Israel and India: VICTIMS of the Same Barbarism

Jaipur: After a gap of half a century, Israel faced its worst day on 7th October, with deadliest war violence in the history of that country, since Yom Kippur war in 1973. The Palestinian extremist organization HAMAS, launched the most unprecedented attacks by firing 4500 of rockets and missiles and hundreds of its fighters crossing over border with Israel to fight on Israeli soil for the first time. Thousands have been killed and wounded from both sides and hundreds have been taken hostages. The misery has just began.

The strong riposte by Israel has only started unfolding. Whosoever wins, humanity will be the looser with thousands of people being killed from both sides, another thousands being injured, millions living in misery sans basic amenities and being displaced from their homes. Also, infrastructure  worth millions being destroyed. War is a costly affair yet some organizations with radical mindsets indulge in it, thinking that it’s the only solution. Terrorism is not a solution to any problem but a problem in itself. The world has come to realize this hard fact and hope to find some solutions for lasting peace.

Similarities Between Israel and India

India and Israel have some striking similarities. It’s interesting to note these and they are listed as under-

• Both started their journey as a recognized sovereign state at the same time (1947-48).
• Both were born with a malignancy by birth called ‘Palestine’ or ‘Kashmir’ and still struggling with it.
• Both have fought four major wars till now, on the same issue with no solution in sight.
• Both the countries have faced the wrath of terrorism for decades now,  sacrificing life, limbs and property like no other country.

However, there is a difference which stands out in all the above similarities. There are large no of sympathizers to such barbarism,  within  India while the whole nation is one in case of Israel.

Lessons for India from Israel War: Every geopolitical event teaches us something. It’s up to the other nation states with similar environment to learn from these events and take corrective actions. India should also learn from some lessons from this Hamas attack on Israel and imbibe these lessons to avoid such losses, in future. Some of major lessons for India are  highlighted as under.

Never Let Your Guards Down: Israel as a nation, it’s   defence forces and intelligence apparatus were all taken by surprise, because peace had prevailed for last 50 years after 1983 war. It was Supernova festival in Israel and obviously, the guard was down.  The most

important lesson for India is to look beyond the veil of obvious peace and    be prepared always.  Never wrap up your intelligence cover  or ignore small warning signals.

• War Will NOT End Even If You Give Kashmir.  We often hear this argument that let’s give Kashmir, if they are so adamant and buy peace. Let’s be under no such illusion that peace will prevail in the region if Kashmir or Palestine is given.   Palestine or two nation theory has been offered five times in the history, before and after creation of Israel and rejected by extremists because they want to keep the issue alive. Similarly, after Kashmir, new demands of Khalistan and Saurashtra etc   will arise only to provide fodder to   keep the terrorism alive. Nation First: Israel has a great national character, probably inspired by the existential fear. It bonds them together and more so during the times of national crisis. After 07 Oct attack, there were no questions asked about failure and lapses. No demand’s for PM’s resignation or protests , dharnas and road blocks. Govt’s Foreign policy and military response decisions are not challenged. All citizens mobilized to join their military duty including the leader of the opposition and former Prime Minster.  All Israeli  tourists in India reported to their Embassy to send them back to Israel at the earliest , so that they could fight for their motherland. Such great national character is Utopia in India. We have to learn from Israel to face the national emergency with ‘Nation First’ attitude.

• Democracy and Appeasement. Democracy is the best form of Governance in the world today and we are proud to be the oldest, largest and most functional democracy in the world. Unfortunately,  Politics in our country has stooped down to such low levels that there is no constructive criticism evident anywhere. The aim is to grab power at any cost. This power hungry nature has given rise to dangerous trend of appeasement politics.    The nation be damned. There are more enemies within the country who would like to see a weak India so that their divisive political could flourish. Let’s  rise above all this and  stay united in the hours of national crisis and relegated our politics to just another day. 

• Strong ‘Force of Deterrence’. Strong Defence Forces are a ‘Force of Deterrence’. Even if we are a peace loving country and have no expansionist designs, it’s important to have strong Army so that our frontiers are safe while the country prospers, grows and becomes a superpower. Ukraine War and Hamas attack on Israel has amply demonstrated that lasting peace is possible only by having ever alert and combat ready strong    Armed forces. They  must be equipped with   latest technology   and at the same time Country must   respect and look after the welfare of its soldiers because    it’s always the man behind the machine that wins the war.

• Armed Forces As Nation’s Insurance. Let’s request all the ‘Naysayers’ – who question all Govt decisions, NOT to question the defence spending because it’s like an insurance for the nation. It’s value will be realized when a national calamity occurs or our security is threatened.    If u take armed forces as unproductive organization and find it as burden and costly for your country leading to its cost cutting in terms of pay, status, pensions and facilities than one day, nation will have to pay many a times higher price and irreparable losses. An ill equipped and ill trained army  with disgruntled, disappointed and demoralized soldiers  due to neglect of the Govt  and apathy  of the society is a sure shot recipe for disaster.  Surrounded by hostile and unstable neighbourhood, India can’t afford that.

• Fight Your Own Battles. Israel has clearly demonstrated that every nation should be prepared to fight it’s own battles. Many countries including India pledged support to Israel but Israel politely declined and said that we are capable of fighting our own battles. The same was also underlined during Ukraine war when none of their friends came to fight for Ukraine, except giving arms and aid. The COVID pandemic also highlighted that all talks of global humanity are rubbish and every country has to be prepared to fight it’s own battles. It’s high time that India learns this important lesson from Israel.

• Don’t Preach ‘Non Violence’ to a Terrorist. All the ‘gyan’ about non violence, secularism, humanity and such rationale thinking is workable with sane opponents who are having a  principled fight but it doesn’t work with terrorists because their indoctrination has closed their mind to all rationale thinking. They are blood thirsty, cruel, barbaric,  insane people  only know the gun culture. Either the person in front has to confirm to their belief system or he has to die. There is no other way in their narrative. Killings are justified in the name of  super power, the  They have to be replied  in the same language  The atrocities done by Hamas terrorists to innocent Israelis are gruesome and unprecedented. Therefore, important lesson is “ Show NO mercy to terrorists  because they will certainly show NONE to you.”
• In Conclusion, the world has to unite against such barbaric and heinous crime against humanity, whatever be the cause. The tunneled vision of myopic national interests is holding some nations from  condemning  such terrorism. There’s no other way but to crush such organisations with punitive riposte. China has said that ‘Israel has exceeded its mandate of self defence’. I wish to ask…”Are the victim states only to act in self-defence and wait for the next round of terrorist act, after they regroup themselves”. Such response from a super power exudes apathy towards humanity.   I also don’t agree with PM Narendra Modi’s remarks that “This is not an Era of War”. Relevance of war still remains a reality, albeit in a new avatar with a wider spectrum.

India needs to understand that such an act against India, under the veil of Kashmir cause, from across the western borders, is very much a possibility. Given our DNA of appeasement and divisive politics, such heinous crimes will also find supporters well within the country and amongst our adversaries. Our score of nationalism is very low and petty gains may find the nation divided in such grave situations. Let us keep the NATION FIRST attitude in our thoughts and conduct.  (Feature image-Credits-Times of Israel)