Key Lessons – Israel-Hamas Conflict - article by G B Reddy Sir

 

Key Lessons – Israel-Hamas Conflict - article by G B Reddy Sir

 

Key lesson of mankind’s history is “None learns from lessons of history”.  Be that as it may, the ongoing Israeli-Palestine/Arab conflict offers significant lessons for all alike – NO end to religious wars but a continuum with far more dangerous fallout. Viewed in historical context, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is a hangover of bitter rivalry between Judaism and Islam.

 

Basic facts: The historical order of the top 6 major religions in the world includes: 2300 BCE to 1500 BCE - Hindu Dharma; 600 BCE to 500 BCE – Judaism; 600 BCE to 400 BCE – Buddhism; 550 BCE Daoism (Taoism); 500 BCE  Confucianism; 1st Century CE – Christianity; 7th Century CE – Islam; and 16th Century CE - Sikhism. Out of over 8 billion world’s population, 2..173 billion are Christians (31%), of which 50% are Catholic, 37% Protestant, 12% Orthodox, and 1% other. And, 1.598 billion are Muslims (23%), of which 87-90% are Sunnis, 10-13% Shia. There are 1.126 billion with no religious affiliation (16%). 1.2 billion are Hindus (15%).  0.487 billion are Buddhists (7%)of which half live in China. 0.581  billion belong to other religions (1%) to include: Baha’i faith, Taoism, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism and many others. There are 0.139 billion Jews (0.2%), four-fifths of whom live in two countries: the United States (41%) and Israel (41%). 

 

Let none suffer from illusions that all religions believe in peace, harmony and human brotherhood. Many inter and intra religious wars have been fought mostly barbaric and gruesome. Out of 11 of the world's 100 deadliest atrocities, the cause was religion. So, the present coverage of casualties pale into insignificance compared to some cruel and barbaric carnages in the past. No shortage of radical elements in all religions. Like it or not, all of them nurture “Holy War”. Rabid religious leader’s fiery sermons stir emotions sentiments of crowds – oft repeated on daily basis. Thus, reconciliation and resolution of differences in a sustainable and enduring course is a forlorn hope.  

 

Muslims ultimate goal is establishing a “Global Caliphate”.  Jihad has been an integral part of Islamic history both for the defense and the spread of the faith since the time of Muhammad. Deep inside their hearts, Muslims world over nurture the dream to see the end of the world, calling it Qayamat, Judgment day etc. when all will be destroyed and the chosen Messiah will return. Martyrdom seeking leaders driven by a desire for death rather than life are in charge world over. Five times a day congregations for prayers and the Madrasas oft repeated religious texts shape the Muslim psyche to follow the path of Allah.

 

Ipso facto, Hamas in its 1988 covenant has committed itself to the annihilation of the state of Israel, and to the extermination of as many of its citizens as possible. To counter Hamas, Israel's strategic objective is annihilation of Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Both are locked in a grim battle for survival. 

 

Let me outline the history of Jews. Judaism is one of the oldest religions - 3,500 B.C.E. in Israel. Jews held sway in the Middle East for over 3000 years, until the emergence of the Roman Empire (625 BCE to 476 CE). Subsequently, Christianity suppressed them for over 1700 years followed by the rise of Islam in the past 1,000 years.  Both Christians and Muslims openly persecuted them since their rise. The Jews have learnt to live with and thrive in adversity.  Viewed in historical context, the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict is but natural. With the passage of time the problem has grown in size, complexity and toxicity.

 

Rational people have been replaced by the most extreme and hardcore of radical and violent elements in their societies. Israelis and Palestinians both have now adopted maximalist positions during negotiations and thus no enduring and sustainable peace to “Live-and-Let Live” environment. If one looks through the prism of the past, the Palestinians and the Israelis have been fighting and when they tire, they seek temporary truce/ceasefire to recuperate and wage the next round of violence and destruction begins all over again.

 

The Jews are confronted with a vexed survival crisis. Prior to the establishment of Israel in 1949, deprived of the right to own hard assets, the Jews focused on trading, knowledge, science, technology, art, literature and money lending. With great skill, discipline and ability to network they have to come to globally dominate finance and politics making them immeasurably the most powerful and influential group of people in the world. They supported the Allies to win the two world wars. In return, the allies assured them to restore their homeland and live peacefully and without persecution. As per the Balfour Declaration 1948, the state of Israel was created for the Jewish people. Israel was recognized and admitted into the UN in 1949. But to this day Israel is not recognized by 28 countries, all Islamic.

 

Arabs could not and would not tolerate the immigrant Kefirs intruding into their midst. Its fallout was bloody series of  wars to include: 1948–1949 First Arab–Israeli War (6,373 Israelis and 10,000 Arabs), 1951–1955 Fedayeen insurgency (967 Israelis and 5,000 Palestinians), 1956 Suez War (231 Israelis and 3,000 Egyptians), 1967 Six-Day War  (776 Israelis and 18,300 Arabs), 1967–1970 War of Attrition (1,424 Israelis and 5,000 Egyptians), 1971–1982 Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon, 1973  Yom Kippur War (2,688 Israelis and 19,000 Arabs), 1978 First South Lebanon conflict, 1982 First Lebanon War  (1,216 Israelis and 20,825 Arabs), 1985–2000 South Lebanon conflict (559 Israelis, 621  Lebanon Army and 1,276 Hezbollah soldiers), 1987–1993 First Palestinian Intifada (200 Israelis and 1,162 Palestinians); 2000–2004 Al-Aqsa Intifada (1,100 Israelis and 4,907 Palestinians), 2006 Second Lebanon War (121 Israeli soldiers, 44 civilians, 600 Hezbollah and militias, 43 Lebanese soldiers and 1,191 civilians).

 

The Israelis won the First Arab War in 1948-1949, 1956 Suez War, 1967 Six Day war, 1971–1982 Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon, 1973 Yom Kippur War, 1978 First South Lebanon conflict, 1982 First Lebanon War, 1987–1993 First Palestinian Intifada, and the 2000–2004 Al-Aqsa Intifada. Israel scored tactical victory but strategic failure in the 1982 First Lebanon War. Both sides claimed victory in 1967–1970 War of Attrition. Hezbollah was victorious in the 1985–2000 South Lebanon conflict.

 

In 1979 all parties agreed under UN guidance to divide the country into 3 parts, Gaza and the West Bank for the Arab population and Israel. East Jerusalem would remain under international control of the UN. Thereafter also, bloody clashes took place in 1982 and 2006. All efforts to implement the UN agreed two state solution with the right of both Palestine and Israel to coexist was never implemented.

 

A report by the Strategic Foresight Group estimated the opportunity cost of conflict for the Middle East from 1991 to 2010 at $12 trillion. Israel's share is almost $1 trillion, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia having approximately $2.2 and $4.5 trillion, respectively. In terms of the human cost, it is estimated that the conflict has taken over 1, 10,000 lives from 1945 to 2022.

 

Let me outline the history of religious wars region-wise. Major religious wars in Europe include: Inter-pagan conflict (Five Wars); Christian–pagan conflict/'heretic' conflict; Christian–Islamic conflict; Catholic–Orthodox conflict; Catholic–Protestant conflict; and Anti-Jewish pogrom. Furthermore, during the Christianization of Europe (Middle Ages), religious wars include: Merovingian conquests of Thuringia, Allemannia and Bavaria resulting in their Christianization by 555; Saxon Wars (772–804) between Pagans (Devil Worshippers) and Arian Christianity; and Carolingian campaign against the Pannonian Avars in the 790s that led to their forced conversion to Christianity. In former Yugoslavia, the Croatian War (1991–95) and the Bosnian War (1992–95) have been viewed as religious wars between the Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim populations respectively called "Serbs", "Croats" and "Bosnians".

In Asia, religious wars include: Judaic–polytheist conflict; Inter-Eastern religious conflict (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto); Islamic–polytheist Arab conflict; Islamic–Zoroastrian conflict; Inter-Islamic conflict (Sunni–Shia: Iran–Iraq War of 1980–1988); Islamic–Hindu conflict; Christian–Islamic conflict; Inter-Christian conflict (Catholic–Orthodox); Christian–Eastern religious conflict; and Islamic–Judaic conflict.

 

Religious wars waged in the Americas include: Inter–Indigenous conflicts; Christian–Indigenous conflicts; Mormon wars; Inter-Christian conflict; and Christian fundamentalist insurgency against secular governments. In Africa, religious wars include: Abrahamic–polytheist conflict; Christian–Islamic conflict; Inter-Islamic conflict (Sunni–Shia); Inter-Christian conflict; and Islamist or Christian fundamentalist insurgency against secular governments.

 

In China, after Sheng Shicai expelled 20,000 Kazakhs from Xinjiang to Qinghai, the Hui led by General Ma Bufang massacred their fellow Muslims, the Kazakhs, until there were only 135 of them left in 1936. The Hui army at the Battle of Kashgar (1934) massacred 2,000 to 8,000 Uyghur’s.

 

Today, geopolitics governs the wars in the Middle East with far too many actors involved either actively supporting Hamas or otherwise.  Both the Jews and the Palestinians have been reduced to nothing more than pawns in the hands of great powers, to be used and abused as convenient. 

 

Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Houthis of Yemen are actively assisting Hamas. Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordon and other OIC are lending political support. And, USA, UK and EU countries are providing military aid to Israel. On the political level, they favor the “Two State” resolution under the UN aegis. The main interest of America and UK in Israel is to use it to keep the oil rich region in the Arab world on perpetual boil and ensure a ceaseless supply of cheap energy to fuel their economies and military aid to fuel their domestic economies.

 

The Soviet Union was the first state to recognize the Israeli state de jure in 1948. Now, Russia faces a major dilemma. It values its ties with Israel and the Arab states. Russia blames the West for past mistakes that led to the current war. Russia has not labeled Hamas a terrorist group. Russia supports an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Putin wants a ceasefire and is pushing for a UN Security Council resolution and has offered to mediate.  Russia has condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on towns in southern Israel. Russia has warned Israel against blockading the Gaza Strip.

 

Of course, Russia has a domestic Muslim lobby. Remember followers of Prophet Muhammad went to Russia 22 years after his death. Muslims form a majority of the population of the republics of Ingushetia (96.00), Chechnya (95.00), Dagestan (83.00), Kabardino-Balkaria (70.40), Karachay-Cherkessia (64.20), Bashkortostan (54.3), and Tatarstan (53.80). Other areas with notable Muslim minorities include Moscow, Saint Petersburg, the republics of Adygea, North Ossetia-Alania and Astrakhan, Moscow, Orenburg and Ulyanovsk oblasts. If the trend continues, the Muslim population could outnumber ethnic Russians within 30 years. In the past, there were conflicts between the Muslim minority and the Orthodox majority, as well as periods of collaboration and mutual support. The Soviet regime had oppressed the Muslims through eradicating Muslim institutions such as mosques, madrassas and shrines and taking measures against Muslim scholars and imams.

 

Furthermore, at the end of the Second Chechen War, in 2005, Chechen rebel leader, Abdul-Halim Sadulayev, decreed the formation of a Caucasus Front against Russia, among Islamic believers in the North Caucasus, in an attempt to widen Chechnya's conflict with Russia. Insurgency in the North Caucasus continued until 2017. Despite having made Islamophobic comments during the Second Chechen War, Putin has since subsidized mosques and Islamic education, which he called an "integral part of Russia's cultural code", and encouraged immigration from Muslim-majority former Soviet states.

 

Recently, Putin held an emergency meeting after rioters in the southern region of Dagestan stormed an airport to "catch" Jewish passengers arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv. Muslim-majority North Caucasus region held anti-Semitic riot, and the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya ordered that rioters be shot dead if they failed to heed warnings.

 

China too faces a dilemma due to its deep economic ties with Israel and its historic pro-Palestine stance. China too has recognized Israel as an independent Jewish state. But, it supports the establishment of Palestine as part of a two-state solution.  Following the Hamas attack, China reaffirmed Tel Aviv's right to defend itself while highlighting civilian casualties in Gaza. Later, China criticized Israel's actions in Gaza, calling it “beyond the scope of self-defense,” and asserted that “justice has not been done to the Palestinian people.”  Most importantly, China opposes moves that escalate the conflict and destabilize the region and hopes for fighting to stop and peace to return soon.

 

Furthermore, China too has domestic Muslims to ponder over. There are 10 ethnic minority groups that traditionally practice Islam, the two largest being the Hui people and the Uyghur people. China’s Muslims live in the country’s northwestern region, particularly in the areas of Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang. On 31 October 2004, violent clashes between members of the Muslim Hui ethnic group and the majority Han group left nearly 150 people dead and forced authorities to declare martial law in a section of Henan Province in central China.  Add to it, the conflict in Xinjiang has security implications globally. Between 1990 and 2005 in Xinjiang, there were 213 ethnic violent events. On 5-7 July 2009, the Urumqi riots, the deadliest ethnic violence in decades, revealed deep-rooted ethnic tensions intertwined with religious issues - at least 140 people were killed and 828 injured. Jihadist groups in South Asia and the Middle East, including the Iraq- and Syria-based ISIS movement, have issued statements in support of Xinjiang’s independence from China and integration into a global Islamic Caliphate, while Uyghur militants from China and Central Asia have joined and fought within a host of terrorist movements such as the Taliban and the al-Qaeda core.  The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), based in Pakistan, appears on the US State Department’s Foreign Terrorist Organizations list.

 

Suffice to highlight that religion played an important role in the wars throughout mankind’s history in all regions. Quite often, religion did serve as the motivating and integrating factor for justifying military attacks that were actually nationalistic in nature. Thus, religion is mostly merged with national identity.

 

To sum up, the lessons to be drawn from the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict are simple. The most significant lesson is “no end in sight of religious wars” of all categories. List of other key lessons include: 1) Muslims world over are in pursuit of establishing the “Global Caliphate”; 2) no end in sight for peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict due to divergent interests of all actors alike; 3) surge of Muslim populations in western and eastern countries due to higher natural growth rates, conversion and legal and illegal migrations are rapidly changing demographics that have far reaching consequences particularly in democracies; 4) Spread of Islam is both by al-Qalam and al-Jihad exploiting the societal ethnic fault lines;  and 5) just as South Asia was partitioned on communal lines in 1947 and the continuing support to J & K separatists, none should rule out the possibility uprisings even in Russia and China.  Such a prospect in a long term context cannot be ruled out in posterity world over.