Israel, which emerged alongside Pakistan, has transformed from a tiny state into a regional superpower through advancements in science and technology.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been attacking Gaza under the guise of “self-defense.” The Palestinian population is facing intense bombing, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians. During this period, almost every country in the world, including Israel’s allies, the US and the UK, has urged for a ceasefire to allow aid to reach Palestinian civilians, but the Israeli government has ignored these pleas. On its orders, hospitals, schools, community centers, water pumps, ambulances, and journalists—things prohibited from being targeted under international war laws—have been hit. The Israeli ruling class has consistently disregarded laws and United Nations declarations.
It is evident that the Israeli ruling class’s immense military and economic power has enabled them not only to withstand global pressure but also to pursue their goals at any cost. Although Israel is relatively small in terms of population and area, with only 9.3 million people, it is the 98th largest country by population. Of these, 1.7 million are Israeli Muslims who oppose the Jewish state’s anti-Muslim policies. The country’s area is just over 25,000 square kilometers, making it 153rd in size among the world’s recognized nations.
What Actions Have Muslim Leaders Taken?
It is also true that Israel did not exist until 75 years ago. Up until 1880, only a few thousand Jews lived in Palestine. European and American wealthy Jews then began purchasing land in Palestine and establishing Jewish settlements, paving the way for the establishment of Israel. Despite resistance from Palestinians and Arab Muslims, Jewish settlements have continued to expand in Palestine, increasing Israel’s territory. If the situation remains unchanged, Israel may eventually push all Palestinians into neighboring Muslim countries and take control of all of Palestine.
The Israeli ruling class is indeed displaying power, coercion, and thuggery to seize Palestine. The question, however, is what steps have the leaders of the Islamic world taken to stop Israel’s occupation, defeat its colonialism, and protect Palestinian Muslims from Israeli oppression? The answer is that no Muslim leader has taken concrete steps to block Israel. Turkish leader Tayyip Erdoğan made some efforts in the past but ultimately failed.
During Israel’s recent assault on Palestinian Muslims, the leaders of Islamic countries have proven to be ineffective and powerless. Their gatherings have been merely symbolic, and they have failed to formulate a unified policy against Israel. They have only intermittently appealed to the US, the European Union, and the United Nations to stop Israel’s bombing of Gaza. When Muslim leaders are so helpless, non-Muslim governments pursuing their interests will not assist them.
Diplomatic Relations Have Frozen
The reality is that the passivity and cowardice of Muslim leaders have strengthened Israel and other anti-Muslim countries like India. The Israeli ruling class now feels free to take any visible or hidden action for permanent control over the West Bank and Gaza. They understand that no Muslim leader will likely obstruct their occupation of Palestine. A similar situation is seen in occupied Kashmir, where Indian rulers continue to oppress Muslims while Arab leaders maintain friendly ties with the anti-Muslim Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for economic benefits.
It is even more painful for the oppressed Palestinians suffering from Israeli atrocities that Arab leaders are now forming not just economic but also military agreements with Israel. Perhaps this is why the resistant Palestinian organization Hamas decided to carry out an operation on October 7, to remind the world, particularly the Muslim world, that Israel is committing atrocities against Palestinians. As a result, Arab-Israeli relations have become strained.
Leveraging Opportunities
It is true that the US, UK, France, and Germany have played crucial roles in making Israel economically and militarily powerful. However, it is also true that the Israeli nation has made full use of available opportunities, achieving significant power despite limited resources through hard work and intelligence. The Israeli government has effectively utilized its funds and avoided corruption, building a strong state on the foundations of good governance. Today, Israel is a developed and prosperous country where citizens enjoy all the comforts of life.
A notable success of the Israeli ruling class is its focus on the arms industry. They invested billions of dollars in this sector and provided it with all necessary facilities. As a result, over 150 Israeli arms manufacturing companies produce both heavy and light weapons for their armed forces. These weapons are on par with the armaments of superpowers in terms of innovation and performance. Many countries, including Islamic nations, now purchase Israeli-made weapons.
A Major Arms Exporter
In 2022, Israel sold arms worth $12.5 billion, becoming the eighth-largest arms exporter globally, with only the US, Russia, France, China, Germany, Italy, and the UK surpassing it. This is a commendable achievement for a country that is small in terms of both area and population. In comparison, Turkey is the largest arms exporter in the Islamic world, exporting weapons worth $4.5 billion in 2022, followed by Iran ($1 billion), Jordan ($50 million), Egypt ($40 million), Morocco ($20 million), and the UAE ($12 million). Pakistan, that year, exported only $4 million worth of arms. It can be said that Pakistani arms production mainly serves its national defense. However, considering the scale of Pakistan’s arms industry, exports should be higher.
The comparative analysis reveals that the value of arms exported by Israel annually is approximately equal to the total arms exports of the entire Islamic world. Israeli arms buyers include highly developed countries like the US and Germany, and Israel is also becoming a major supplier of weapons to India.
Israel’s expertise in arms science and technology allows its ruling class to display arrogance and confidence. They know that no neighboring country can match them militarily. While Egyptian forces have numerical superiority, Israel has defeated them in past wars due to its superior weaponry. Hence, Egyptian generals now hesitate to engage in conflicts with Israel and do not want to forgo the billions of dollars provided by the US to keep them away from Israel.
Invention of the Mortar
Historically, Israelis began producing heavy weaponry in 1947. Initially, a mortar (a small cannon) was developed in an agricultural college named Mikveh Israel. This mortar was called “Davidka” and could fire a 40-kilogram shell.
Although the Davidka’s aim was poor, its shells produced such a loud noise that it terrified enemies. Israeli historians note that during the 1947 Arab-Israeli war, the Davidka rarely destroyed enemy positions, but its shells caused Arab soldiers to retreat. This marked the beginning of Israel’s arms manufacturing industry.
Facing powerful opponents, the Israeli government decided to develop modern and lethal weapons to adequately counter the enemy. The government began spending millions of dollars annually to build arms factories and establish research and technology centers for creating new weaponry. It mandated that every Israeli adult, male and female, undergo military training. Despite its small population, Israel embarked on the path to becoming a military power.
Bar Giora
Jews settled in Palestine and began producing small arms as early as the early 20th century. As Jewish settlements were established on purchased lands, disputes arose with neighboring Palestinian Arabs over water distribution and other issues. Armed groups were formed to defend the settlements and attack Arabs. The first such group was “Bar Giora,” active from 1907 to 1909.
This was followed by the formation of the “Hashomer” organization, which in 1920 became known as “Haganah.” Under Haganah, Israeli engineers and experts developed pistols, landmines, and grenades, laying the foundation for Israel’s arms manufacturing industry.
Israeli historians claim that after World War II, members of Haganah succeeded in smuggling British submachine guns into Palestine. However, Muslim historians argue that the British government turned a blind eye because it wanted to strengthen Haganah.
Haganah experts established an agricultural settlement in Palestine. Jews had set up numerous such agricultural settlements, called “Kibbutz,” where Jewish farming families lived and cultivated land.
Arms Manufacturing Factory
The Kibbutz established by Haganah was, in reality, an arms manufacturing factory. Underground, it produced machine guns, small arms ammunition, and explosives. Above it was a bakery, and secret vents allowed fresh air into the underground factory, while exhaust air was expelled through a laundry facility adjacent to the bakery.
Haganah sourced parts from Poland and Ukraine to manufacture weapons, which were then concealed in milk trucks and distributed among the group’s units. These weapons were used against Palestinian Muslims.
It is evident that British military authorities in Palestine were aware of the existence of this underground factory but did not attempt to shut it down, as the British ruling class had already decided to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. Hence, strengthening the Jews militarily was part of its secret policy.
Gradually, with the British military presence, Jews established several underground arms factories in their majority areas, becoming militarily powerful and capable of effectively opposing their adversaries. These factories produced thousands of kilograms of ammunition monthly. When the British saw that the Jews had become self-sufficient in arms manufacturing, they left Palestine in 1948.
Post-War Developments
After the war, all arms factories were consolidated under one company, Israel Military Industries (IMI). Soon, Jews from around the world, including engineers and scientists who had worked in arms manufacturing companies in Europe and the US, began arriving in the new state. The Israeli government recruited their services to establish its arms industry.
Among the immigrants was Uzi Gal from Germany, an arms designer. In 1950, he invented a submachine gun named “Uzi,” which gained worldwide popularity and was purchased by armed forces in ninety countries, including the US, Germany, and Japan. Over a million Uzis have been produced to date.
The Israeli ruling class understood that only by mastering science and technology, particularly