President General Musharraf’s statement on the
possibility of recognizing Israel has not only spawned a
passionate debate in the media, we have also come to know that
the Government of Pakistan has recently been in touch with the
Government of Israel through unofficial visits of some
Pakistanis. Regarding the issue of recognizing Israel, there are
two clear-cut camps in the country. Those pleading for
recognizing Israel can be called the realpolitikers. They
argue that recognizing Israel is a good thing: many Arab and
Islamic countries have established contacts with Israel,
diplomatic ties with Israel will favor Pakistan because a
friendly Israel will be an asset in Pakistan’s quest for
permanent support of the US. Moreover, Pakistan will be able to
influence Israel in the latter’s dealing with the Palestinians.
The realpolitikers also argue that the ever-growing
Indian-Israeli cooperation in defense and economic areas will
not be good for Pakistan in the long run. They are encouraged by
the statement of Israel’s UN representative that Israel will
treat Pakistan on its own, regardless of the nature of
India-Israel relations.
The opposing group---the idealists---argues
that Pakistan must not recognize Israel, even if all Arab and
Muslim countries recognize it. The idealists say that Israel is
an illegitimate state established by Empire at the cost of the
blood of innocent Palestinians. They cite continued and
ever-expanding occupation of Palestine and never-ending brutal
treatment of the Palestinians by the Jewish state.
There are two interesting observations one can
make about the entire debate: one, it is in the English language
part of the media that one finds the overwhelming presence of
the pro-Israel group; and, two, it is the Urdu journalism that
is the main fountainhead of the voice of the anti-Israel group.
Another interesting, though unusual, point to note is that both
groups have suggested putting the issue of recognizing Israel to
referendum, claiming that the masses will listen to their
respective points of view.
The debate about Israel is fraudulent. Why? The
answer lies in the subtext of the following: Despite all the
brouhaha over recognizing Israel, no one has suggested that the
matter be discussed in the Parliament. No parliamentarian has
formally raised the matter in the House. And no one has ever
said that with the Parliament and the Cabinet in place, who gave
Musharraf the authority to harp on the Israel issue.
People and politicians in Pakistan do not
have---and have never had for decades---viable political
authority. Pakistan’s contemporary history does not offer a
single instance when the Pakistan Army allowed the
democratically elected representatives of the masses to make a
significant decision on their own. Democracy is what the
generals hate and ridicule most. In order to satisfy their
unbound lust for power and pelf, the Army either kills democracy
through illegal, treasonous coups d’etat, or engineers
democratic setups by rigging elections and installing dummies
and milquetoasts whose authority is no better than that of a
chattel. Whether the Army’s governance remains visible, like in
the cases of Generals Ayub, Zia and Musharraf, or invisible,
like in the cases of Generals Beg, Janjua, or Kakar, civilians
have no say over an issue that makes or mars their own lives:
Kashmir, Afghanistan, the jihadi terrorism in and outside
Pakistan, the national budget, political alliances for
contesting elections, and appointments of senior officers in the
bureaucracy and the military, to cite a few example. Law and the
Constitution are wax that the Army moulds to its own advantage,
and at will: forced constitutional amendments to indemnify the
illegal actions of the Army personnel and enhance
General-President’s powers over civilian government, the
establishment of accountability laws and commissions that have
no jurisdiction over the armed forces, and feudalistic
privileges that the Army officers are entitled to that cannot be
challenged in a court of law.
Hence recognizing Israel is a non-issue. The
Army has carried out defense cooperation in the past; it was in
1980 when Pakistan-Israel defense cooperation began under the
guardianship of the then President-cum-Chief Martial Law
Administrator General Zia. The Army will recognize Israel when
it thinks the right time has come, and that it will gain
whatever gains it is expecting. It was after meeting George Bush
in Camp David when General Musharraf soliloquized on recognizing
Israel, citing “national interests”. His derision for the
Pakistanis, their elected representatives, and their ability and
authority to guard the “national interests” is obvious from the
fact that he never even once said that he would put the matter
before the parliament and/or the cabinet back home. Whatever
their legitimacy, the elected members of the parliament (Most of
them got elected because the Army debarred a number of
politicians from participating in general elections.) stand for
democracy and people’s dignity. Everyone knows that the matter
of recognizing Israel will be put on the agenda of the Corpse
Commanders’ meeting. Period.
I think that it is not to the Pakistanis that
General Musharraf is playing the Israel issue, but to the United
States in order to prove how courageous he is and that he is the
man to trust with guarding the American interests in South Asia
and beyond. In other words, he wants the United States to allow
the Army to continue to rule Pakistan with himself as its head.
Musharraf has already become a darling of George Bush for his
“courageous” stand on behalf of the United States. An
Israeli-friendly nuclear Pakistan will have some definite
implications for Iran, Israel’s most hated state and a part of
American-declared “Axis of Evil”. Imagine the kudos that awaits
the General-President, the man who has stolen Pakistan’s
presidency. He will for sure steal more limelight.
