For decades, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has served as a rallying cry for the Islamic world, with numerous Muslim countries and leaders passionately expressing their support for the Palestinian cause and their opposition to Israel and Zionism. However, recent events have called into question the authenticity of this support, suggesting that it may be more rhetorical than substantive.
In recent years, several Arab and Muslim-majority countries have been cultivating closer ties with Israel, either publicly or privately. The 2020 Abraham Accords marked a significant shift, with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain formally establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, followed by Morocco and Sudan. Even Saudi Arabia, which still officially denies recognition of Israel, has been engaging in clandestine meetings with Israeli officials.
Surprisingly, even Malaysia, one of Israel’s most ardent critics, shows subtle signs of a softening stance. The University of Malaya’s recent decision to confer an honorary degree upon Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), has the potential to ignite controversy due to Al-Issa’s perceived affinity with Israel.
Despite Al-Issa’s denial of any connections with Israel during a press conference covered by local media, he has engaged in activities and events that are viewed as pro-Israel. For example, he delivered a keynote speech at the 2020 American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum alongside prominent figures such as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
In April 2019, Al-Issa and AJC CEO David Harris signed a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding aimed at fostering Muslim-Jewish understanding and combating racism and extremism in all its forms. As part of this agreement, Al-Issa led a delegation of 62 eminent Islamic scholars from 28 countries on a historic visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 23, 2020 – the highest-level Islamic leadership delegation ever to visit a Nazi German death camp. The delegation then spent a day in Warsaw, which included a synagogue visit and an interfaith Shabbat dinner. This information, far from being slanderous, has been extensively documented on the American Jewish Committee website on June 14, 2020.
There are those who contend that Israel is indeed seeking to influence numerous international Islamic organizations, such as the MWL, to gain legitimacy and acceptance within the Muslim world. The MWL, based in Saudi Arabia, has long been regarded as a stronghold of conservative Islam.
Concurrently, the situation for Palestinians continues to worsen on the ground. Israeli settlements persist in expanding in the West Bank, while the Gaza Strip remains under a debilitating blockade. The UN reports that more than 5.6 million Palestinians currently live as refugees. In recent outbreaks of violence, Palestinian civilians have suffered disproportionately compared to Israelis.
Yet, the Islamic world has largely remained silent on these recent developments. The muted reaction to incidents such as the forced evictions of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah and the Israeli police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan in 2021 stands in stark contrast to the fierce outcry that would have erupted in the past.
This glaring discrepancy between words and actions raises discomfiting questions. Is the Islamic world’s support for Palestine truly rooted in genuine concern and solidarity, or is it more a matter of political expediency and appealing to domestic audiences? Are Arab and Muslim leaders determining that the costs of antagonizing Israel and the West now eclipse the benefits of being perceived as champions of the Palestinian cause?
There are no simple answers, but it is evident that the Palestinian issue is losing its potency as a unifying force in the Islamic world. As more Muslim countries seek rapprochement with Israel, driven by strategic interests, economic incentives, or evolving perceptions, the concept of a united Islamic front against Israel appears increasingly tenuous. Palestinians fear that this will leave them increasingly isolated and weaken their position in future negotiations.
In conclusion, while verbal support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel persists in the Muslim world, recent events reveal a widening chasm between rhetoric and reality. As Muslim countries’ policies toward Israel evolve, the Palestinian struggle risks being reduced to a political pawn, invoked when convenient but readily sidelined in pursuit of other interests. Only time will tell if the Islamic world will match its words with concrete action, or if Palestine will become a casualty in a larger geopolitical game as happening now.
Muhammad Afifi Abdul Razak
Lecturer in Political Science at School of International Studies, UUM
Research Fellow (Politics), The Future Research