As more Arab nations opt for normalization with Israel, Malaysia and Indonesia step up as key advocates for the Palestinian cause. The recent Israeli attacks on Gaza have put several Middle Eastern nations in a challenging position, torn between their newly established ties with Israel and their commitment to Gaza. This has led to limited pushback against Israel's actions. Countries outside the Middle East, like Malaysia and Indonesia, are now crucial in holding Israel accountable for what many see as war crimes. These two Muslim-majority nations in Southeast Asia bear the responsibility of challenging Israel's narrative and championing the Palestinian cause.
In recent years, there has been a trend towards normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel, with several countries formalizing ties in 2020. Even Israel has expressed interest in improving relations with Malaysia and Indonesia. The United States and Europe have shown reluctance to apply their humanitarian principles to Palestinians, while more Arab states lean towards normalizing relations with Israel. This makes it imperative for the global Islamic community, led by countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, to hold Israel accountable and support Palestinian self-determination.
The recent siege on Gaza, a response to attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, underscores Israel's collective punishment of Palestinian civilians. This includes the use of white phosphorus in civilian-populated areas, which is considered an international war crime. Despite this, there has been limited international intervention to prevent these atrocities. Notably, the European Commission and U.S. President have voiced support for Israel's actions. Arab nations that once criticized Israel's actions have now taken a more balanced approach.
The normalization of ties with Israel has led to a decrease in criticism of Israel's actions by these nations. This growing recognition of Israel has widened the gap between Israel and Palestine. Malaysia and Indonesia, two of the six Asian countries that do not formally recognize Israel, must resist this trend. They can form a regional bloc with other like-minded nations and engage with Middle Eastern and North African states that have not established diplomatic relations with Israel. This collective voice may have more impact in demanding international action against Israel.
Furthermore, Malaysia and Indonesia should focus on initiating dialogue with Saudi Arabia, which is on the verge of normalizing ties with Israel. Recent developments in the conflict may have jeopardized Israel's position with Saudi Arabia, presenting an opportunity for these nations to influence the situation. Leveraging their memberships in international organizations, Malaysia and Indonesia, along with other states advocating for justice, can call on the global community to act against Israel's violations of international law.
Both Malaysia and Indonesia have a history of advocating for the Palestinian cause. They have provided financial aid, scholarships, and support for capacity-building programs. However, it is time for them to lead the call for a more robust international intervention. The international community must be resolutely intolerant of war crimes and genocide, regardless of who is committing them. While Israel may seek diplomatic ties with Malaysia and Indonesia, Southeast Asia should be where Tel Aviv's charm offensive comes to an end.
Kamran is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.