The No-Nation Theory

The Israeli leadership complains that the Palestinians refuse to recognize Israel as a "Jewish" state. The demographic threat, after all, is quite potent; the strategic environment threatening; and Israel's paranoia strong as ever. The Israelis want affirmations from the Palestinians that they recognize the Israeli state with that specific adjective, in order to take comfort from Palestinian acceptance of the nature of their country.

 But the Ps refuse. In Foreign Affairs Dec 2011 issue, there are three reasons listed why the Ps will never offer such a recognition: (1) it effectively invalidates the right of return, (2) it adversely affects the status of Palestinian citizens of Israel, and that it panders to the Zionist ideology. Beyond those three reasons, the Palestinians also contend that people who follow Judaism are not a distinct nation or people. The P National Charter originally stated that " Judaism, being a religion, is not an independent nationality. Nor do Jews constitute a single nation with an identity of its own; they are citizens of the states to which they belong." This comes from the Palestinians.

Pretty strong, right? And part of it does make sense. The Israelis rebut that its not merely religion, but their cultural identity that they wish to protect. Thats understandable too.

But here's my question: what would Jinnah think about this Palestinian rejection of identity based on religion? Lets think back to somewhere around March 23, 1940, Lahore. 

Strasbourg

On the trams of Strasbourg, the announcement on upcoming stops come in children's voices. Funny, charming and cute.

One day, the tables will turn

I was helpless. Each moment seemed as if the skies would open up with pouring rain and drown me in a sheet of thick, heavy water. Everywhere I turned, the gloom pervaded. The air was still. Several pairs of eyes looked at me from down below, waiting for me to realize that my time was up.

Except one. Those eyes locked in on me as if it didn't matter whether I lived, but that if I surrendered to what seemed to be an inevitability, I surely will end.

"Just continue working."

The storms hit with relentless ferocity and repeated urgency. Giant wallops landed on me, and several times I fell to the floor. But if I was going to be subsumed by this deluge, I might as well as depart with a straight face. I persevered.

It came. Like a new season. Slowly, but inevitably and undeniably.

My feet rose. My heart beat with a rhythm unbenownst to me hitherto. I started smiling effortlessly and without reason.

The convulsions that previously threatened to consume me suddenly lost their unworldly powers and crashed at my feet. My footsteps signalled promise, my voice echoed, my words hung in the air. The devils had seen me. And they had blinked.

Nothing lasts forever. One day, I will be crowned king!

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