Muslims all over the world in general and Palestinians in particular commemorated the 47th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the city of Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and Al-Aqsa Mosque, which was the first qiblah (direction during prayer) of Muslims. Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the three holy mosques in Islam where Muslims are permitted to go on pilgrimage. Ever since its occupation, Jerusalem has been subjected to Judaization and sacrilege by Zionist gangs. These gangs most often attempt to desecrate Al-Aqsa Mosque. The mosque was even set on fire by a fanatic Australian Christian Zionist Michael Dennis Rohan in 1969, two years after its occupation. It was said that the arsonist was a mentally deranged man. The digging of tunnels and excavation work has continued around the Haram and underneath it, and is carried out under false pretexts and justifications. Similarly, the setting up of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the aggressive Judaization of the holy city continue until this day. The Israelis are Judaizing not only the occupied land and its streets and alleys, but also the life, traditions and customs of Palestine. Judaization also includes all the organizations and systems in the occupied territories. The occupiers are aggressively pursuing the alteration of everything by resorting to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by killing and displacement, as well as by demolishing their homes under one pretext or another. The occupying forces do not allow those Palestinians who left Jerusalem to return. Palestinians have also not been permitted to renovate their houses or do any construction work on their land. All of this has been carried out in a systematic and well-planned way with total disregard for the resolutions of the United Nations that consider East Jerusalem to be an occupied city like other parts of the Palestinian territories that were occupied during the war of aggression launched by Israel against the Arabs in 1967. After the burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque, a summit of Islamic countries was held in Rabat, Morocco at which it was agreed to establish the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC ), the name of which was later changed to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. According to the statutes of the pan-Islamic body, Jerusalem is the permanent headquarters of the OIC. Although there are now 57 OIC member states, this pan-Islamic body has turned into a bureaucratic organization preoccupied with the affairs of its own staff, such as their salaries, allowances and privileges. The organization pays little attention to the cause of Jerusalem even though it was founded for the sake of the holy city. Apparently, the body has become a refuge for personalities whom their countries want to honor or whose services they wish to dispense with. This happens at a time when all Israelis, including the old and the young, continue to proclaim that a united Jerusalem is the permanent capital of Israel, and the Jewish state has taken this position in defiance of the entire world as well as in opposition to the decisions of the United Nations and international conventions and laws. In contrast to this, we see apathy and inaction on the part of Islamic countries and their people as well as the OIC with regard to Jerusalem. In the meantime, one of the prime concerns of the OIC seemed to be changing its name, and that was regarded as an achievement of the former OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. In a previous article, I pinned hope for a change in this scenario when Iyad Ameen Madani became the new OIC secretary general. Madani is well known for his efficiency, ability and sincerity, and he recently visited Ramallah in the West Bank where he met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. According to an OIC press statement, the topics discussed at the meeting were of paramount importance to the core issues of Palestine and Jerusalem. The two leaders agreed on setting up an endowment for Al-Quds in the capitals of all OIC member states, and on the formation of a ministerial delegation from member states to undertake visits to major world capitals to convey OIC's strong message about Israel's aggressive activities in Jerusalem. The two leaders also discussed observing Al-Quds Day on the last Friday in the holy month of Ramadan to raise awareness of the city and of Palestinian culture in general. They discussed the need to activate a practical mechanism to encourage Muslims to visit Jerusalem. I don't know whether the pan-Islamic body was able to reach a consensus on the matter as there were differences of opinion in this regard. Until recently, the prevailing view has been that even a mere invitation to Muslims to visit Jerusalem was considered as normalization of ties with the Jewish enemy. Some strategic thinkers see this as a political blunder because this is what Israel wants and strives for it so as to further consolidate its occupation of Jerusalem and its Judaization. Israel is also working to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque between Muslims and Jews. Before choosing a ministerial delegation to make a whirlwind tour of major influential countries, it would be appropriate for the OIC secretary general to embark on a tour of member states with the mission of saving Jerusalem from Judaization. The heads of member states should take responsibility for what is happening to Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Intensive media coverage should be given to such visits and during the visits, the focus of attention should be on the holy city and the holy shrine.
– Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi is a former Saudi diplomat who specializes in Southeast Asian affairs. He can be reached at [email protected]
