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Tuesday March 19, 2024

Beyond the Jerusalem move

By Abdul Sattar
December 12, 2017

US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has created euphoria in Zionist circles across the world, which have hailed it as a major victory for their cause. But the reckless declaration has also triggered a wave of fury across the Muslim world, strengthening the position of the extremist elements that the US seeks to eliminate.

Radical elements in Muslim countries have invoked the old anti-Christian and anti-Jewish rhetoric at their protests to muster support for their global jihadi agenda. Since Trump’s announcement, the capitals of various Muslim states have echoed with the slogans of a holy war against the infidels, the Jews and the Christians.

So, an immediate effect of Trump’s action is clear: extremists – both Muslims and Jews – have benefited. The decision will also weaken the position of America’s allies. For instance, Saudi Arabia, which was reportedly trying to hobnob with Israel, will be the biggest loser. The conservative kingdom will find it difficult to justify its rapprochement with the Jewish state. Both Riyadh and Tel Aviv view Tehran as their sworn enemy and were trying to develop a joint strategy to counter the menace. Israel reportedly went to the extent of offering intelligence to the kingdom against Iran. But the decision has scupperred the chance of any rapprochement between both countries.

The brutal Israeli force used to quell the protests in the occupied parts of Palestine has a created a wave of sympathy across the Arab world for Palestinians. The silence of the kingdom and its lukewarm response towards Trump’s decision has triggered speculations. Many have wondered if the decision was announced after taking the Saudi ruling elite into confidence. Several meetings between Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is also White House senior adviser, and Arab and Jewish leaders this year lends credence to such speculations.

Such speculations have damaged the leadership credentials of Saudi Arabia in the Muslim world. The kingdom has genuine grievances regarding the rising influence of Tehran in the region. Many Arab analysts claim that the Shia Crescent, which was forewarned by Jordanian King Abdullah II, has become a complete moon. Riyadh believes Iran is arming the Houthi rebels to its south, dominating Iraq to its north and fomenting instability in Bahrain. The influence of a theocratic Shia government is entrenched in Damascus and Beirut as well. According to Dov Zakheim, it is for this reason that the Saudis forced their ally Saad Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister, to resign during his visit to the kingdom.

This situation is particularly alarming for Saudi Arabia. But the idea of hobnobbing with the most ‘hated enemy of the Arabs and Muslims’ in order to counter Iran hasn’t gone down well with Muslims across the world. The Muslim clergy has been unanimous in their hatred towards the Jewish state and the idea of handing the second most sacred place of the believers to Tel Aviv has infuriated Muslims across the world. Even the pro-Saudi groups and parties in various Muslim countries were forced to take to the streets to placate their rank and file whose anger was not only directed towards Washington and Tel Aviv but Riyadh as well for its allegedly lacklustre response to Trump’s decision.

Tehran has consistently opposed Tel Aviv and its ‘aggressive policies’, claiming that no compromise is possible with the Zionist state that has occupied Palestinian territories by violating all international laws. Trump’s decision has vindicated Iran’s position and flies in the face of America’s claims of respecting international laws. It has not only been condemned by the Muslim countries but America’s allies and European friends have also criticised the decision. The public opinion in Western countries has also swung in favour of the Palestinians.

The situation is likely to benefit Tehran. Iran might throw its weight behind the Palestinian call for a new Intifada. It is interesting to note that American and Saudi policies aimed at curtailing Iran’s influence have boomeranged on them. The US invasion of Afghanistan, which toppled the anti-Iran Afghan Taliban government, ended up strengthening Tehran’s position in the region. The elimination of Saddam also benefited Iran, which now has plenty of friends in the power corridors of Baghdad. The Saudis, with the alleged support of the West, carried out ruthless bombardment in Yemen to curb Iran’s influence. However, the atrocities triggered a wave of condemnation that damaged the reputation of the kingdom.

Isis, with the alleged support of Riyadh and Western capitals, attempted to annihilate Iran’s close ally Syria. But the defeat of the extremist groups in Iraq and Syria has not only consolidated Bashar al-Assad’s regime, it has also turned Hezbollah and various Iranian-backed groups into liberators. The emergence of Isis in Afghanistan has not only united China, Iran, Russia and the Central Asian States but has also forced two American allies – Pakistan and Afghanistan – to seek a regional alignment where Tehran also has a role to play.

In addition to strengthening the position of Tehran in the region and among Muslim countries, Trump’s decision may also revive the moribund Arab nationalism that has haunted the Jewish state for decades. Countries like Libya and Syria may invoke the slogans of Arab nationalism once again to counter the arrogant Zionist state that is not ready to even listen to the Western countries which have supported Tel Aviv in the past. It may also prompt Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE and other Saudi supporters to be cautious in helping Riyadh in the future.

The sledgehammer tactics employed by Israel in the aftermath of the decision has also questioned the utility of the Saudi-led military alliance. The military alliance’s possible actions against Yemen are likely to come under scrutiny. Many will question the rationale of using the alliance against a Muslim country while keeping it away from a dispute that is close to the heart of over a billion Muslims.

Questions are also likely to be raised about the Saudi policy towards Qatar. People will compare Riyadh’s tough stance against Doha and its muted response towards Trump’s decision. This will benefit Tehran, which has been opposing Saudi attacks on Yemen and has been using an anti-Israel rhetoric to claim leadership of the Muslim world. It seems Washington’s sworn enemy – Tehran – is likely to gain the most from Trump’s irresponsible decision.

The writer is a freelance journalist.

Email: egalitarianism444@gmail.com