I actually enjoy watching Question Time on the BBC. It’s quite refreshing to see MPs being taken to account by members of the general public, as representatives of the main political parties work against each other to get the loudest applause or cheer of approval. It’s a sign of our healthy democracy – the direct interface between the people and their elected leaders.
So whilst watching Thursdays episode, I fully expected a question about the BCC’s refusal to show a humanitarian appeal for Gaza by the DEC. While Hardeep Singh Kholi, Nicola Sturgeon and Jo Swinson rightly spoke against the indefensible and inconsistent decision of the BBC, Michael Gove and Lord Falconer spoke in favour.
I was not at all surprised with Gove’s arguments, not least because of his links with the right wing anti-Muslim think tank Policy Exchange. He called on people to applaud the BBC for its commitment to objectivity. Mr Gove ignores the fact that this is a humanitarian disaster, and the DEC had made a request to the BBC to air the humanitarian appeal.
This is nothing to do with politics; it’s about saving lives and bringing relief and hope to a battered and traumatised people! The British public are intelligent enough to make a distinction between a humanitarian appeal and perceived partiality; they can also clearly tell when in the name of impartiality the BBC has clearly taken sides.
The BBC’s decision is an insult, not only to viewers but to those Gazans who are suffering and in need of help. It is inconsistent because in 1967 the BBC aired the DEC appeal for the Palestinian people after the six day war and in 1982 aired a DEC appeal after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
I was however surprised to hear Lord Falconers reasons for supporting the BBC, not because I expected him to oppose the BBC’s decision but because of his brutal honesty. In Falconer’s opinion the BBC made the right decision because showing the devastation, and sheer suffering of the Gazan people would make viewers sympathetic towards the people of Gaza and “collaterally” unsympathetic towards Israel.
He later on in the programme explains that had the appeal been screened “most people who saw the Gaza appeal would feel, quite understandably, hostility towards Israel.”
And there you go! The crux of the matter laid bare! Who cares if at least 1,300 people have died, who cares if 500,000 people are without clean water, who cares that homes, schools and hospitals have been destroyed and that over one million people are dependent on aid. What really matters is that people do not feel hostility towards Israel.
People must never feel unsympathetic towards Israel the illegal occupier, oh no! We must never feel hostile towards country which fired on UN relief workers, into UN schools, ambulances and paramedics and used phosphorous bombs in residential areas – a war crime!
Now, it should be obvious what is meant by “hostility towards Israel”, we mean in this context the policies and political decisions of its government, and we mean the action of its army. We do not mean hostility towards Jews, or their institutions and places of worship. So why can’t the British public and indeed the people of the world see the consequences of this war, the human devastation?
Let them see the brutality of the Israeli offensive and let them feel hostility towards oppressors and let them feel sympathy towards the oppressed. Such feeling does not equate to support for Hamas, it means a rejection of modern day war, terror and the deaths of innocent women, men and children!
Thanks Abul Kalam. I also watch the QT last night. Must say I nearly had a heart attack listening to old Charlie’s comments. It seems the old boy’s lost his marbles in his old age – and is telling it how is really is!
Never would’ve guessed that such naked truth was possible!
You might also remember that Senator John McCain blurted out the real reason for the Iraq war (Oil) during the US presidential elections – then had to backtrack…
Truth eventually outs in the end… that’s the nature of life.
An excellent blog Kalam.
I too watched as Falconer suggested that the BBC’s decision was the correct one because should the appela be aired people would rightly feel hostlity towards israel and sympathy towards the Gazan’s.
In Islam we have a principle of standing out for justice even of it is against yourown selves. It’s unfortunate that the former LORD JUSTICE, could not display more of this quality!
Salaam my dear brothers and sisters who use this platform to express our views without fear and intimidatin from anyone Insha’Allah
I just would like to stay JazakAllahu Khairan forthe brother who started this blog.
My response is simple, short and clear, the fact that it is known for Gove for being part of such think tank goes without saying that we as a community under attack by individuals sitting in influential positions, have a long hard journey ahead of us.
We live in a state that runs on agendas which has a clear objective, which is to test Muslim faith by undermining us. We all are aware of what has happened and this issue with Gaza is still part of the test.
We all have to individually continue campaigning [which seems like a drag, but must be done] and the other is to create pressure groups for those who are not affiliated with one. It needs doing so, cos our brothers and sisters in Filastine will hold us to account for what we have done, just like Br. Azad Ai who is under attack and like those from the recent past like Babar Ali, Ali-Tamimi etc. We are all sittging in the same boat, the question is this, as muslims, it is in your faith that you support your brothers and sisters any where because it is a responsibilty on you to support them so continue in the best of manors and may Allah [swt] bless and accept all the positive work Muslims are doing so, Ameen
Sorry to drag, so much to control, Filastine is not a new issue and I haven’t forgotten about the other Muslims suffering nor should any Muslim Insha’Allah
Excellent post br kalam. wana clarify somethng you said though:
“Such feeling does not equate to support for Hamas”
Does that mean you are saying that its unethical to show support for Hamas? Or do you mean its illegal to do so? I mean i know that the US and EU (i think) have banned Hamas but is that also true here in UK?
Excellent comments and it is very inspiring to know that there are people who fully understand what is happening in Gaza and are not afraid to speak it or indeed express through peaceful means as we are a nation being branded as being “terrorist”. The real terror is being or has been felt by the women, men and their children whos faces we see in the news and it takes alot of patience to bear these images. Israel will never be held to account until the Muslims themselves change themselves and the people who claim this identity. To carry on the campaign is going to take time and solidarity among all muslims. This is a test for us all and to be successful we will have to hold fast to that Rope which Allah swt described in His glorious Quran.
Let us all pray for the mothers and children that Allah has given them peace. Amin.
Salam Adam,
By saying “Such feeling does not equate to support for Hamas” I wanted to distinguish between feelings of sympathy and solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza and support for Hamas. One can feel sympathy for the Gazans, the people and the suffering they are going though while not being at one with Hamas. Gazans are supporters of Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad and a host of other groups and factions.
Many people who do not support Hamas certainly feel sympathy for the Gazans, its this distinction that the pro zionists would not like us to make, for them the sympathy and support for Gaza means support for Hamas.
But there is no denying that the vast majority of Gazans supported Hamas (i.e voted them in) and even more are supporting them now, in Gaza and beyond.
On the point of Hamas, according to the Home Office, Hamas is not proscribed (banned), in the UK.Hamas Izz al-Din Qasam Brigade is proscribed, i,e the military wing of Hamas. see: http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/legislation/current-legislation/terrorism-act-2000/proscribed-terrorist-groups
Thank you brother kalam. I dint knw that hamas is not actually banned, i thort that it most likely would be. I think more muslims and nonmuslims should show their support for hamas as it is a legitimate organisatin and is the legitimate representatives of the gazans. Like you said, they were voted in and accepted by the local population.
We cannot support hamas as they are all sought on killing their selves which is haram in islam as allah says “do not throw yourself into destruction by your own hands”
based on this alone you should not support muslims who disobey the command of allah.
Ah supporting Hamas eh.
I agree with what adam has said hamas were democratically elected in by the palestianians and they were not givena a chance to govern their people and were straight away branded as an illegal government. This goes against all my principles of democracy because of the wests harsh stance against hamas it has led to this dire situation.
Let me clarify i do not agree with everything that hamas is doing but i have to stand by my principles that they have the right to govern over their people as a democratically elected government. At this current moment i am supporting hamas because they represent the innocent gazans who have been slaughtered and they are a legitmate government. They are a people who have been opressed for a long time and justice needs to be established in that land.
I must say there is a lot of truth in what has been said by Shaykh Wiki and on a pure political basis i must agree with Shaykh Wiki.
When we are talking about Hamas we all need to understand who they are. Hamas is an organisation which has many different arms. Hamas is an Islamic Palestinian political and social organization which includes a paramilitary force, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. So when we hear about hamas ‘militants’ they are talking about the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and not the whole organisation. Hamas has ove the years set infrastructure over palestine by establishing hospitals and schools and social welfare as well. Although the militray wing of Hamas might be a banned terrorist organistaion the rest of the organistion is not and we need to show support for that as it represents a legitmate resistance against the illegally occupiying israeil’s.
This is a very good topic. When we are talking about Hamas we all need to understand who they are. Hamas is an organisation which has many different arms. Hamas is an Islamic Palestinian political and social organization which includes a paramilitary force, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. So when we hear about hamas ‘militants’ they are talking about the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and not the whole organisation. Hamas has ove the years set infrastructure over palestine by establishing hospitals and schools and social welfare as well. Although the militray wing of Hamas might be a banned terrorist organistaion the rest of the organistion is not and we need to show support for that as it represents a legitmate resistance against the illegally occupiying israeil’s.
I think the comments so far have been really good, ppl seem to know what they are talking about based on clear evidence. it is unfirtunate however that the media is painting a very biased and irrational picture of hamas, whom the overwhelming majority of palestinians support. More so, people in this ‘free thinking’ society seem to be swallowing all that is fed into them through the media and vomit it all out as soon as the word ‘hamas’ is mentioned.
i think its really important that we all try our best upon our personal capacities to try to debunk hamas as a taboo word and explain it to the people. some of my ideas:
1. refuse to even mention mahmod abbas whenever talking about palestine
2. always mention’Prime Minister Haniyya’ when talking about palestine issue with friends
3. aim to normalise palestine’s resitance to occupation, as any people have a right to defence against an occupier under geneva convention.
any other ideas???
any ideas how we can do that?
Israel is continuing its bombardment of gaza fresh news is below
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=84531§ionid=351020202
Part of Israel’s PR deceptive stratefy is to make the word ‘Hamas’ synonymous to the word ‘terrorist’. hence you will hardly ever find them saying the word ‘Hamas’ without sying ‘terrorist’ to describe it or in the same sentence (e.g. ‘Hamas terrorists’).
Absurd given the truth is the exact opposite, the illegal occupying and oppressive force with the blodd of thousands (literally) on its hands manages to get away as the defensive ‘oppressed victim’ while the occupied, starved, and imprisoned oppressed nation of 1.5m (1.2m refugees) gets the label of ‘aggressor’ and ‘terrorist’.
Worst of all, the majority of the Western world at least, given the Israeli moutpieces in the western media coverage, believe in this (or merely want to – so force themselves into – believing in it).
The Prophet Muhammad (saw) spoke of a magic of words that depicts something in a form other than it really is, saying, “Verily, from speech there is surely magic”.
What’s more is that this depiction of truth as false and vice versa is from the signs from the coming of the Hour, a time which the Prophet described: “…the liar is believed in it (i.e. the time before the Hour), and the truthful one is made a liar…”.
I believe that the word Israel should never be seperated from the word ‘terrorist’ and/or ‘zionist’, and doing so will only be speaking the truth. Please read the following article on the issue:
http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/58680
A comparison can most certainly be made -as did Jewsih thinkers and philosophers – between the zionist state and the Nazi one of WW2 Germany:
Albert Einstein, Hanna Arendt and other prominent Jewish Americans, writing in The New York Times, protest the visit to America of Menachem Begin, December 1948:
“Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our time is the emergence in the newly created State of Israel of the Freedom Party (Herut), a political party closely akin in its organization, method, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties.”
Martin Buber, Jewish Philosopher, addressed Prime Minister Ben Gurion on the moral character of the state of Israel with reference to the Arab refugees in March 1949.
“We will have to face the reality that Israel is neither innocent, nor redemptive. And that in its creation, and expansion; we as Jews, have caused what we historically have suffered; a refugee population in Diaspora.”
Martin Buber, to a New York audience, Jewish Newsletter, June 2, 1958:
“When we [followers of the prophetic Judaism] returned to Palestine…the majority of Jewish people preferred to learn from Hitler rather than from us.”
Dr. Israel Shahak, Chairperson of the Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights, and a survivor of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp, Commenting on the Israeli military’s Emergency Regulations following the 1967 War. Palestine, vol. 12, December 1983:
“Hitler’s legal power was based upon the ‘Enabling Act’, which was passed quite legally by the Reichstag and which allowed the Fuehrer and his representatives, in plain language, to be what they wanted, or in legal language, to issue regulations having the force of law. Exactly the same type of act was passed by the Knesset [Israeli's Parliament] immediately after the 1067 conquest granting the Israeli governor and his representatives the power of Hitler, which they use in Hitlerian manner.”
Consequently, given the marriage between Israel’s Zionist and Nazi characters, the suggested description of Israel as ‘zionazi’ would certainly not be far from the truth.
After all, we all know Israel’s propaganda war is extremely efficient when it comes to covering its war crimes, but it is most brutal when it comes to demonising its enemy and his aims. Trying to learn about Hamas from israel or pro-israeli sources is like trying to learn about the jews from hitler or the nazis..
It is difficult to find impartial sources on hamas; in the fear of being seen as an ‘evil terrorist’ and falling into the ‘us-and-them’ camps, people remain silent and don’t speak the truth.
Hamas is the legitimate resistance movement and democratically elected government of gaza. It was born 20 years ago as a result of the Israeli occupation and oppression (for more info about that see the documentary link at the bottom) – hence, no illegal occupation and oppression, no resistance – just as muslims. christians and jews lived together for 1000 thousand years before.
Despite what pro-israelis spout out about ‘terrorists’ (because doing so ultimately makes them ‘victims’ and diverts you from their illegal occupation), Hamas is enforcing the Palestinians’ legal right to resist the illegal occupation and aggression (those two words are at the heart of the matter, without them the picture will be inaccurate, which is why of course Israeli PR and Western Media deliberately go out of their way to avoid – if not completely censor – these words from their coverage on the conflict).
Once again, Palestinians have a legal right to resist (including militarily) their occupier (and Gaza is still occupied – despite the deceptive withdrawal of troops and settlers a few years ago – not to mention the West Bank, and that’s overlooking the UN borders of 1947 which gave Jerusalem and other parts to Palestine).
Israel on the other hand has no legal right to occupy Palestinian land – it is and has been in contravention to over 60 UN resolutions (more than all the world’s broken UN Resolutions put together) of which reolutions state that Israel must withdraw immediately.
Israel also has no legal right to impose the blockade on Gaza – something Richard Falk of the UN described as ‘collective punishment’, in contravention to Geneva Conventions.
Even during war, Israel has no legal right to bomb Civilian installations even though they may be police stations owned by Hamas, or to ‘assassinate’ Hamas’ political leaders (especially not along with their entire families). See:
http://gazasiege.org/docs/jan09/Legal_Brief_Gaza_Al_Haq_Jan2009.pdf
It may also be useful to see this interview with an American expert on hamas – you will see why he hardly makes it into mainstream media:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qbVZgrUUSnA&feature=channel
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dPg5AcDey_0&feature=channel
(disclaimer: the views expressed in this post are merely for educational purposes and do not and should not be seen as to incite or encourage anyone towards terrorism – especially the Israeli kind!)
All of this 9i.e. my previous post) is of course ignoring the fact that there will be reservations regarding particular tactics used by hamas, namely it’s firing of rockets that may fall on civilians. When challenged on this issue (i.e. why hamas’ rockets aim at civilians) by sky News, Khaled Meshaal replied openly that actually their primitve home-made rockets do not have the ability to aim at anyone – they are merely fired as the only remaining form of effective protest against the oppression and occupation endured by his people. In fact, he called on America to supply themwith advanced weaponry -as they do with the $3billion a year to Israel – so that they could target military installations far more accurately. See the interview here:http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=o6j0P8b_R74
The rocket fires by Hamas:
Why should there be reservations???
The towns that these rockets are going into are those that they have been kicked out from and are currently being illigaly occupied by israeili settlers.
These ARE NOT ISRAELI TOWNS, nor HOMES. They are PALESTINIAN lands and homes. They are throwing rockets at them, SO THAT these illigal settlers leave their houses and the rightful owners can return home.
What would you do if you came home one night to find that some people have taken over your house and will not leave?
whatmore the police and your neighbours just stand by doing nothing. And then you are forced to live on the pavement in the cold for YEARS upon YEARS. All the time, watching them play in your garden, watch your t.v and sleep in your beds.
What will you do?
If telling them to leave your house will not work, if your neighbours will not help to get rid of them, and if the police will not help you, the only option left for you is to take up the matter into your own hands and force them out!
This is the reality behind the rocket fires that are going into PALESTINIAN towns that are being occupied by jewish settlers.