By Afshain Afzal

The recent politico-hematuria signs of major violation of Palestinian rights have shocked the Muslim world. Enemies of Muslims remained committed to carryout “Black Propaganda” that Saudi Arabia has recognized Israel with its capital as Jerusalem, however, despite Saudi Arabia’s announcement few days back along with numerous official statements in the past that the Kingdom will not accept any solution for future Palestine State without Jerusalem as its capital, the propaganda is still on. Ironically the propaganda is also being made public by some of the Muslim countries. As things are proceeding in a fast mode, there are high chances that unless Muslims do not device some counter strategy, Washington in hands and glove with United Nations Organization (UNO) and some traitors of Muslim countries would declare Jerusalem as Capital of Israel and would impose it as binding on member states for world peace. 

Some 73 years back, in 1949, the United Nations agency namely United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established by the General Assembly and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.7 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. 

In June 2022, UNRWA delegation concluded a three-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to remind its support given to the Agency’s General Programme Budget for 2018 and 2019 as well as other pledges. The delegation emphasized Saudi Arabia’s role and contribution to UNRWA in carrying out vital services for Palestine refugees since 1950. The delegation urged Saudi officials to continue leading by example on how support from the Arab region to the Agency contributes to the human development and wellbeing of Palestine refugees. It was also disclosed that between the period 2001 to 2021, the government of Saudi Arabia and its humanitarian and development entities, contributed over US $1.2 billion to to UNRWA.

If we recall, Saudi Arabia in 2018/2019 pledged to support the UNRWA’s core services with a donation of $50 million. After the Kingdom’s visit by UNRWA delegation, Saudi Arabia, in October 2022, donated additional $27 million to the UNRWA to support the organization’s operations in the Palestinian territories. In the same regard, the memorandum of understanding was signed by Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Nayef Al-Sudairi, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, and Dr. Ahmad Abu Holie, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and head of the Department of Refugee Affairs.

Saudi Arabia is quite clear about its Palestine policy, which never witnessed any change. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, repeated the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia with regard of Palestine at the 77th UNGA in New York in September 2022, “Palestinian issue is at the forefront of the Kingdom’s concerns, and the Kingdom supports the Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights, including the establishment of their independent state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

In a major development in October 2022, Israel, Lebanon and the United States announced that a deal has been reached between Israel and Lebanon on each country’s maritime border. Negotiations between the parties over the 330-square-miles of the Mediterranean Sea. Under the agreement, the contested waters will be divided by a line straddling the “Qana” natural gas field. Both parties would be able to produce gas on their side of the line and a buoy line will remain between the two countries. The Arabs and Muslims could not come out of this shock when in political scenario, Israeli former Prime Minister Netanyahu announced his alliance with ultranationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben Gvir, who although does lead his Religious Zionism-Otzma Yehudit but now the party has become second-largest party in Netanyahu’s right-religious coalition. It is not only shocking for Palestinians and members of Israel’s minority Arabs but also whole Muslim world. Of course, mere denouncing by Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinians or Muslim world would not solve the issue.