic relations with Israel. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have announced that they are pursuing diplomatic relations with Israel with the aim of establishing peace in Palestine. However, on the same day that the agreement was signed at the White House in the presence of US President Donald Trump, Israel launched airstrikes on Palestinian territory. The US president has announced that Saudi Arabia will soon sign a peace agreement with Israel. However, there was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia. Most analysts have called the signing of the peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain with Israel a "clear betrayal" of Palestinian interests. They think that this so-called peace agreement will make it easier for Israel to manage its aggression in the Middle East. At the same time, the Palestinian independence movement will become weaker. Many have questioned why the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain need to sign a so-called peace agreement with Israel at this time. The United Arab Emirates, a country of 1.4 million people, and Bahrain, a country of 1.6 million people, have broken the hearts of 423 million Arabs and 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide by signing peace agreements with Israel. Israel is a state that never adheres to international norms. Although the United Nations has repeatedly offered to give up the lands of the occupied Arab states through war, Israel has never complied. The United States has been providing naked support to Israel. As a result, Israel does not care about anyone. In this case, the US two-pronged policy is very clear. When a Muslim country builds a nuclear bomb, the United States attacks it. But in the case of Israel it says nothing. On the contrary, Israel does not hesitate to attack the installations of any Muslim country if it takes the initiative to build a nuclear gut. Whenever a Muslim country in the Middle East tries to stand up, the United States and its obedient countries attack it. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are signaling the signing of an agreement with Israel that they want to establish peace in Palestine. But the Israeli prime minister has made it clear that their immigration process will not be stopped under any circumstances. So how can the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain make peace with Israel if it forcibly occupies Palestinian land? In addition to the formation of an independent Palestinian state, the ‘Two Nation Theory’ has now gained considerable popularity. In fact, this is the reality. The Arab world cannot deny the existence of Israel. So it would be logical to form two independent states, Palestine and Israel. But even here, there is no interest from Israel. Rather, they are more interested in building a single independent Israel by displacing Palestinian Muslims from their homes. In this situation, any initiative by a Muslim country in the Middle East to establish a peace agreement with Israel will be called into question.

Now the question is why the UAE and Bahrain interested in establishing a peace agreement with Israel? And did US President Donald Trump choose this time to sign the agreement? How strong is the basis for the US President`s hope that Saudi Arabia will soon sign a peace agreement with Israel? The Muslim countries in the Middle East that have shown an uncompromising attitude towards the question of Israel have become the victims of US aggression. We have already seen the change of government in several Muslim countries in the name of the so-called `Arab Spring`. However, these changes of government have not brought any good results for the countries concerned. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have long been under US pressure. So they were eventually forced to concede defeat to US strategy. Saudi Arabia may not establish formal relations with Israel now for strategic reasons, but there is no guarantee that it will not in the future. Saudi relations with the United States and Israel have improved in recent years. Especially in the case of Crown Prince MBS seems to be a little ahead. Much of the reform he has implemented is in stark contrast to Western-style and Saudi-style regulations. The United States knows Crown Prince MBS as one of their true friends. The U.S. president recently said he had protected Crown Prince MBS from the murder case of journalist Khashoggi. Many have complained that if Saudi Arabia takes a hard line on the Palestinian question, the so-called Arab Spring could begin in that country. In that case the monarchy can be overthrown. Saudi Arabia is by no means willing to take that risk. Saudi Arabia is more concerned with maintaining its monarchy than protecting the interests of the Palestinian people. The Saudi-influenced Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) has not been able to play an effective role in protecting Palestinian interests. Even the situation is so bad that it is almost impossible for the OIC to take a unanimous decision against Israel. A few more Middle Eastern countries could establish bilateral relations with Israel in the next few days. The United States can claim credit for making Israel increasingly acceptable to Muslim countries in the Middle East. The question is, did Donald Trump sign any such agreement just two months before the US presidential election? Now he has to be busy with his election. The signing of Israeli agreements with Arab countries is also an election strategy of Donald Trump. By signing the so-called peace agreement of the Arab countries with Israel, Donald Trump is trying to appease the powerful Jewish lobby of the United States. The Jewish lobby has always played an important role in the US presidential election. So if this lobby can be satisfied, then it may be easier to overcome the electoral dilemma.

Where is the end of the political instability and new polarization that has begun in the Arab world with the signing of the so-called peace agreement between the two Arab countries and Israel? Will everyone else watch this US-Israeli diplomatic joke or protest against it? In the current situation, it will not be possible to solve this problem through OIC or any other organization. Now alternative leadership is needed. Initiatives could be taken to form a new alliance of Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries. In the 1960s, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey formed a strong Muslim alliance called the Regional Co-operation and Development (RCD). By uniting more like-minded Muslim countries, that alliance can be renewed. In that case, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could take the lead. The Turkish President is very active in the international arena on various issues related to Muslim interests. He has excellent acceptance in the Muslim world. Turkey is the only Muslim country in the European Union. Therefore, it is not uncommon for him to get the support of the European Union on various Muslim issues. The President of Turkey is a very determined person. Then it is possible to lead the Muslim world properly. Turkey is also a very strong country economically and militarily. One thing to keep in mind here is that resisting Israel in the Middle East will not work through negotiations alone. This requires economic and military strength. Pakistan is a nuclear power. Iran is also on the path to nuclear power. In addition, there are some other Muslim countries that say military power. They must unite and take the initiative to resist Israel. It is not necessary to proceed in the traditional way to deal with Israel. This requires timely new thinking.

Author: MA Khaleque is a Columnist and Retired General Manager of Bangladesh Development Bank Limited.