THE war crimes in Gaza committed by the Israeli state has bought about mass anger internationally.

Locally in Rochdale there has been similar resentment at aggression committed against Gazans with their homes and lives destroyed and even sacred institutions like mosques which have been targeted by the Israeli War machinery.

I have been blitzed with texts and emails on a daily basis showing real concern by people on these issues and offering action points to be ‘effective’ as a voice on these issues

In looking for practical actions many of us in Rochdale have demanded that we write to our MP who in turn can air these views in parliament on behalf of residents of our town. It bemuses me as to how by doing this any change can happen to the situation in Gaza?

Britain has had an entire history of supporting Israel and was the driving power in its creation. Til this date, Britain has played an active role in consolidating and strengthening Israels position in the Middle East lagging behind American initiatives for the region.

No matter which party is in power in Britain, each has close connections and affections for the Israeli state.

There maybe slight exceptions with a few handful individuals but the British state and government of the day as a whole has committed itself internationally to the Israeli cause and accepted its illegal occupation of Palestinian, Jordanian, Lebanese and Egyptian territories.

Hence to demand that a local MP can effectively change a historically entrenched foreign policy is unrealistic.

If we want to be practical , then we must rally our voices and dissent against the Arab regimes who dwarf Israel in size, population, army size and have more weaponry. They are the real movers and shakers who can make change and order their armies under a moral obligation to confront a rogue state that is a nuisance to all regional powers and is a threat to the security of the people.

If the US can drum up support against Iraq and take uni-lateral invasion against it for regime change coupled with a dodgy dossier Britain to assist its claims then surely when Israel threatens Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Jordan and Egypt with it s militaristic militancy and possession of nuclear weapons which can fall into the hands of extremists in Israel, isnt there a moral justification for surrounding countries to take action- especially after what you have seen in Gaza over the last week?

Voices need to be channelled to Muslim and Arab countries to realise their potential in confronting a rogue state like Israel.

We should write to the UK ambassadors of Muslim embassies expressing our concerns on their incompetence.

Organise rallies and demonstrations where we call upon Arab Muslim armies to take action. Contact influential figures in the Muslim world to say enough is enough and that it is an apt time for a new leadership and a new system for the Muslim world to arise to take on board the concerns of Muslims internationally so that countries think twice before dealing with a huge economic block who possess the largest oil reserves in the world, have vast amount of mineral resources, millions of trained army personnel and nuclear capability.

Write to the MP- lets think again!

Majed Iqbal, Rochdale