Muhammad in the Bible

Dr Jamal Badawi

Dr. Jamal Badawi

Those who follow the Apostle, the unlettered Prophet, Whom they find mentioned in their own Scriptures, in the Torah and the Gospel…

(Holy Qu’ran: VII – 157; Translation: Yusuf Ali)

BIBLE PROPHECIES ABOUT THE ADVENT OF MUHAMMAD
Abraham is widely regarded as the Patriarch of monotheism and the common father of the Jews, Christians and Muslims. Through His second son, Isaac, came all Israelite prophets including such towering figures as Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus. May peace and blessings be upon them all. The advent of these great prophets was in partial fulfillment of God’s promises to bless the nations of earth through the descendents of Abraham (Genesis12:2-3). Such fulfillment is wholeheartedly accepted by Muslims whose faith considers the belief in and respect of all prophets an article of faith.

BLESSINGS OF ISHMAEL AND ISAAC
Was the first born son of Abraham (Ishmael) and his descendants included in God’s covenant and promise? A few verses from the Bible may help shed some light on this question;

1) Genesis 12:2-3 speaks of God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants before any child was born to him.

2) Genesis 17:4 reiterates God’s promise after the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac.

3) In Genesis, ch. 21. Isaac is specifically blessed but Ishmael was also specifically blessed and promised by God to become “a great nation” especially in Genesis 21:13, 18.

4) According to Deuteronomy 21:15-17 the traditional rights and privileges of the first born son are not to be affected by the social status of his mother (being a “free” woman such as Sarah, Isaac’s mother, or a “Bondwoman” such as Hagar, Ishmael’s mother). This is only consistent with the moral and humanitarian principles of all revealed faiths.

5) The full legitimacy of Ishmael as Abraham’s son and “seed” and the full legitimacy of his mother, Hagar, as Abraham’s wife are clearly stated in Genesis 21:13 and 16:3. After Jesus, the last Israelite messenger and prophet, it was time that God’s promise to bless Ishmael and his descendants be fulfilled. Less than 600years after Jesus, came the last messenger of God, Muhammad, from the progeny of Abraham through Ishmael. God’s blessing of both of the main branches of Abraham’s family tree was now fullfilled. But are there additional corroborating evidence that the Bible did in fact foretell the advent of prophet Muhammad?

MUHAMMAD: THE PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES
Long time after Abraham, God’s promise to send the long-awaited Messenger was repeated this time in Moses’ words.
In Deuteronomy 18:18, Moses spoke of the prophet to be sent by God who is:

1) From among the Israelite’s “brethren”, a reference to their Ishmaelite cousins as Ishmael was the other son of Abraham who was explicitly promised to become a “great nation”.

2) A prophet like unto Moses. There were hardly any two prophets ,who were so much alike as Moses and Muhammad. Both were given comprehensive law code of life, both encountered their enemies and were victors in miraculous ways, both were accepted as prophets/statesmen and both migrated following conspiracies to assassinate them. Analogies between Moses and Jesus overlooks not only the above similarities but other crucial ones as well (e.g. the natural birth, family life and death of Moses and Muhammad but not of Jesus, who was regarded by His followers as the Son of God and not exclusively a messenger of God, as Moses and Muhammad were and as Muslim belief Jesus was).

THE AWAITED PROPHET WAS TO COME FROM ARABIA
Deuteronomy 33:1-2 combines references to Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. It speaks of God (i.e. God’s revelation) coming from Sinai, rising from Seir (probably the village of Sa’ir near Jerusalem) and shining forth from Paran. According to Genesis 21:21, the wilderness of Paran was the place where Ishmael settled (i.e. Arabia, specifically Mecca).

Indeed the King James version of the Bible mentions the pilgrims passing through the valley of Ba’ca (another name of Mecca) in Psalms 84:4-6.

Isaiah 42:1-13 speaks of the beloved of God. His elect and messenger who will bring down a law to be awaited in the isles and who “shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgement on earth.” Verse 11, connects that awaited one with the descendants of Ke’dar. Who is Ke’dar? According to Genesis 25:13, Ke’dar was the second son of Ishmael, the ancestor of prophet Muhammad.

MUHAMMAD’S MIGRATION FROM MECCA TO MEDINA: PROPHECIED IN THE BIBLE?
Habakkuk 3:3 speaks of God (God’s help) coming from Te’man (an Oasis North of Medina according to J. Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible), and the holy one (coming) from Paran. That holy one who under persecution migrated from Paran (Mecca) to be received enthusiastically in Medina was none but prophet Muhammad.
Indeed the incident of the migration of the prophet and his persecuted followers is vividly described in Isaiah 21:13-17. That section foretold as well about the battle of Badr in which the few ill-armed faithful miraculously defeated the “mighty” men of Ke’dar, who sought to destroy Islam and intimidate their own folks who turned -to Islam.

THE QUR’AN (KORAN) FORETOLD IN THE BIBLE?
For twenty-three years, God’s words (the Qur’an) were truely put into Muhammad’s mouth. He was not the “author” of the Qur’an. The Qur’an was dictated to him by Angel Gabriel who asked Muhammad to simply repeat the words of the Qur’an as he heard them. These words were then committed to memory and to writing by those who hear them during Muhammad’s life time and under his supervision.

Was it a coincidence that the prophet “like unto Moses” from the “brethren” of the Israelites (i.e. from the lshmaelites) was also described as one in whose mouth God will put his words and that he will speak in the name of God, (Deuteronomy 18:18-20). Was it also a coincidence the “Paraclete” that Jesus foretold to come after Him was described as one who “shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak (John 16:13)

Was it another coincidence that Isaiah ties between the messenger connected with Ke’dar and a new song (a scripture in a new language) to be sang unto the Lord (Isaiah 42:10-11). More explicitly, prophesies Isaiah “For with stammering lips, and another tongue, will he speak to this people” (Isaiah 28:11). This latter verse correctly describes the “stammering lips” of Prophet Muhammad reflecting the state of tension and concentration he went through at the time of revelation. Another related point is that the Qur’an was revealed in piece-meals over a span of twenty three years. It is interesting to compare this with Isaiah 28:10 whichspeaks of the same thing.

THAT PROPHET- “PARACLETE” – MUHAMMAD
Up to the time of Jesus (peace be upon him), the Israelites were still awaiting for that prophet like unto Moses prophecied in Deuteronomy 18:18. When John the Baptist came, they asked him if he was Christ and he said “no”. They asked him if he was Elias and he said “no”. Then, in apparent reference to Deuteronomy 18:18, they asked him “Art thou that Prophet” and he answered, “no”. (John 1: 1 9-2 1).

In the Gospel according to John (Chapters 14, 15, 16) Jesus spoke of the “Paraclete” or comforter who will come after him, who will be sent by Father as another Paraclete, who will teach new things which the contemporaries of Jesus could not bear. While the Paraclete is described as the spirit of truth, (whose meaning resemble Muhammad’s famous title Al-Amin, the trustworthy), he is identified in one verse as the Holy Ghost (John 14:26). Such a designation is however inconsistent with the profile of that Paraclete. In the words of the Dictionary of the Bible, (Ed. J. Mackenzie) “These items, it must be admitted do not give an entirely coherent picture.”

Indeed history tells us that many early Christians understood the Paraclete to be a man and not a spirit. This might explain the followings who responded to some who claimed, without meeting the criteria stipulated by Jesus, to be the awaited “Paraclete”.

It was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was the Paraclete, Comforter, helper, admonisher sent by God after Jesus. He testified of Jesus, taught new things which could not be borne at Jesus’ time, he spoke what he heard (revelation), he dwells with the believers (through his well-preserved teachings). Such teachings will remain forever because he was the last messenger of God, the only Universal Messenger to unite the whole of humanity under God and on the path of PRESERVED truth. He told of many things to come which “came to pass” in the minutest detail meeting, the criterion given by Moses to distinguish between the true prophet and the false prophets (Deuteronomy 18:22). He did reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgement (John 16:8-11)

WAS THE SHIFT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP PROPHECIED?
Following the rejection of the last Israelite prophet, Jesus, it was about time that God’s promise to make Ishmael a great nation be fulfilled (Genesis 21:13, 18)

In Matthew 21:19-21, Jesus spoke of the fruitless fig tree (A Biblical symbol of prophetic heritage) to be cleared after being given a last chance of three years (the duration of Jesus’ ministry) to give fruit. In a later verse in the same chapter, Jesus said: “Therefore, say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof” (Matthew 21:43). That nation of Ishmael’s descendants (the rejected stone in Matthew 21:42) which was victorious against all super-powers of its time as prophecied by Jesus: “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:44).

OUT OF CONTEXT COINCIDENCE?
Is it possible that the numerous prophecies cited here are all individually and combined out of context misinterpretations? Is the opposite true, that such infrequently studied verses fit together consistently and clearly point to the advent of the man who changed the course of human history, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Is it reasonable to conclude that all these prophecies, appearing in different books of the Bible and spoken by various prophets at different times were all coincidence? If this is so here is another strange “coincidence”!

One of the signs of the prophet to come from Paran (Mecca) is that he will come with “ten thousands of saints” (Deuteronomy 33:2 KJV). That was the number of faithful who accompanied Prophet Muhammad to Paran (Mecca) in his victorious, bloodless return to his birthplace to destroy the remaining symbols of idolatry in the Ka’bah.

Says God as quoted by Moses:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

(Deuteronomy 18:19)

Dear Readers:
May the light of truth shine in your heart and mind. May it lead you to peace and certitude in this life and eternal bliss in hereafter.

AMEEN

For further information please contact:

Islamic Information Foundation
Attn: Dr. Jamal Badawi
8 Laurel Lane
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3M 2P6
Tel., 902 / 445-2494

Dr. Jamal Badawi is a member of the Consultative Council of North America, a member of the Juristic Council of North America and the founder/chairman of the Islamic Information Foundation, a non-profit educational foundation registered in Canada and the US

Islamicity.Com

http://www.islamicity.com/Mosque/Muhammad_Bible.HTM

“Alpha Operation” – The Initial Partnership of Israel and Indonesia

ALPHA Operation was held when Indonesian air force purchased 32 units of A-4 Skyhawk from Israeli Air Force in 1980.

“IT was so disappointing! the flight plan that I have prepared so hard, has been cancelled in early morning. Now I got so many orders to meet squadron commander. What I thought, I didn’t pass the exam to attend the training in US and I have to stay in Indonesia as a low quality pilot. However after met the squadron commander, all the bad shadows disappeared, I turned out to receive new orders to fly the same format, but different routes. A complete map with many red dots was given to me. There is a red line that must be breached within twelve minutes then go outside. It makes me nervous, the red line is the border line between Israel and Syria”.

The narration above is a piece of the story from an Indonesian pilot who engaged in Alpha Operation, the largest secret mission of Indonesian air force to purchase 32 units of A-4 Skyhawk from Israel.

Here is an excerpt of Alpha Operation that collected from Djoko F Poerwoko’s autobiography book titled Menari di Angkasa (“Dancing in Space”).

Entering 1979, the issue of the renewal of Indonesian air force planes has started rolling. Due to the conditions of F-86 Sabre and T-33 Thunderbird were not feasible anymore. The government of Indonesia had to seek those who want to sell the aircrafts immediately. The The United States of America was just able to deliver 16 units of Northrop F-5E Tiger, but it was not enough to fill the squadron of Indonesian Air Force. Based on the intelligence extraction of Indonesian Military Headquarters (MABES), they obtained the news that Israel intends to release their A-4 skyhawk aircrafts, but Indonesia and Israel doesn’t have a diplomatic relationship. On the other hand, the purchase of the aircrafts eventually conducted through secret operation to avoid polemic in the community if published by media.

Towards Arizona, United States.

After the routine task of flying with F-86 Sabre, I had a last chance to fly again with the T-33. In fact, the performance of both planes becomes so weak. We were all so grateful, Indonesian air forces opened two major projects to build the new strength through Komodo Operation to bring Northrop F-5E Tiger from the United States, and Alpha Operation to bring A-4 Skyhawk from Israel.

The high level of confidentiality was seen based on how the procedures of personnel departure. When we were all ready to go, nobody knows, where do we go. Alpha Operation begins with sending seven technician teams of air squadron 11 as the first wave, and then followed by the last group which consists of 10 pilots to learn how to operate the new aircrafts.

As the last team, we received a briefing in air force headquarters. We were just told that the pilots will go to the United States for training, while the other information were still very hazy. After we finished for taking care all kinds of necessary papers connected to the United States, we were finally sent to Singapore with Garuda Indonesia flight from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

We landed at Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, in the evening and transferred to the Shangrila hotel. In the hotel there were some intelligence officers of Indonesian Military Headquarters and some foreigners who have been waiting for us, and we really doesn’t recognize those foreigner.

LB Moerdani

We finally found the answer, that our destination was actually not toward to the United States but to Israel. Then an intelligence officer from BIA (Indonesian Military Intelligence Agency) who has been waiting for us, immediately took all of our passports and replaced them with special passports (SPLP). I was really shocked to see the presence of Maj. Gen. Leonardus Benyamin Moerdani, who invited us for dinner. At that time, Maj. Gen. Leonardus Benyamin Moerdani was the head of Indonesian Military Intelligence Agency.

LB Moerdani

In that occasion, he told us with his cold face, “this mission is a secret mission, if you feels doubt, you’re allowed to go back. If this mission fails, the country will never recognize your citizenship. However, we will continue to pursue all means to bring you back. This mission will be considered successful if the dove (A-4 Skyhawk) has been landed at home”.

After listening to him, we feels anxiously as our first time to have such experience. I was asking my self, how we can bring 10 fighter jets to Indonesia without any single one knowing it?. Greater anxious comes again because our identities instantly changed, we had to remember our new names. Then, after the dinner in the Shangrila hotel, we had to immediately rush back to Singapore Paya Lebar Air Base and fly to Frankfurt with Lufthansa Boeing 747. In the plane, we were ordered not to speak each other, sitting apart, but still within the limits of visibility.

After landed in Frankfurt Airport, we had to switch planes again to get to the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Our trip was increasingly strange when we just got off the plane and even still feeling jet lag, suddenly someone handed boarding pass to us for the next flight to the Tel Aviv, Israel.

When arriving at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport after about four hours flight, we had no idea what to do. We just glances at each other and following the other passengers to the exit gate, but unexpectedly, as part of an intelligence operation, we’ve experienced an unpleasant treatment, we were all suddenly arrested and escorted by airport security staff. We couldn’t do anything, because we doesn’t know what else to do as the next scenario, there was only fast heart beating.

I was thinking that my life will be finished. I was so shocked how could Mossad secret agents quickly found us. Although the Mossad agents treated us politely, but we were still thinking the worst possibility. We imagines we will be deported or executed or at least imprisoned for life. Because as we knows Indonesia has no diplomatic relationship with Israel, and I was imagining who gave us the order to come to Israel.

Finally we arrived in the crypt, we feels so calm after seeing the BIA (Indonesian Military Intelligence Agency) officers who were also involved in this operation. Then we found out that we were deliberately arrested as its scenario, our detention was part of special path to avoid public’s knowledge.

We immediately received a short briefing about the various things about Israel. We were also taught to memorize the number in Hebrew numerals, and we had to remember “Ani tayas mis Singapore” that means “we are pilot from Singapore”, there was also greeting like “boken tof” means good morning and “shallom” as the greeting when meeting the colleagues.

Eilat, Israel.
One night sleep in the hotel, we were then transported with a van heading to the south along the Dead Sea. After two days of traveling, we finally arrived in the city of Eilat. The trip continues through the middle of desert, after passing through several guard posts, the van finally arrived at the huge air force base in the west region of Eilat city.

In Israel, the air force base has never had a definite name. the air force base named just with number and can be changed any time. Today, it could be named “number nine”, but the next day, it could be replaced with other numbers. In accordance with the agreement, we call this place as the “Arizona” because since the beginning we were told we will receive flight training in the United States.

The total time for flight training in Israel was four month. During the training the pilots were taught from the basic to development, in order to be able to control the A-4 Skyhawk aircraft properly. Flight training begins with the general flying for two hours everyday, accompanied by Israeli instructors.

After that, we were all allowed to conduct solo fly. Exercise then followed by higher level of difficulty. This time we should be able to operate A-4 Skyhawk as a tool of war. In Eilat, Israel’s southernmost city, there were variety of problems, but it does not bother our training. The main problem was absolutely the language and a very tight surveillance, because not all aviators of Israeli Air Force (IAF) could speak English, whereas we were not taught Hebrew in details.

A-4 Skyhawks

One of flight training lessons, for example maneuver formation doesn’t take time so long, the exercises were combined during free flying navigation or air to air maneuver. In this exercise session, I had ever penetrated the Syrian radar system with my Israeli instructor, we were so proud of it.

Our flight training ended on May 20, 1980, attended by Indonesian military officials with civilian clothes. Finally we got A-4 Skyhawk pilot license, we were so proud because we were trained by Israeli aviators. However, our happiness turned to be sad, after our license burned directly in front of our eyes by BIA officers. Then, we were gathered and told by BIA officers, “there will be no trace or evidence that you ever came here, just use your head to memorize all the lessons that have been obtained”.

Wing Day In The United States Of America.
After completing our flight training in Israel, we didn’t immediately return to Indonesia, but we were flown to the New York first. Overnight in New York, then taken to Buffalo Hill near Niagara Falls. We were sent to United States in order to erase our memories in Israel. We were given a lot of money to have fun in United States.

F Djoko Poerwanto

BIA officer bought me a Olympus F-1 camera and ordered to take the pictures as much as possible and send a letter or postcard to Indonesia to strengthen the conjecture that we are really in the United States to have flight training, not in Israel.

Finally, for any objects that shows the signs of the United States, must be directly used as background images. No exception to hotel gates, the shop name, even the garbage cans which US city names written on it. We were taken back to New York, then given a US tour for two weeks, sleeps in 10 different hotels and traveling with all transportation, from the aircrafts to the ships.

F Djoko Poerwanto

In Yuma, Arizona, there was a scenario we had exercise in the air force station of US Marine Corps Base (USMC). Three days in the air force station, we were given the opportunity for A-4 Skyhawk flying lessons in USMC completed with the instructors.

We were also ordered to take the pictures, as if we had graduated as pilots of A-4 Skyhawk, and received a certificate of USMC version. that was as reinforcement of the intelligence camouflage, that we were indeed educated in the US. One of the mandatory picture was we were positioned in front of A-4 Skyhawk in USMC.

Before return home, I also got an order to memorize the results of All England badminton match. In addition, I also expected to memorize some important events that happened in the world during our training in Israel. Lessons about international events continues to be given, even though we’ve been in the board of Branif Airways plane with destination to Singapore.

The Dove Landed.
May 4, 1980, just a day before USAF C-5 Galaxy landed at the Indonesian air force base in Madiun with carrying the first wave of F-5E Tiger package and A-4 Skyhawk which consisting of two single-seater and two double-seater aircrafts arrived in Tanjung Priok port with ship. A-4 Skyhawk aircrafts were transported by ship directly from Israel, wrapped in plastic that labeled F-5E Tiger. So that, media will recognize, they were indeed F-5E tiger aircrafts.

Common Information and Analysis (CIA)
Wed, october 1, 2014

http://cia.asia/intelligence-files/1516/alpha-operation-the-initial-partnership-of-israel-and-indonesia/

Indonesia – Israel Official Business Relationship

GOVERNMENT of Indonesia may say there is no diplomatic relations with Israel, but facts on the ground shows different, Government of Indonesia and Israel actually fosters good relations with Israel in business sector.

Intimate business relationship between Indonesia and Israeli government has been signed under decision of the fourth president of Indonesia, named Abdurrahman Wahid or often called Gusdur. In 1999, Abdurrahman Wahid has opened the official trade relations with Israel. The plan was also manifested by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Indonesia named Luhut Binsar Panjaitan in 2001 with signing the Decree No.23/MPP/01/2001 to legalize the trade relations between Indonesia and Israel which expected able to grow the economic development between two countries.

The intimacy relationship between Indonesia and Israel continued during the reign of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). On September 13, 2005, Indonesia Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayudha met Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, in New York, US. Hassan claimed the meeting was not to discuss the restoration of diplomatic relations. According to one foreign media, Jerusalem (Israel) has sent a letter to Jakarta to show the Israel’s willingness to improve business relationship between Jakarta and Tel Aviv.

Fact that found on the ground made SBY had to find strong reason to explain it on the public conference. At the office of the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in New York, Sixth President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) says “there is no something blur over Indonesia’s commitment that want to help the struggle of the Palestinian people”. Unfortunately President SBY’s statement doesn’t contain any meaning over the secret meeting between Indonesia and Israel to discuss business networks. However since then, the relations between the two countries become intensified.

In 2006, a trade mission carried out by Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with visiting Israel. The chairman of Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammad Hidayat has signed the economic agreements between the two countries. The president of Israel Manufacturers Association, Shraga Brosh believes and said “Indonesia can be a major and great market for the export of Israeli goods in Southeast Asia”. While the Chairman of Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammad Hidayat said that this cooperation could help Israeli companies to perform any business activities in Indonesia.

This visit also confirms the intensive establishment of contacts between the two countries in trade. The volume of trade data between Indonesia and Israel during 2005 has reached 154 million dollars. Israel believe it will reach 600 million dollars in 2010 and more than 1 billion dollars in 2012.

Israel is targeting various important projects in Indonesia, for example, PLT-Geothermal development project in Sumatra worth 200 million dollars that won by Ormat Technologies Inc, Israeli engineering company in the field of geothermal energy. In addition, Indonesia has become marketing target of biomedical technology products.

An Indonesian surgeon who frequently travelling to conflict areas around the world such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Somalia has revealed many ICU equipment in the major hospitals of Indonesia bought from Israel. In this regard, Indonesian government has sent many times medical teams to Tel Aviv for ICU (Intensive Care Unit) training.

Beside medical sector, according to data that has been obtained, Indonesian military have purchased a number of firearms such as the sniper rifle Galil Galatz 7.62mm, Micro Tavor 9mm, Tavor TAR-21, Jericho 941, IWI Negev 5.56mm Light Machine Gun and Pistol Jericho 941 which those all made by Israeli Military Industries (IMI) in 2012.

According to General (Ret) Soemitro, a harmonious and intimacy relationship between the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad, and Indonesian military (TNI) are real. He writes: “David, Raviv, and Yosi Melman in their book “Every Spy Prince” wrote that Indonesia had entered into a relationship with Mossad. He said, the Mossad sent an envoy, a team from Mossad based in Singapore visits Jakarta many times and then held talks which led Israeli agreed to hold a military training for the Indonesian army and its intelligence. Mossad has considered the Intelligence realtionship between Indonesia and Israel is a good choice, and then Israeli intelligence opened its first representative in Jakarta under the guise of trade, while Indonesia has also sent military personnel to Israel to get training.

A blog on the internet revealed that Israeli intelligence has entered Indonesia. They do not move in large numbers, but it is very effective because some agents have received training through the spiritual tour packages. The existence of several local agents who have been trained having tasks to create some informants for Singapore-based Mossad. There are only about 2-3 Mossad agents in Indonesia, while their center communication and command remains in Singapore. The purpose of infiltration to obtain recognition and to find out the way to open official diplomatic relations. All facts that have been found indicates there have been strong and sustainable relationship between Indonesia and Israel without having diplomatic relationship.

Common Information Analysis
Sat, October 25, 2014

Above: Gus Dur along Rabbi Hier Merbi, President Shimon of Wiesenthal Center (SWC). Below: Gur Dur kissing “Medal of Valor” medal of valor from Shimon Wiesenthal Center, a pro-Zionist, American, on May 6, 2008. The award ceremony was performed in a dinner party attended by many prominent American and Israeli Zionists including pro-Zionist Will Smith (Bad Boys The Movie), at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.

http://cia.asia/analysis/1988/indonesia-israel-official-business-relationship/

Algebra of violence in the Mideast (2)

Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Raja Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Awang Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abdul Karim
KUALA LUMPUR

PRESCIENTLY, the grave concern expressed by Gary Burge actually almost covers the content of his book: “Whose Lands? Whose Promise? — What Christians Are Not Being Told about Israel and the Palestinians.” It is about “a profound injustice committed by the Israelis against the helpless Palestinians.”

This grave concern actually happened again in August to September 2014. Within this period, the Zionist military might bombs schools, UN shelters, hospitals, mosques, 18,000 houses, three 14-storey apartments, electrical supply that directly crippled the sewerage system and the supply of water, the desalination plant. (Re: The Strait Times: “Gaza Faces Steep Rebuilding Challenge.)

The International New York Times, 15-9-2014, carried this article: “In Gaza, A Battle To Open Schools”:

[Related letter: Algebra of violence in the Middle East]

“There were 500,000 students. They were scheduled to go to school. They were 648 schools, with 421 schools to be used as double shifts. But 34 schools buildings were bombed (by the Zionist military) beyond use; dozens more in need of major repairs. Thirty one schools were still sheltering 59,728 people.”

But a generation that has survived three wars in six years — the latest killing 500 Gazans younger than 18 and injuring 3,100, as well as creating 1400 orphans, has more than just material assets destroyed; thousands are violently traumatised by the Zionist bombs, machine guns and collapsing buildings.”

Traumatising the Palestinian children is the long term strategy of the Zionist state to weaken the future generations of the Palestinian, mentally and physically.

According to Gary M Burge, since 1948 to 1990, 531 Arab villages have been either destroyed by bulldozers or occupied by Israeli residents who stole the Arab lands despite UN resolutions calling for the rightful return of those homes and lands to their Arab owners.

According to UN records in June 1999, about 3.6 million Palestinians refugees have been victims of Israel’s nationhood. (Refer: The Colonisation of Palestine (1992)

After the usual European governments pro-Zionist stand was seriously protested against by their citizens, only then these European governments made their perfunctory lip-service against the Zionist bombings of Gaza.

Only then when the atrocities have actually been committed by the Zionist military, shown ‘live’ on TV news and on the hand-held cyber-power owned by hundreds of millions of their owners worldwide did “Human Right Watch (HRW) Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Gaza” (The Brunei Times, Sept 12, 2014). The Zionist military bombed three UN-run schools, killing Palestinian civilians who had sheltered there, in violation of the laws of war. The HRW also distrusted the self-investigations done by the Israel military into its Gaza War operations.”

On Sept 2, 2014, Al Jazeera documentary, showed the extreme atrocities of the Zionist military against the Palestinian lives and economic assets in 2002, 2008, 2010 and the recent August-September 2014 mass destruction of the assets of the Palestinian in Gaza. Of course more than 3,000 killed and thousands traumatised and injured.

Useful readings:

“Palestine-Peace Not Aparthied” by Jimmy Carter — the former USA President.

“Whose Land? Whose Promise? What Christians Are Not Being Told about Israel and Palestinians

“The Crisis of Zionism” by Peter Beinart.

“The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy — How a Powerful?

“Brokers of Decit” by Rashid Khalidi.

“Cursed Victory-A History of Israel And The Occupied Territories.” By Ahron Bregman

Other Independent, objective scholars, writers such as the former CIA officers, Kathleen and Bill Christison highlighted this Zionist policy of “annihilation”, “ethnic cleansing”, “genocide”, “holocaust” in their book: “Palestine In Pieces – Graphic Perspectives on the Israeli Occupation.” Another hundreds of sources which highlighted this concerted Zionist ultimate objective involving the Palestinians and their lands are as per the following samples:

“We have to kill all the Palestinians unless they are resigned to live like slaves.” (General Shalomon Lahat, the Mayor of Tel Aviv, October 1983).

“The Palestinians would be crushed like grasshoppers ….heads smashed against the boulders and walls.” (Israel Prime Minister, New York Times, April 1, 1988)

“We shall use the ultimate force until the Palestinians come crawling to us on all fours.” (Rafael Eiton, Chief of Staff Israel Defence Forces — New York Times, April 14, 1983)

“We must use terror, assignation, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population.” (The Koening Memorandum.)

“We, the Jewish people, control America, and the American knows it.” (Ariel Sharon told Shimon Peres on Oct 3, 2001.)

In 1989, Benjamin Netanyahu (before he became Prime Minister in 1996) was speaking at Bar Ilan University following the brutal Chinese repression of demonstrators in Tianamen Square.

His apartheid assertion was that: “Israel should have exploited the repression of the demonstrators in China, when world attention focused on that country, to carry out mass expulsion among the Arabs of the occupied territories.” (The Israeli Journal Hotman, Nov 24, 1989)

Even one of my favourite intellectual journalists, Thomas Friedman in his book, “Longitudes and Attitudes — Exploring the World Before and After September 11, 2001” has strongly indulged in a diatribe against Islam, Muslims and Arab/Palestinian in his bias support for the Jews and Israel.

The Brunei Times’ Editorial: “Israeli Illegal Land Grab”, Sept 2, 2014 highlights, the latest brazen land stealing of 400 hectares of the Palestinian land by the Zionist state under the pretext of a retaliation against the death of the three Jewish youths.” The Zionist state is committed to this in line with its execution of the overall policy of “crushing the Palestinians like grasshoppers, and land stealing of their lands.” These samples of Zionist atrocities and land stealing and the policy to drive the Palestinians from their lands are found in the Surah and Verses in the Noble Quran, for example:

“Then your hearts hardened after that, so that they were like rocks, rather worse in hardness. And surely there are some rocks from which streams burst forth; and there are some of them which split asunder so water flows from them…..(Al-Baqarah or The Cow) 2: Verse 74)

“Yet you it is who would slay your people and turn a part from among your out of their homes, backing each other up against them unlawfully and exceeding the limits…. (Al-Baqarah) 2 : Verse 85)

“And We made known to the Children of Israel in the Book: Certainly you will make mischief in the land twice, and behave insolently with mighty arrogance.” (BaniIsrail or The Israelites) 17: Verse 4)

Apart from those books which expose Zionist brutalities, land stealing and apartheid policy against the Palestinians, there is also another brave, humane Jew, Gideon Levy who exposed on film and camera those brutalities and the land stealing by the Zionist people. Gideon Levy, was a reporter for Haaretz newspaper, Israel. His bravery and scarifies in supporting the Palestinians was shown on Al Jazeera TV on Aug 31, 2014. The title of his documentary is “Going Against the Grain”. Gideon Levy was exasperated by the brutalities, by the destructions of the Palestinians economic assets, their houses deliberately inflicted by his own Jewish people, since 1948. Another Al Jazeera documentary on Sept 2, 2014 showed the Zionist bulldozers uprooting those 800 years old olive trees in the Palestinians lands; the shooting of Palestinians babies, children, mothers and old people in their bedrooms by intruding Zionist soldiers who punched holes in walls to brutally bully the Palestinians in their houses.

Another sample of Jewish brutalities: “Armed with guns given to them by the Jewish army, the Jewish settlers of Hebron have always been the most extreme, violent and abusive of all settler communities. They have routinely abused the city’s Palestinians resident; beating them, hurling refuse at them, destroying their shops, chopping down their olive trees, poisoning their water wells, breaking into their homes and even killing them. The Jewish army protected these settlers. When the settlers’ brutalilties escalalated the Jewish military would often attempt to calm down the situation by locking the Arabs up in their houses and imposing curfew on them.” (Ahron Bregman in his book: “Cursed Victory-A History of Israel and the Occupied Territories.”)

The Brunei Times
Tue, 28 October 2014

http://www.bt.com.bn/letters-editor/2014/10/28/algebra-violencein-mideast-ii

Palestine-Israel conflict: Injustice and unjust wars

Irwansyah Mukhlis*

WHEN we see the news concerning Gaza, Israel, and Palestine most of our hearts will normally be touched by the unending conflict which happens there. The conflict seems to be perpetual and everybody seems to have already known or grown tired of the issue though some would remain ignorant while others would simply choose sides. Then if we keep on pursuing, we will see a whole group of government representatives speaking about the rhetoric and the obvious which do not seem to be really doing the victims on the ground any good. This could be clearly seen from their usage of the term “deplore, saddened, hope, wish” which does little to change the situation at hand, as most were not ready to confront the blatant power politics on display.

Perhaps, the term that is missing from the whole discussion of the conflict is “justice”. From the highest international authority standpoint such as the UN to each sovereign state, all seems to be unified in refraining from making the issue as a matter of injustice. Although it is hard to conceive the concept of justice and to apply it to the conflict as justice may come in different forms, or at least that is the impression that we get from the current international system, but like it or not the conflict in Palestine is nevertheless a problem of justice and not simply an issue of self-defence as what most have claimed.

Which concepts of justice shall we then apply to the conflict? Is it the universal conception justice (if there is one)? Or does the Islamic conception of an “eye for an eye” justice serve our purpose? The answer that seemed to be applicable to the Gaza conflict would be none of the above. The reason is simply because in order to apply all of these justice conceptions we will need to trace the very root of the conflict through a historical analysis which could date back all the way to the days of the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire, WWI and WWII. Besides, all the political propaganda coming from both sides have already done enough damage to obscure the objective reality or truth.
Then how shall we pursue with the effort to resolve the conflict without knowing which concept of justice to be applied? Although the question is valid one but it is not impossible to answer. The simplest form of justice that the world and government leaders need to consider now is through the numbers as it is the closest to reality. When the Israelis have taken out hundreds/thousands of Palestinian lives to compensate the loss of three or four Israeli lives then we all know that injustice has taken place. Even by legal and humanity standards such act is considered as “excessive”.

At the same token, when Israel as a lone state in the region was besieged and attacked by three of its neighbouring Arab states, this was also a sign of injustice by the numbers and should be dealt with immediately by the international authority if it was consistent with its mandate to prohibit any forms of state aggression.

Technically, by considering the concept of justice through the numbers, then the UN and governments should be able to make policies which could reduce the severity of the conflict. First, the UN should bring the “excessive” issue to UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, and UN Security council to exert enough pressure on the perpetrator. Second, at the same time, before any of the conflicting side began on embarking on any self-defence scenario, the UN must act first. A late response by the UN would bear a high cost.

The three Arab-Israel major wars which happened earlier were basically due to UN weaknesses to protect Israel from its neighbours. The price paid was that Israel would begin on a self-defence rampage by arming itself through illegitimate and uncontrolled networks. The same can be said about Palestine. UN’s physical silence on Palestine’s woes will also unquestionably engender a future disaster as Palestine’s militant group which has a close relation with Islamic terrorist groups in the region will always be poised for attack if things stay the way they are.

But again what has been described earlier is a form of naivety which does not take into account the huge role that politics play in the conflict. We all know that the UN is most of the times be incapacitated by real politik of the great powers behind the conflict. Any condemnation by UN human rights agencies would fall to deaf ears if they fail to knock on the UN Security Council door. Even if they managed to get into the UN Security Council, a single veto by any of the former WWII winners would mean further misery for the victims. Hence the weaker side in this conflict, namely the Palestinian, will not benefit much from the status quo and once again the current UN weaknesses showed us how political interests managed to stomp international sense of justice.

Another obvious political manoeuvre in the conflict is the assigning of blame and threats. Israel, for example, had consistently called the Palestinian side as the Islamic extremist which demanded nothing more than the demise of Israel as a nation. What Israel fails to see was the fact that Yitzak Rabin, a former Israeli prime minister who won a Nobel Prize for world peace in fostering the Oslo peace accord with Palestine, was killed by Israeli’s own extremist who refuses to make peace a reality for both sides.

Meanwhile regarding threats, Israel for example had maintained that they will do whatever in their power to stop the Palestinian rockets from coming in, even if it had to obliterate the entire Palestinian state and the population. This simply shows Israel’s insolence of international law and Israel’s similarities with the Hamas group as violence seems to be only acceptable language in the conflict. Hence the two sides in this sense are quite right in their claims and yet quite guilty at the same time.

However, it is an error to think that “justice” will stay silent and submissive for all times, especially when we are facing our fellow human being which is capable of thinking and adjusting in a state of “unjust wars”. Here unjust wars refer more to the difference in the physical attributes of the military capabilities displayed in the conflict, as Israel with a far superior and advanced military attributes continues raking in Palestinian victims with the blessing of the US while the Palestinian side is far from having decent military equipment let alone a super power’s support.

But being inferior does not mean that it is helpless. The increasing number of terrorist networks and the uprising in many Islamic states is a clear indication that in an unjust war condition as displayed in the Israel-Palestinian unending conflict; justice will come in many faces, including the ugly and the unexpected ones.

Unconventional war method would also began to flare up as now pro-Palestinian forces seems to be also engaging in internet wars and be joined together with the existing terrorist war methods such as suicidal bombings, weapon smuggling, etc. Of course what the world does not want to see is the unification of all these pro-Palestinian forces with the existing Islamic terrorist networks as it would certainly be plentiful as little can be done about it and would have major repercussions for the world at large.

It is also certainly a common mistake by great powers and superior powers to think that crushing the enemies to the very root is an effective remedy for their interests. The US’s failing Afghanistan and Iraq anti-terrorist campaigns had clearly demonstrated that nothing can be crushed to the very root when we are dealing with fellow human beings. Instead by obscuring reality and putting injustice into a grey area, the world is now faced with further problems fuelled by these longing for justice. In short no peace can come out of injustice and whether we like it or not, the sense of justice that the international authority has shrugged off its shoulder must be brought forward or otherwise the hate that the victims’ sons and daughters carry will continue to be passed on to the next generation.

*The writer is a PhD candidate from Curtin University

Republika OL
Tuesday, 12 August 2014

http://www.republika.co.id/berita/en/speak-out/14/08/12/na67xo-palestineisrael-conflict-injustice-and-unjust-wars

Time Israel is punished for Gaza war crimes

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

AS PALESTINIANS prepare to approach the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors for investigating Israeli war crimes in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rushed to the United States to discuss ways of keeping the spotlight off its actions in Gaza, according to The New York Post.

Netanyahu met a delegation of US lawmakers and requested that the US must use all the tools it has at its disposal to make sure the world knows that war crimes were not committed by Israel.

This is not new as the entire world knows that for decades, the US has always protected Israel by its veto at the UN Security Council. The US, the greatest upholder of human rights and individual freedom, has always looked the other way when it comes to Israeli crimes.

Ramsey Clark, an American lawyer, activist and former public official, once said that the greatest crime since World War II has been US foreign policy.

What has happened in Gaza is the best example of this foreign policy. Instead of condemning, the Israeli crimes, the US officials and media like Joseph Goebbels, kept repeating lies of Israel’s right to defend itself but all their lies fell flat.

From President Obama to Secretary of State John Kerry to the lowest US foreign policy official, all did not mention the right of defenceless people of Gaza whose families, homes, schools, hospitals were wiped out by the Israel bombing.

What Israel has done in Gaza, if it had happened in any other part of the world, the US would have been the first one condemn it, impose sanctions and order punitive military strikes. The irony is that the entire US public relations machinery has been working overtime to defend Israeli crimes.

The US officials have not spoken a single word about the illegal blockade that Israel has imposed on Gaza for more than five years, reducing it to world’s biggest open jail.

This illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade in itself constitutes a permanent act of war.

According to the Nuremburg War Crimes Tribunal, this is the supreme crime that contains within itself every other crime, including terrorism.

But Kerry, in his interview to BBC Hard Talk, gave carte blanche to Israel by saying “the United States stands squarely behind Israel’s right to defend itself in those circumstances. Period”.

However when asked about the illegal Gaza blockade, like a seasoned diplomat, he refused to give a clear answer.

The hypocritical US human rights policy can be gauged from the fact that it has two policies – one for Israel and one for others.

But the Gaza war crimes is an open and shut case. One does not need any evidence as in this age of 24/7 television, the entire world witnessed Israeli war crimes in Gaza as it killed more than 2,000 defenceless Palestinians, including 400 children, injured more than 9,000 and made the Gaza residential areas look like Hiroshima.

It’s estimated that it will take 10 years and US$10 billion to rebuild the city.

Marjorie Cohn, a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, says for decades, Israel has slaughtered Palestinians with impunity, always protected by the US government and its veto at the UN Security Council.

But the latest bloody assault on Gaza has prompted more open talks about Israeli war crimes — and US complicity.

She says that by sending vast amounts of military aid to Israel, members of the US Congress, President George W Bush, President Barack Obama and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel have aided and abetted the commission of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity by Israeli officials and commanders in Gaza.

Cohn says an individual can be convicted of a war crime, genocide or a crime against humanity in the International Criminal Court (ICC) if he or she “aids, abets or otherwise assists” in the commission or attempted commission of the crime, “including providing the means for its commission”.

It’s high time that Israel be taken to task for violation of human rights of Palestinians by the United Nations.

The US, which has always come to the rescue of Israel by using its veto power, cannot practice double standards on the issue of human rights.

If it allows Israel to get away with war crimes, then it will lose moral rights to preach others about human rights.

Israel is an illegal occupier of Palestinian lands and the US must recognise this fact. Unless Israel withdraws from Palestinian territories, the Middle East will remain in turmoil.

The US has to respect and acknowledge the Palestinian sovereignty over their land otherwise it will not be seen as an impartial arbitrator.

The Brunei Times/Editorial
Monday, August 11, 2014

http://www.bt.com.bn/opinion/2014/08/11/time-israel-punished-gaza-war-crimes

Israel loses war on all fronts

“WE MUST defeat Hamas – next time”, the headline in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz is the most serious indictment of the Zionist misadventure in Gaza. In fact, this has been Israel’s most self-defeating war. Backed by world’s most monstrous war machine, it has failed militarily, politically, strategically and on the diplomatic front it has been a disaster.

The main objective of the massive military operations was to reduce the resistance capability of Hamas and make it politically irrelevant. Exactly opposite of this has happened.

After relentless and indiscriminate military operation for more than three weeks, Hamas is very much there. In fact, it has emerged more powerful – both politically and militarily.

One of the most significant aspects of this Israeli misadventure is the heavy loss the Zionist army has suffered. So far Israeli death toll from 25 days of attacks at 66, Hamas says the number at more than 150.

Apart from inflicting heavy damage, Hamas has been able to wear down the Israeli army. Tired and humiliated, the Israeli army has already started withdrawing from the Gaza without diminishing the Hamas capability to hit Israeli cities. The Israeli narrative of “right to self-defence” has been completely rejected by the international community.

The biggest setback came when international airlines began cancelling their flights to Tel Aviv. Although the flight ban was for a short period, this had very telling effect on the Israeli psyche as for the first time they could sense international isolation and the fear that if the conflict spreads, they have no escape route.

On the other hand, Hamas has emerged the hero of resistance against Israel’s illegal war. Instead of weakening Hamas’ sovereignty over Gaza, the Israeli assault has consolidated Hamas’ political grip. In the end, it’s Israel which is the real loser, both on the war and diplomatic fronts.

The Brunei Times/Editorial
Tuesday, August 5, 2014

http://www.bt.com.bn/editorial/2014/08/05/israel-loses-war-all-fronts

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/israel-withdraws-ground-troops-gaza-calls-7-hr-unilateral-truce-605985

Muslim Filipino professionals join peace calls for Gaza

Bong S Sarmiento
KORONADAL CITY, Philippines

A NETWORK of Muslim professionals in the Philippines has joined the global calls for the peaceful resolution of the Gaza conflict.

In a manifesto emailed to The Brunei Times this week, the Young Moro Professionals Network, Inc (YMPN) urged Israel and Palestine to avoid the path of violence and instead thread the peaceful way through dialogue.

A 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza negotiated by the United States and the United Nations took effect Friday morning, but was quickly brokened when the Israelis accused the Hamas of kidnapping one of their soldiers.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators would meet in Cairo, Egypt for formal talks on how to end the conflict in the duration of the truce, reports said.

However, as soon as the truce took effect, Israel renewed shelling that killed at least 50 Palestinians and wounded 220 others, after Hamas reportedly captured an Israeli officer and killed two others.

“We call on the concerned parties, Israelis and the Palestinians, to resume the peace talks on an acceptable, fair and democratic resolution creating a genuine and far-reaching solution towards an end to the sectarian violence and sporadic armed confrontation,” the YMPN said.

It said the recognition of the Palestinians’ quest for their right to self-determination leading to a “two states” resolution or a federal government system “is seen as a viable resolve.”

“We support them as we the Bangsamoro people in southern Philippines (Mindanao) share the same aspiration for right to self-governance, justice, and peace through a genuine autonomous government,” the group said.

YMPN also commended the efforts of various organisations, government institutions and individuals who have given humanitarian aid and have called for a peaceful resolution in Gaza.

“It is a blunder to world peace if other nations play blind and deaf on the sufferings and anguish for peace and justice in the Israel-Gaza conflict,” it said.

For her part, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao said they are praying for the people of Gaza, and called on Israel to value the life of civilians and to uphold international laws.

“The State of Israel must stop the occupation of Palestine and the oppression of the Palestinian people,” she said.

Israel drew flak after it stepped up military offensives in Gaza starting last month, which sparked protests in different parts of the world.

Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao also urged Israel to once and for all uphold international laws and stop escalating its “mounting war crimes, as its illegal occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people continue to fuel an endless cycle of violence.”

“The Moro people stand in solidarity with Gazans, all Palestinians and other innocent victims of war…Let us offer a prayer to those who have perished and to the parents who will never see or hold their children again,” he said earlier.

The Brunei Times
Sunday, August 3, 2014

http://www.bt.com.bn/news-asia/2014/08/03/muslim-filipino-professionals-join-peace-calls-gaza

Aidil Fitri festival and the Palestinians’ fight for freedom

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE noble and generous guest has left us and no one knows whether one will have the chance to meet it again next year.

Yes, Ramadhan, the month full of blessing, mercy and forgiveness, has left us and we are now in Syawal already.

After submitting humbly and sincerely to the will of Allah the Almighty by fasting for the whole month of Ramadhan, InsyaAllah we will gain the diploma of taqwa (god-fearing, piety) from the Ramadhan school.

InsyaAllah, with the grace of Allah, the Ramadhan training camp managed to transfom us into more pious personalities, more god-fearing and – conscious Muslims – the characters whose hearts and minds are always attached to and in the remembrance of the Creator the Sustainer.

Now, let’s not miss another big opportunity for generous reward Allah has promised for the true Muslims: fasting six days in Syawal.

So big is the reward that Allah’s Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said in a hadith narrated by among others Imam Ahmad, Muslim, Tirmizi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i: “Whoever fasts during Ramadhan, and then accompanied it with the fast of six days in the month of Syawal, his reward is similar to fasting the whole year.”

Who among us who do not want to reap this generous reward? If any of us still miss this golden opportunity every Syawal that means that we have failed to gain the best lessons Ramadhan school has taught us. Thus, we need to work hard to cleans the rust that has tainted our heart and reduced our sensitivity.

Islam urges the ummah (community) to continuously conduct good deeds and charity, no matter the amount, and to show solidarity to our brothers and sisters who are less fortunate. And, with the spirit of Ramadhan and Syawal, let us not forget our brothers and sisters who are facing hardship under the barbaric modern world colonisation and persecution.

As imams nationwide has reminded us in their Hari Raya Aidil Fitri sermons, we should not forget our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are now not only living in misery, but are also being bombed and killed by a vicious enemy of merciless soldiers who do not differentiate between women and children, and elderly.

At least 1,360 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed by the Zionist Israeli strikes on Gaza and 59 Israelis killed by Palestinian fighters until yesterday.

While we are enjoying ourselves celebrating the post fasting Aidil Fitri festival with luxury, “the Palestinians (especially those in Gaza) are currently in a state of uneasiness, fear, drowning in tears and drenched in blood because of the vicious attacks from the Zionist enemies who are inhuman without any remorse,” said the sermons.

Imagine the tears of the mother whose children died just the day before Aidil Fitri.

Imagine where will a family spend their Hari Raya when their home has been destroyed; when they have lost everything they ever owned.

Let us all supplicate Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for help, so that our Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine will be saved from the brutality and torture of the enemy that they have been facing, as quickly as possible. Aamiin.

Aidil Fitri is a day that marks the successful completion of the sacred month of Ramadhan. It is a festival that signifies the completion of an act of duty and devotion. It teaches us that real happiness results from performing one’s duty and making sacrifices for a noble objective.

We should thank Allah the Almighty, for He guided us to fasting in Ramadhan, to doing good deeds, and to reciting the Qur’an. We should thank Him, for He is the One who gave us the money we paid for zakat fitrah and other charities. Allah says in the Qur’an, “And (He desires) that you should complete the prescribed period and that you should glorify Allah for having guided you and that you may give thanks.” (Al-Baqarah 2:185)

To proof to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala that we Ramadhan school have changed us for the better, let us continue (and improve) all the acts of worship that we have diligently done during the fasting month throughout the rest of the year until we meet the next Ramadhan.

And, if throughout the year we do not have the opportunity due to work, daily responsibilities ad other wordly affairs, this is the time we can re-strengthen our ties with neighbours, family and friends.

After graduating from the Ramadhan camp, it is time for us to unite and stand tall behind our leader, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, in support of the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 that is prescribed based on the command of Allah, the Just Giver Who is Most Merciful and Most Gracious, to save us, His slaves, from hellfire. The Syariah is the law of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala that is relevant to all places on the Universe and to all times.

May Allah accept our good deeds and grant us His forgiveness and mercy. We also wish a happy Aidil Fitri to all Muslims, especially those who are a minority and being oppressed and becoming refugees in places like Syria, Myanmar, Central African Republic and Xinjiang (China). Aamiin.

The Brunei Times/Editorial
Friday, August 1, 2014

http://www.bt.com.bn/opinion/2014/08/01/aidil-fitri-festival-and-palestinians%E2%80%99-fight-freedom

Israel’s shameful injustice in Gaza

Seumas Milne
LONDON

For the third time in five years, the world’s fourth largest military power has launched a full-scale armed onslaught on one of its most deprived and overcrowded territories. Since Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip began, just over a week ago, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed. Nearly 80% of the dead are civilians, over 20% of them children.

Around 1,400 have been wounded and 1,255 Palestinian homes destroyed. So far, Palestinian fire has killed one Israeli on the other side of the barrier that makes blockaded Gaza the world’s largest open-air prison.

But instead of demanding a halt to Israel’s campaign of collective punishment against what is still illegally occupied territory, the western powers have blamed the victims for fighting back. If it weren’t for Hamas’s rockets fired out of Gaza’s giant holding pen, they insist, all of this bloodletting would end.

“No country on earth would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders,” Barack Obama declared, echoed by a mostly pliant media. Perhaps it’s scarcely surprising that states which have themselves invaded and occupied a string of Arab and Muslim countries in the past decade should take the side of another occupier they fund and arm to the hilt.

But the idea that Israel is responding to a hail of rockets out of a clear blue sky takes “narrative framing” beyond the realm of fantasy. In fact, after the deal that ended Israel’s last assault on Gaza in 2012, rocketing from Gaza fell to its lowest level for 12 years.

The latest violence is supposed to have been triggered by the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers in the occupied West Bank in June, for which Hamas denied responsibility. But its origin clearly lies in the collapse of US-sponsored negotiations for a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the spring.

That was followed by the formation of a “national reconciliation” government by the Fatah and Hamas movements, whose division has been a mainstay of Israeli and US policy. Israeli incursions and killings were then stepped up, including attacks on Palestinian civilians by armed West Bank settlers. In May, two Palestinian teenagers were shot dead by the Israeli army with barely a flicker of interest outside the country.

It’s now clear the Israeli government knew from the start that its own kidnapped teenagers had been killed within hours. But the news was suppressed while a #BringBackOurBoys campaign was drummed up and a sweeping crackdown launched against Hamas throughout the West Bank.

Over 500 activists were arrested and more than half a dozen killed – along with a Palestinian teenager burned to death by settlers. Binyamin Netanyahu’s aim was evidently to signal that whatever deal Hamas had signed with Mahmoud Abbas would never be accepted by Israel.

Gaza had nothing to do with the kidnapping, but Israeli attacks were also launched on the strip and Hamas activists killed. It was those killings and the West Bank campaign that led to Hamas resuming its rocket attacks – and in turn to Israel’s devastating bombardment.

Hamas is now blamed for refusing to accept a ceasefire plan cooked up by Netanyahu and his ally, the Egyptian President Sisi, who overthrew Hamas’s sister organisation the Muslim Brotherhood last year and has since tightened the eight-year siege of Gaza.

But having already suffered so much, many Gazans believe no further truce should be agreed without the lifting of the illegal blockade which has reduced the strip to hunger and beggary and effectively imprisoned its population.

As the independent Palestinian MP Mustafa Barghouti puts it, the Egyptian proposal was a “game” Israel will now use to escalate the war. Some sense of what can now be expected was given by the Israeli reserve major general Oren Shachor, who explained: “If we kill their families, that will frighten them.”

The idea that Israel is defending itself against unprovoked attacks from outside its borders is an absurdity. Despite Israel’s withdrawal of settlements and bases in 2005, Gaza remains occupied both in reality and international law, its border, coastal waters, resources, airspace and power supply controlled by Israel.

So the Palestinians of Gaza are an occupied people, like those in the West Bank, who have the right to resist, by force if they choose – though not deliberately to target civilians. But Israel does not have a right of self-defence over territories it illegally occupies – it has an obligation to withdraw. That occupation, underpinned by the US and its allies, is now entering its 48th year. Most of the 1.8 million Palestinians enduring continuous bombardment in Gaza are themselves refugees or their descendants, who were driven out or fled from cities such as Jaffa 66 years ago when Israel was established.

It can’t seriously be argued that Israel’s refusal to withdraw from the rump of the territory on which the United Nations voted to establish a Palestinian state in 1947 is because of rocket fire. It was after all during the period of quiescence over the past year that the Israeli government rejected the US plan for even a figleaf of a two-state solution – and stepped up illegal colonisation. As Netanyahu made clear this week, there cannot be “any agreement in which we relinquish security control” of the West Bank.

So we’re left with a one-state solution, operated on ethnically segregated apartheid-style lines, in which a large section of the population has no say in who rules over them, indefinitely. But it’s folly to imagine that this shameful injustice will continue without an escalating cost for those who enforce it.

Palestinian resistance is often criticised as futile given the grotesque power imbalance between the two sides. But Hamas, which attracts support more for its defiance than its Islamism, has been strengthened by the events of the past week, as it has shown it can hit back across Israel – while Abbas, dependent on an imploded “peace process”, has been weakened still further.

The conflict’s eruptions are certainly coming thicker and faster. Despite heroic Israeli efforts to fix the narrative, global opinion has never been more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. But the brutal reality is that there will be no end to Israel’s occupation until Palestinians and their supporters are able to raise its price to the occupier, in one way or another – and change the balance of power on the ground.

The Guardian
Wed, 16 July 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/16/gaza-shameful-injustice-israel-attacks-occupied-people