The British Mandate over Occupied Palestine

The word “Zion”, which is a Hebrew term that refers to “Jerusalem”. Throughout the history Jerusalem had been the sacred place for Jews, Christians and Muslims as well. The fundamental philosophy (to establish the Jewish state where they can proclaim their basic rights or to return their homeland (considered) and resumption of Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel) of the Zionist movement have existed for hundreds of years. But the modern Zionism formally took root in the late 19th century. Around that time, Jews throughout the world faced growing AntiSemitism. As the History is evident that British Govt made the statement about to support the Jews to form their National Home in Palestine. This public statement was issued by British Govt in 1917 during the First World War. At that time in Palestine there was ottoman region in place with a small minority Jewish population. The declaration was contained in a letter Dated 2 November 1917, from the United Kingdom’s Foreign secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild a leader of British Jewish community for transmission of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. This whole process is called Balfour declaration. The Jewish aspiration return to Zion got overheated by the Balfour Declaration. The Balfour Declaration was endorsed by the principal Allied powers and was included in the British mandate over Palestine. To terminate the British mandate over Palestine and the Israeli Declaration of Independence sparked a full scale war (1948 Arab-Israel war) which erupted after May 14, 1948. Four Armies of Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Iraq invaded in the area of British mandate from Lebanon.The Gaza strip and the west bank had been occupied by Egypt and Jordan, respectively, since the 1948 war until 1967. Israel occupied the west Bank and the Gaza strip in six days war (war fought by Arab states of Egypt, Syria and Jordan and Israelis) of 1969. Also known as June war. And seized the Gaza strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the west bank, including Jerusalem from Jordan and the Golan Heights from Syria. In 1980 Israel officially absorbed East Jerusalem and has proclaimed the whole of Jerusalem to be its capital. The inclusion, though never formally amounting to legal annexation, was condemned internationally and declared “Null and void” by The United Nations Security Council. The brief war ended with a U.N. brokered ceasefire, but it significantly altered the map of Mideast and gave rise to lingering geopolitical friction. However Israel disengaged from the Gaza strip in 2005 dismantling 21 Israeli settlements in the Gaza strip. The disengagement was proposed in 2003 by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adopted by the Gov. in June 2004, and approved by Knesset (Unicameral National Legislative) in February 2005 as the Disengagement Law. It was implemented in August 2005 and completed in Sep 2005. 8000 Jewish settlers from 21 settlements received an Avg. of more than US $200000 in compensation per family. The recent situation (around 7 may 2021) of war is led by the Sheikh Jarrah eviction case which involves the dispute politically involving the ownership of certain properties and housing units in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem between Palestinian Muslims and Israeli Jews. As well as this incident grow on the back bone of Non- Sense law of Israel. The Israel’s law allows Jews to file claims over land in West Bank and East Jerusalem which they may have owned prior to 1948 (without any evidence), but reject Palestinian claims over land in Israel which they owned.
So basically they are the illegal settlers with the political power (and their illegal tenancy is recognized by the certain so called countries and organizations), and by using such power they are kicking out the real owners of land. However this situation got further escalated when the Israeli forces entered inside the Holy mosque “Al- Aqsa”. Which is considered the sacred place of Muslims after Makkha and Madhina. Literary known as “Qibli Awal”. This is the mosque that the Islamic Prophet Mohammad (saw) visited on a nocturnal journey (literary known as Mehraj). However after entering in mosque Israel Gov. received the threats from Hamas that they should vacate their forces immediately or to face the consequences. Technically Hamas group operates in Gaza but the whole Muslim Ummaha will stand with this mosque because of the historical importance as said above. Despite this Israel shows their military might and killed hundreds of civilians and thousands wounded. Despite the fact that Israel have one of the powerful army and defense system, we can’t compare Gaza with the Israel which don’t even have it’s official army. But still in the honor of the mosque they fired several rockets towards Israel but that had not impact on Israel because the capability of their defense system (known as Iron Dome). In retaliation to it Israel fired hundreds of rockets towards Gaza which results in killings of hundreds and injured thousands. And many people have lost their homes, dear ones and as well their last stand. Which include the deaths of children’s, women and as well press personals. They are often deprived from the basic utilities like water, electricity etc. because these facilities are operated and controlled by Israel. The whole reason behind this Israeli barbarian attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque is that Israel want to demolish the Al- Aqsa mosque and built the third temple for their upcoming messiah which their religious texts also support. However if this happened than the world should prepare for Third world war.
(Author is pursuing Master’s degree from university of Kashmir. Views are his own)
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