Why Pakistan Should Not "Engage" with Israel
Recently the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Israel met in Istanbul, followed by a handshake between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, sparking speculations that Pakistan is going to accord recognition to Israel, a state whose existence Pakistan has denied up till now. This move triggered a nationwide debate - with some people in favor of the decision, arguing that Pakistan has no dispute with Israel and there are numerous benefits of recognizing the Jewish state, while others fiercely opposing the move. The Pakistani government 's stance is that the decision to "engage" with Israel was taken in appreciation of Israel 's recent withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and that Pakistan 's contacts with Israel will enable it to exert pressure on Israel to resolve the Palestinian issue in a just manner.
This paper looks at whether the recent contacts and ultimately diplomatic ties with Israel are justified or not, keeping in mind the advantages and disadvantages of the decision. The purpose of this paper is to show that the reasons given by the Pakistani government for launching public contacts with Israel are not justified and establishing diplomatic relations with Israel until the creation of a viable Palestinian state, is morally wrong and not in the national interest of Pakistan.
First of all, let us look at the historical position of Pakistan on the Palestinian problem. Pakistan opposed the creation of Israel, and always defended the rights of the Palestinians as a matter of state policy. The founder of Pakistan had opposed the creation of Israel in these words. Every man and woman of the Muslim world will die before Jewry seizes Jerusalem. I hope the Jews will not succeed in their nefarious designs and I wish Britain and America should keep their hands off and then I will see how the Jews conquer Jerusalem. The Jews, over half a million, have already been accommodated in Jerusalem against the wishes of the people.
This paper looks at whether the recent contacts and ultimately diplomatic ties with Israel are justified or not, keeping in mind the advantages and disadvantages of the decision. The purpose of this paper is to show that the reasons given by the Pakistani government for launching public contacts with Israel are not justified and establishing diplomatic relations with Israel until the creation of a viable Palestinian state, is morally wrong and not in the national interest of Pakistan.
First of all, let us look at the historical position of Pakistan on the Palestinian problem. Pakistan opposed the creation of Israel, and always defended the rights of the Palestinians as a matter of state policy. The founder of Pakistan had opposed the creation of Israel in these words. Every man and woman of the Muslim world will die before Jewry seizes Jerusalem. I hope the Jews will not succeed in their nefarious designs and I wish Britain and America should keep their hands off and then I will see how the Jews conquer Jerusalem. The Jews, over half a million, have already been accommodated in Jerusalem against the wishes of the people.
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