The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has been going on since April, is further growing. The conflict that has already crossed redlines, has divided the world into two parts. Israel is on the one side and Palestine is on the other.

It should be noted that Turkey currently leads the countries supporting Palestine. Speaking from various tribunes, President Erdogan stressed that Ankara will help Palestine. According to some reports, Turkey has appealed to Muslim countries to form a five-party coalition to protect Palestine from Israel. Allegedly, the five-member coalition should include the armies of Iran, Qatar, Malaysia and Pakistan. Given the preliminary information, the coalition forces will be deployed in Jordan and Lebanon for a number of reasons.

But how feasible is forming this coalition? Can the aforementioned countries come together in a peaceful manner? 

Eurasia Diary English editorial has interviewed political expert Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan from Pakistan.

- According to some sources, coalition forces may be deployed in the region in connection with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The report says, at the initiative of Turkey, the armies of Muslim countries such as Turkey, Iran, Qatar, Malaysia and Pakistan will be stationed in Jordan and Lebanon to protect Palestine, as well as holy site of the Masjid Ul Aqsa and some strategic points. How logical do you think this is possible? At the same time, will the UN Security Council approve this proposal?

Peaceful persuasions of basic rights of self-reliance, national prestige, honour, basic human rights and last but not least sovereignty and territorial integration may not achieved because of power politics at the regional as well as global forums. Azerbaijan has been seeking justice through peaceful means from the UN and other important organisations but unfortunately could not achieve this goal. Ultimately diplomacy failed and military might settled the said frozen conflict.

International justice has its own patterns, preferences and priorities for the resolution of pending or emerging conflicts. The looming sword of Veto power has been preferred personal taboos and interests over just principles. Israel has been a strategic ally of the US and darling of most of the West because of certain historical, cultural, socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic compulsions since its existence. Power dominance has become art of survival of modern civilisations and in which doctrine of clash of civilisation, rise of white-man supremacy and above all of Islamophobia has further deteriorated principles of justice, equality, equity and tolerance. Same is the burning issue of Palestine where innocent people and weaker factions of society have been slaughtered by the enemies of humanity since long.

I fear that UN Security Council will not approve this proposal of Turkey and again people of Palestine will on the mercy of Israeli forces and militia to ruin the lives and properties.

Furthermore, justice will be manipulated, derailed and ultimately delayed. The widening differences among the Muslim bloc provide a strategic cushion to Israel state. Moreover denial of basic human rights, ignorance and disunity in the Mslim bloc are the main hurdle to convince the international power brokers.            

- If we assume that such a coalition will be created hypothetically, what can be the dividends for Turkey and the countries included in the coalition?

Most recently, while addressing the current OIC meeting, the Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for an international protection mechanism for Palestinian civilians as Israel continued its aggression in besieged Gaza on the seventh consecutive day where death toll jumped to 232, including 65 children. 

Turkey proposed to form an international protection force with military and financial contributions of willing countries. Turkey justified such a mechanism which is in line with a 2018 UN General Assembly resolution. It may be included Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, Qatar and Pakistan.

He emphasised to show unity and determination for Palestine. He upheld that we should stand for justice and humanity. He added that Israel should be held accountable for war crimes and that the International Criminal Court could play a role.

In this connection, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates called for a ceasefire. They were of the view that de-escalation and the highest degree of restraint important to avoid dragging the region to new levels of instability.

Unfortunately, we live in a complex and complicated world in which power politics has become bitter reality. Unfortunately, humanity has become easy prey of self-defined notions of national sovereignty, territorial legitimacy and economic supremacy. 

Furthermore, struggling people, communities and weak countries have been at the receiving end because of the institutionalization of economic protectionism, unjust structural composition of the international organizations, compromised international regulatory bodies and last but not least, rise to unilateralism to resolve any conflict has further marginalized the weaker nations and communities alike.   

Being prominent regional expert I personally think that formation of such a coalition (hypothetically) may be good for populism drive to win hearts and souls of national and regional audiences with specific political interests but will not be acceptable even to most of the OIC countries especially the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Moreover, it will not be endorsed by the big movers & shakers of the global world. It may start a new diplomatic row among the Muslim countries. The UN will not recognize it because it may face an expected Veto.  

- What could be the logical basis for the deployment of coalition forces in Jordan and Lebanon?

Although dialogue, and diplomacy are the standardized means of conflict resolution but power politics has its own dynamics and dimensions. The proposed coalition force comprising of Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, Qatar and Pakistan will not be entertained by the most of the countries belonging to GCC and MENA. It may have the chance to deploy in Jordan and Lebanon but again its (Lebanon) special connection with Iran and heavy presence of Hamas and geopolitical and geostrategic orientations of Jordan with the GCC & MENA may create big fuss and distrust in the regional politics. Realistically it would not be easy to deploy the proposed force coalition in these countries.  

- Even if the international organizations agree to this, to what extent is it possible for countries in conflict, such as Turkey and Iran, to reach a mutual understanding in this coalition in diplomacy and in many areas?

First of all international organizations will not recognize and endorse this kind of alternative scheme of arrangements. Even the US, and European Union will not borrow this idea. Moreover, ongoing diplomatic row between Turkey and Iran on certain regional issues pertaining to Syria, Yemen, Azerbaijan-Armenia, Lebanon and last but not least, nuclear program would be a potential stumbling block in this regard.

Interviewed by Elnur Enveroglu