1-15 April 2014                 30 Jamadiul Awwal-14 Jamadiul Akhar 1435 Hijri

Note: Using editorials as an indicator, this series presents views, understanding and attitude of the Urdu periodicals in India towards various developments concerning the Middle East.  The  selection  of  an  item  does  not  mean  the  endorsement  or concurrence with their accuracy or views. Editor, MEI@ND

Roznama Rashtriya Sahara (National Sahara Daily), Delhi
Editorial, 8 April 2014, Tuesday
1. Palestinian Children Subject to Israeli Oppression
Children are treated with love and affection in normal circumstances; they are dealt with compassion even when they make mistakes, and in case they are found guilty of serious offence and punished, it is done with extraordinary caution. However, the situation becomes completely different in circumstances of war; they, like women, become an easy target for the enemy. Thus, in the war-like situation between Israel and Palestine, Israel treats Palestinians as enemy without any consideration for their age, because for Israel children can be an equal threat as Palestinian fighters. Reports of Israel harassing and arresting Palestinian teenagers often come through various sources but they do not disturb the world leaders. If this is the situation how does one expect these leaders of powerful countries to knock some sense into Israeli security set up. The violation of rights of Palestinians does not bother these world leaders and therefore they are not expected to pressurize Israel to not imprison children.

According to reports by international human rights organizations, 199 Palestinian children below the age of 18 were arrested and imprisoned by Israeli security agencies. Moreover, the number of Palestinian prisoners below 18 under Israeli detention as of February 2014 has reached 230. These children are subjected to torture and solitary confinement in the prison. Most of the time random arrests are made and teenage boys are picked up and tortured; they are stripped, investigated and kept hungry and thirsty in solitary confinement. The problem is that this kind of experience at such a tender stage of life will further fill them with hatred towards Israel and, in such circumstances, they would not be expected to stretch a hand of peace and friendship with Israel. It would rather fill them with hatred, and feeling for revenge and retribution.

Israel and its security agencies might have forgotten that any situation never remains constant, it changes and if they are in status of power today it may not take much time to change. These teenagers will grow up with hatred towards Israel and they would certainly not become the messengers of peace once they grow up. They can become a serious threat for peace and security which Israel constantly looks for. Israel should see what is coming for it in the future. Many countries that previously supported it have started to see through its designs. Palestinian diplomacy has achieved major successes around the world and people’s sympathy has started to turn in their favour. Unfortunately, Israeli leadership is not able to see through the changing situation and is not willing to understand that a stable nation cannot be built on the grounds of hatred. The need of the hour is to create atmosphere of peace and friendship and not of fear and revenge between Israel and Palestine.
Source

Compiled and Translated by Md. Muddassir Quamar

Md. Muddassir Quamar is a Doctoral Candidate at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.  Email 

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy.