LETTER | World should have foreseen latest Middle East conflict

LETTER | A few days ago, I wrote on how the Israelis embracing of Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE, economically and diplomatically, is a “kiss of death” to the Palestinian struggle since it will further isolate and marginalise its fight for survival.

I am of the view Israel’s “diplomatic” move to establish friendly ties with regional Arab- Muslim nations is the old ploy of dividing the Arab-Muslim nations to further distance themselves from the Palestinian struggle and sufferings while Israel continues to plunder.

While making these friendly overtures to the Arab neighbours, more illegal Jewish settlements are being built, more Palestinian houses are being demolished and more encroachments into the sacred Muslim Al-Aqsa Mosque are happening.

The Palestinians’ issues are not being addressed and they are slowly being forgotten in the new Middle East landscape being built by Israel and the US.

The Palestinian cause is too important and too big to be ignored, hoping it would just go away and be forgotten after almost 60 years of Israeli occupation.

As Israel continues to encroach on Palestinian land, demolish their homes and kill those who resist this tyranny, the West see their resistance to these atrocities as an act of terrorism and not self-defence.

What about Palestine’s rights?

Don’t the Palestinians have any right to self-defence and self-determination of their homeland?

These cruelties and the act of apartheid on their own soil as the world and their Arab neighbours just watch is intolerable to the Palestinians.

As their traditional Muslim brothers continue to ignore their plight and isolate them, I sensed something is going to give and a new major conflict may result due to their increasing isolation and frustration.

Unfortunately, my worst fears unravelled in the bloody violence that imploded when Hamas and Islamic Jihad decided to strike deep into Israel.

Hundreds were killed on both sides and Israeli civilians and military hostages were taken in this almost unprecedented surprise attack on Israel.

I am surprised Israel and their US ally, with all their sophisticated intelligence, were so unprepared and did not see this coming.

I am of the opinion it is due to Israel's and the US’ sheer arrogance and over-confidence in thinking it had neutralised the Palestinians’ traditional Arab allies.

Pushed too far

The Palestinians have been pushed into a corner for too long, with no outside allies speaking up for them and they had to react and strike out on their own.

We are all to blame for this latest violence and escalation of unprecedented attacks. We failed the Palestinian cause.

The Palestinians took it upon themselves to address their sufferings over the years as the world as well as their Muslim brothers and neighbours had abandoned and forgotten them.

We cannot claim to be blameless for our fellow brothers’ long-sufferings and continued spilling of blood.

The whole world had failed to address the Palestinian issue and their tragic state of affairs.

Writer is the head of international bureau for Amanah.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.