British War Mongers Must Be Reigned In and Held To Account

By Iqbal Jassat

Dramatic political occasions in the previous few days, starting from what many pundits describe as a coup in Pakistan to the depth of armed resistance throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories in opposition to Israeli colonization and apartheid crimes, are prone to dominate public discourse.

To not be outdone within the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the doubtful stance adopted by America and NATO, which many observers accurately understand to be unjust, inconsistent and hypocritical in relation to their place on Palestine.

Since Ukraine has turn into dominant in international information networks with horrific photographs of dying and destruction, of cities and cities laid to waste, and of the pitiful plight of younger and previous fleeing properties and lands to hunt refuge in neighboring European international locations, these in comparable tragic fates however of one other shade will not be faulted in the event that they remind the world of Western double requirements.

The “reset” in international politics as undertaken by the Biden administration and slavishly adopted by Europe has much less to do with justice and extra to do with greed by their respective company conglomerates and the military-industrial advanced.

It’s inside this context and particularly the hype generated by British Premier Boris Johnson’s boastful walkabout in Kyiv alongside Ukraine’s President Zelensky, that one is compelled to remind Johnson’s cheerleaders throughout the UK and throughout Europe of His Majesty’s betrayal of Palestine.

Strutting throughout the war-torn zones in Ukraine and pledging to proceed bolstering the nation’s protection through billions of sterling kilos, expertise and a limiteless provide of weapons and complex army {hardware}, Johnson in his belligerent rhetoric in opposition to Russia expediently ignores British crimes in opposition to Palestinians.

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Dr. Salman Abu Sitta, extensively acknowledged as a foremost authority on the Nakba and an acclaimed researcher identified for mapping historic Palestine in addition to growing a sensible plan for implementing the Proper Of Return of Palestinian refugees, insists that Britain dedicated three cardinal sins for which it should atone and supply a full treatment.

Won’t be music for Johnson’s ears however the stain of British treachery will stay indelible on its historical past.

Abu Sitta reminds us that Britain was entrusted with Mandate A for Iraq and Palestine to assist each to arrange authorities establishments for an unbiased state.

Although Iraq turned unbiased, the identical didn’t happen in Palestine. As a substitute the British handed over Palestine to East European Jews who weren’t within the nation.

Britain appointed the Zionist Herbert Samuel as the primary Excessive Commissioner. He created the foundations for a settlers’ state on the ruins of Palestine.

Britain dismembered the Palestinian society within the 1936- 1939 Revolt. These years are marked because the British-inflicted Nakba. Britain criminally uncared for to guard the Palestinian folks through the Zionist invasion and Al-Nakba of 1948.

The second sin Abu Sitta insists Britain is accountable for, he describes as their disgraceful escape with out effecting switch of energy to Palestine.

“Within the mid-twentieth century, when Britain left its dominions in Asia and Africa, together with India, Cyprus, Malaysia, it handed energy formally to a neighborhood authorities of the folks they usually turned unbiased. In Palestine, the British left hurriedly in shame, similar to the latest American escape from Afghanistan.”

British civil servants caught the final airplane from Lydda airport and its military left to Egypt and by Haifa port.

Britain left Palestine within the palms of armed new settlers from the chilly hills of Russia. Historical past has by no means seen such prison conduct.

“Consequently, Palestine turned with out standing, straightforward prey to devour by ready vultures.”

In his last declare, Abu Sitta insists that given the gravity of the Nakba and Britain’s function within the dismemberment of Palestine, a Nuremberg sort of tribunal or trials be held.

“For a rustic to be occupied by a overseas minority, emptied nearly totally of its folks, its bodily and cultural landmarks obliterated, its destruction hailed as a miraculous act of God and a victory for freedom and civilized values, within the twentieth century, beneath the glare of cameras and beneath the watchful eye of the UN and its many resolutions, all carried out in keeping with a premeditated plan, meticulously executed, financially and politically supported from Britain and its Allies, and nonetheless maintained as we speak, is little doubt distinctive within the historical past of mankind.

“But Britain, as the first and unique wrongdoer, did not do, or trigger to be carried out, a complete and legally rigorous worldwide inquiry into the causes and cures of Al-Nakba, just like Nuremberg Enquiry and comparable trials.”

The political and financial upheavals ensuing from the conflict in Ukraine which have widespread international implications, and doesn’t maintain any significant likelihood of ending quickly, particularly because of the aggressive war-talk and large weapons deployment by US and NATO allies, paradoxically has Britain positioned as a key participant within the maelstrom.

Whether or not one considers the smooth coup in Pakistan orchestrated by exterior actors or the dispossession of Palestinians from their land, Britain’s function as a colonial empire within the Indo-Pak subcontinent as certainly within the Center East, Asia, and Africa, can’t be decreased to a footnote in historical past.

It has to account for its sins as Abu Sitta insists. Except it’s reigned in urgently, Britain will proceed to be a drive of destruction and luxuriate in delight of place in America’s reckless army expeditions.

– Iqbal Jassat is an Govt Member of the South Africa-based Media Evaluate Community. He contributed this text to The Palestine Chronicle. Go to: www.mediareviewnet.com