• Home
  • About RSIS
    • Introduction
    • Building the Foundations
    • Welcome Message
    • Board of Governors
    • Staff Profiles
      • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
      • Dean’s Office
      • Management
      • Distinguished Fellows
      • Faculty and Research
      • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
      • Visiting Fellows
      • Adjunct Fellows
      • Administrative Staff
    • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
    • RSIS Endowment Fund
    • Endowed Professorships
    • Career Opportunities
    • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
    • Research Centres
      • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
      • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
      • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
      • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
      • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
    • Research Programmes
      • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
      • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
    • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
    • [email protected] Newsletter
    • Other Research
      • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Programmes Office
    • Overview
    • MSc (Asian Studies)
    • MSc (International Political Economy)
    • MSc (International Relations)
    • MSc (Strategic Studies)
    • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
    • PhD Programme
    • Exchange Partners and Programmes
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Assistance
    • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
    • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
    • Alumni
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
    • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
    • SRP Executive Programme
    • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
    • RSIS Publications
      • Annual Reviews
      • Books
      • Bulletins and Newsletters
      • Commentaries
      • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
      • Commemorative / Event Reports
      • IDSS Paper
      • Interreligious Relations
      • Monographs
      • NTS Insight
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • RSIS Publications for the Year
    • Glossary of Abbreviations
    • External Publications
      • Authored Books
      • Journal Articles
      • Edited Books
      • Chapters in Edited Books
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • Op-Eds
      • External Publications for the Year
    • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
    • Great Powers
    • Sustainable Security
    • Other Resource Pages
    • Media Highlights
    • News Releases
    • Speeches
    • Vidcast Channel
    • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsis.sg
Linkedin
instagram instagram rsis.sg
RSS
  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
      • [email protected] Newsletter
      • Other Research
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
      • How to Apply
      • Financial Assistance
      • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
      • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      • Alumni
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
      • SRP Executive Programme
      • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      • RSIS Publications
        • Annual Reviews
        • Books
        • Bulletins and Newsletters
        • Commentaries
        • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
        • Commemorative / Event Reports
        • IDSS Paper
        • Interreligious Relations
        • Monographs
        • NTS Insight
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • RSIS Publications for the Year
      • Glossary of Abbreviations
      • External Publications
        • Authored Books
        • Journal Articles
        • Edited Books
        • Chapters in Edited Books
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • Op-Eds
        • External Publications for the Year
      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      • Great Powers
      • Sustainable Security
      • Other Resource Pages
      • Media Highlights
      • News Releases
      • Speeches
      • Vidcast Channel
      • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • instagram instagram rsis.sg
Connect

Getting to RSIS

Map

Address

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

View location on Google maps Click here for directions to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
    RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
    instagram instagram rsis.sg
      RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    RSIS Intranet

    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
    Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University

    Skip to content

     
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO06088 | Israel, Lebanon and the Rise of the Islamists
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Commentaries
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • IDSS Paper
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers
    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    CO06088 | Israel, Lebanon and the Rise of the Islamists
    Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman

    24 August 2006

    download pdf
    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Commentary

    ON 12 August, the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) organized an unprecedented conference of Islamist movements in Kuala Lumpur. Entitled ‘South-East Asia Organizations Roundtable Conference on Palestine and Lebanon in facing Zionist and Anglo-American Imperialism’, the gathering discussed ways to assist Lebanese and Palestinian Muslims in the current Arab-Israeli conflict. Those who came were almost the “Who’s Who” of the world Islamist movement, including the Jamaat-E-Islami Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as other Islamist parties and groups from Cambodia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. More importantly, the Iranian government sent a senior cleric, Ayatollah Ali Tashkiri while Hamas leaders, Khaled Meshal and Dr Khaleel Al Hayea, sent their representatives. The fact that both these figures decided to send their personal representatives and messages to the conference alludes to the importance of the event to the Hamas leadership.

    Formation of an Islamist Secretariat

    In their respective speeches, delegates to the conference condemned Israel for its attacks on the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples and severely criticized the American and British governments for their lopsided support of the Israelis. Hizbullah and Hamas were hailed for their bravery in defending the Muslims from what is perceived as attempts by the Americans and Israelis to destroy Islam. The Iranian government was also praised for being the only Muslim country to come to the defence of the Palestinians and Lebanese. The harshest criticisms were reserved for Muslim governments and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) for its failure to act against Israel and the US. (The OIC is currently chaired by Malaysia.)

    Perhaps the most important outcome of the conference was the decision to form a permanent secretariat, with its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to assist the Palestinians and Lebanese. The terms of reference for the Secretariat will encompass political initiatives and lobbying efforts, humanitarian and relief work, fund-raising and economic action as well as media and research and development. It was also agreed that the Secretariat will continue to function beyond the Arab-Israeli conflict and will take up the cause of any persecuted Muslim.

    The proposed resolutions significantly reflect the Islamists’ preferred approach of working within the framework of international law and democracy. For instance, a proposal to boycott specific goods and services from corporations known to be funding the Israeli regime — such as Coca-Cola, Colgate and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) — could easily find support within Muslim societies, although this strategy could be double-edged. Another resolution to assemble legal experts to initiate a war crimes tribunal against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US President George Bush, as far-fetched as it may sound, is plausible within the framework of international law. Such ideas could resonate well with the Muslim masses and are likely to be an effective tool for the Islamists to galvanize support for their respective causes.

    Likely impact of Secretariat

    The formation of the Secretariat is arguably the most significant development due to the fact that it is the first time Islamist groups have come together publicly to tackle an issue related to the Muslim world. While Islamist groups were known to have mediated during the Gulf War in 1991 and assisted Bosnian Muslims during the Balkan crisis, these actions were never done publicly and with such broad-based support. Many of the delegates expressed their solidarity with the larger Muslim community regardless of sectarian differences. For example, many of the Sunni Islamist leaders condemned Muslim clerics and leaders who tried to portray the Hizbullah or Shiism as a deviationist group. Interestingly, it was a Sunni Islamist from Pakistan, a country known for its sectarian differences, who proposed a resolution to educate the Muslim masses about the dangers of the intra-religious chasm.

    While many of the Asian Islamists expressed genuine concern for the Palestinians and the Lebanese Muslims, they also considered the Israeli actions and American policy in the Middle East as a blessing in disguise. These Islamists have successfully utilized the conference and the formation of the Secretariat to portray themselves as the true voice of the Muslim masses. At the same time, they have sought to use the conflict to discredit their respective governments for their failure to assist the Lebanese and Palestinians. Judging from the demonstrations against the Americans in many Asian cities, it is likely that the Islamists will be able to rally Muslims, most of whom are already predisposed against America. The biggest losers in such a scenario will be the secular Muslim governments in the region.

    The impact of the conference, and more importantly the Secretariat, on the Malaysia-led OIC cannot be underestimated. PAS initiated the Secretariat with the support of Iran and Hamas, in part to reflect their disillusionment with the OIC and as a means of exercising political pressure on the Malaysian government. Several PAS leaders tried to underscore what they said was the failure of Malaysia in its current leadership role of the Muslim world. Should the Secretariat succeed in implementing the resolutions on Lebanon, it may gain more credibility at the expense of the OIC.

    The recent gathering in Kuala Lumpur also reflects larger concerns of the Islamists, as well as many Muslims, that America and Israel may be out to destroy Islam. As such, they feel a need to form a united front against this threat. Ironically, Israel’s latest campaign against Hizbullah and Hamas has not only strengthened these two groups but also other Islamist groups in the Muslim world.

    The unity between Shiite and Sunnis, which was at its lowest ebb, has been forged once again in the face of a perceived common enemy, Israel and America. It is unfortunate that in its war against terrorism and its pursuit to democratize Muslim societies, the US has alienated many moderate Muslims who could otherwise be crucial partners in America’s foreign policy. The moderate voices in the Muslim world have been further eclipsed by the thundering voices of the Islamists. This will have a significant impact in shaping the Muslim world of the future, with major repercussions on international relations.

    About the Author

    Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman is a research assistant at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Nanyang Technological University.

    Categories: Commentaries /

    Last updated on 03/10/2014

    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Commentary

    ON 12 August, the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) organized an unprecedented conference of Islamist movements in Kuala Lumpur. Entitled ‘South-East Asia Organizations Roundtable Conference on Palestine and Lebanon in facing Zionist and Anglo-American Imperialism’, the gathering discussed ways to assist Lebanese and Palestinian Muslims in the current Arab-Israeli conflict. Those who came were almost the “Who’s Who” of the world Islamist movement, including the Jamaat-E-Islami Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as other Islamist parties and groups from Cambodia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. More importantly, the Iranian government sent a senior cleric, Ayatollah Ali Tashkiri while Hamas leaders, Khaled Meshal and Dr Khaleel Al Hayea, sent their representatives. The fact that both these figures decided to send their personal representatives and messages to the conference alludes to the importance of the event to the Hamas leadership.

    Formation of an Islamist Secretariat

    In their respective speeches, delegates to the conference condemned Israel for its attacks on the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples and severely criticized the American and British governments for their lopsided support of the Israelis. Hizbullah and Hamas were hailed for their bravery in defending the Muslims from what is perceived as attempts by the Americans and Israelis to destroy Islam. The Iranian government was also praised for being the only Muslim country to come to the defence of the Palestinians and Lebanese. The harshest criticisms were reserved for Muslim governments and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) for its failure to act against Israel and the US. (The OIC is currently chaired by Malaysia.)

    Perhaps the most important outcome of the conference was the decision to form a permanent secretariat, with its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to assist the Palestinians and Lebanese. The terms of reference for the Secretariat will encompass political initiatives and lobbying efforts, humanitarian and relief work, fund-raising and economic action as well as media and research and development. It was also agreed that the Secretariat will continue to function beyond the Arab-Israeli conflict and will take up the cause of any persecuted Muslim.

    The proposed resolutions significantly reflect the Islamists’ preferred approach of working within the framework of international law and democracy. For instance, a proposal to boycott specific goods and services from corporations known to be funding the Israeli regime — such as Coca-Cola, Colgate and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) — could easily find support within Muslim societies, although this strategy could be double-edged. Another resolution to assemble legal experts to initiate a war crimes tribunal against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US President George Bush, as far-fetched as it may sound, is plausible within the framework of international law. Such ideas could resonate well with the Muslim masses and are likely to be an effective tool for the Islamists to galvanize support for their respective causes.

    Likely impact of Secretariat

    The formation of the Secretariat is arguably the most significant development due to the fact that it is the first time Islamist groups have come together publicly to tackle an issue related to the Muslim world. While Islamist groups were known to have mediated during the Gulf War in 1991 and assisted Bosnian Muslims during the Balkan crisis, these actions were never done publicly and with such broad-based support. Many of the delegates expressed their solidarity with the larger Muslim community regardless of sectarian differences. For example, many of the Sunni Islamist leaders condemned Muslim clerics and leaders who tried to portray the Hizbullah or Shiism as a deviationist group. Interestingly, it was a Sunni Islamist from Pakistan, a country known for its sectarian differences, who proposed a resolution to educate the Muslim masses about the dangers of the intra-religious chasm.

    While many of the Asian Islamists expressed genuine concern for the Palestinians and the Lebanese Muslims, they also considered the Israeli actions and American policy in the Middle East as a blessing in disguise. These Islamists have successfully utilized the conference and the formation of the Secretariat to portray themselves as the true voice of the Muslim masses. At the same time, they have sought to use the conflict to discredit their respective governments for their failure to assist the Lebanese and Palestinians. Judging from the demonstrations against the Americans in many Asian cities, it is likely that the Islamists will be able to rally Muslims, most of whom are already predisposed against America. The biggest losers in such a scenario will be the secular Muslim governments in the region.

    The impact of the conference, and more importantly the Secretariat, on the Malaysia-led OIC cannot be underestimated. PAS initiated the Secretariat with the support of Iran and Hamas, in part to reflect their disillusionment with the OIC and as a means of exercising political pressure on the Malaysian government. Several PAS leaders tried to underscore what they said was the failure of Malaysia in its current leadership role of the Muslim world. Should the Secretariat succeed in implementing the resolutions on Lebanon, it may gain more credibility at the expense of the OIC.

    The recent gathering in Kuala Lumpur also reflects larger concerns of the Islamists, as well as many Muslims, that America and Israel may be out to destroy Islam. As such, they feel a need to form a united front against this threat. Ironically, Israel’s latest campaign against Hizbullah and Hamas has not only strengthened these two groups but also other Islamist groups in the Muslim world.

    The unity between Shiite and Sunnis, which was at its lowest ebb, has been forged once again in the face of a perceived common enemy, Israel and America. It is unfortunate that in its war against terrorism and its pursuit to democratize Muslim societies, the US has alienated many moderate Muslims who could otherwise be crucial partners in America’s foreign policy. The moderate voices in the Muslim world have been further eclipsed by the thundering voices of the Islamists. This will have a significant impact in shaping the Muslim world of the future, with major repercussions on international relations.

    About the Author

    Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman is a research assistant at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Nanyang Technological University.

    Categories: Commentaries

    Last updated on 03/10/2014

    Back to top

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
    OK
    Latest Book
    CO06088 | Israel, Lebanon and the Rise of the Islamists

    Commentary

    ON 12 August, the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) organized an unprecedented ...
    more info