That Elusive Peace Between Totalitarian Islam and Israel

"[International mediators, led by the U.S. are working] to force the way forward [to the second phase to cement the deal]. What we have just done is a pause. We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire."

"A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, there is stability back in Gaza, people can go in and out, which is not the case today."

"There is a root for this conflict. And this conflict is not only about Gaza."

"It's about Gaza. It's about the West Bank. It's about the rights of the Palestinians for their state."

"We are hoping that we can work together with the U.S. administration to achieve this vision at the end of the day." 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatari prime minister 

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani shakes hands with White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, as they speak with President Donald Trump before a state dinner at Lusail Palace in Doha, Qatar, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

 

In actual fact, this conflict is about Israel refusing to depart from its resumed geographic seat on a mere portion of its ancestral homeland. It is about surrounding Arab/Muslim countries apoplectic at the presence of a Jewish state reborn on land that the Arab conquest consecrated to Islam. It is about over four millennia of historical existence of Jews being wiped off the slate of history to argue that 'Palestine' is a deserved homeland for Arabs who migrated from Syria, Lebanon and Egypt in the last century to claim it as their own, when 'Palestine' always denoted a Jewish presence.

 

It is about repetitive bouts of conflict forced on the Jewish state by hostile, aggressive neighbours in a sectarian-tribal-clan tradition of competition and conflict. And it is, above all, the collective Middle East Arab councils of those governments inciting Arab Palestinians to believe that the land in question is theirs and theirs alone. The Arab Palestinians in fact, serve as a device to convince the international community that a human rights violation of immense proportions took place when Arab Palestinians were displaced when Jews reclaimed their patrimony.

 

And while most of those surrounding states -- who forcefully exiled a greater number of Jews who had lived in Arab countries for millennia, greater in number than the Palestinians who fled 'Palestine' in 1948 -- have now softened their stance and are prepared to accept that the Jewish presence which predated their own is permanent and its presence can enhance future prospects for peace and prosperity, the Palestinians themselves see the imperative of denying Israel's presence as cast in stone. They have, of course, had great assistance from Aryan-Muslim-Shiite Iran and from Qatar and their satellite Shiite militias. Iran has provided the theological impetus and Qatar the funding for terrorist groups dedicated to Israel's annihilation.

 

The Hamas charter pledge of destroying Israel alongside that of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Fatah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are the Palestinian instruments of terror that Iran and Qatar rely upon to produce the coveted goal of Jewish annihilation. Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis and Shia militias loyal to Iran have collectively done their utmost in that direction. Despite all odds, Israel's military has met them all in combat and remains immovable. Even so, Qatar, aided by Turkey, has no intention of allowing Israel to defeat the combined forces of Islamist jihadists.

 

US President Donald Trump hosts a trilateral phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani of Qatar in the Oval Office, September 29, 2025. (The White House)

 

Qatar is alerting the United States, Israel's powerful backer, that the Trump peace plan is in a 'critical moment' with the first phase 'over', and the second soon to begin. Actually, it is not over until it is over; the first phase is incomplete, not only because the last of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza has not yet been returned, but critically, Hamas will not, as 'agreed upon' surrendered its arms. It has actually been busy in the interval between 'phases' of the peace plan, rearming, recruiting, reordering priorities and digging in as it resumes its control over that portion of Gaza it still occupies.

 

And this not-unexpected turn of events is being engineered and supported by Qatar, Iran and Turkey, for Gaza to remain in Hamas control, despite powerful rival clans in Gaza opposing Hamas's return to power and the conflict in that sector is ongoing. Gaza 'health officials' -- which is to say Hamas health sector operatives -- warn the international community of Palestinians still being targeted by the Israeli military, but further elaboration explains that these are Hamas operatives approaching Israeli troops in areas off limits to them as per the agreement.

 

The second phase relies upon the deployment of an international security force in Gaza, formation of a new technocratic government, disarmament of Hamas which would in theory lead to an eventual Israeli forces withdrawal. There are no expectations that such an international security force will deploy to Gaza; no foreign countries are anxious to have their military personnel placed in the kind of danger facing Hamas would entail. And since Hamas leaders have stated time and again they will not surrender their arms, Israeli troops will not withdraw.

 

People walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings as the Cold Moon, the last supermoon of the year, rises over the Nuseirat camp for displaced Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip on December 4, 2025.   Eyad BABA / AFP

 

No Stone Left Unturned; No Slander Too Fantastic to Hang on Israel

"[It is] unconscionable [to allow Israeli athletes to participate in the matches in light of the Jewish state’s alleged] ongoing genocide in Palestine [during the Israel-Hamas war. The Canadian government and Tennis Canada must] forbid Canadian athletes to compete against Israeli athletes at the Davis Cup and all other international events." 

"[Canada should follow other nations who] refuse to legitimize Israel’s crimes [by pulling out of international sports competitions in which Israel is participating]."

"Sport is an important space for engendering national sentiment. For this reason, it has, both in the past and today, played an essential role in both promoting national sentiment tied to genocide and in producing national sentiment essential for dismantling apartheid states."

"As such, this is an important moment for Sport Canada and Tennis Canada to promote social justice and stand on the right side of history … sport sanctions against the nation [of Israel] are an essential tool for demonstrating Canada’s ongoing disapproval of Israel’s actions."

Open letter by over 400 signees

 

"We recognize this is a highly complex situation that goes far beyond sport. However, Israel has not been excluded from international sporting events, and it has not been suspended by the International Olympic Committee."

"Across tennis, careful consideration is given to the participation of teams and players representing every nation, and the safety of all players, tournament staff, and supporters is always paramount at every event."

"We will continue to work closely with Tennis Canada in relation to this event."

International Tennis Federation 

 

"Tennis Canada acknowledges the ongoing and deeply complex situation in the Middle East. As a national sports organization, our mission is to promote the sport of tennis and create opportunities for players and fans to engage with the game in a spirit of respect and inclusivity. Our focus remains on ensuring a safe, fair, and professional competition for all athletes, staff, volunteers, and spectators."

"[We will work closely with ITF and authorities] to ensure this event is conducted in accordance with international sporting standards and with the well-being of all participants as our top priority."

Tennis Canada response 

More than 100 protesters gathered outside Halifax City Hall to call for the cancellation of the Davis Cup tie between Canada and Israel. (Source: Carl Pomeroy/CTV News Atlantic)

 

A match-up between Israeli and Canadian tennis players is scheduled to be hosted in Halifax on September 12 and 13 as part of the Davis Cup finals. This is the leading team tennis event in the world and the result of the tie, through a series of five matches determines which country will advance to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers.

 

An open letter, with signatures by over 400 academics, activists, athletes and writers argues that sport should no longer be seen as sport in isolation of world events without taking into account international situations of grave concern, and in this instance, Israel's military operations in Gaza. Military operations, as it happens, occasioned by Palestinian terrorist groups flooding from Gaza into southern Israel on October 7 of 2023 on a mission of mass death. 

 

Since the invasion of Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces whose purpose was to destroy the leading terrorist group Hamas, to ensure that their promise of delivering one October 7 after another, following another -- in perpetuity until Israel fails to exist -- will never come to fruition. The Israeli military has had to cope with terrorist groups that unfailingly integrate themselves within the general population so that in striking terrorist operatives, the general civilian population is placed in mortal danger.

 

Nothing stops the terrorist operatives from placing rocket launchers in crowded civilian enclaves, guaranteeing that return fire will result in collateral damage, for the heads of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine have no intention of sparing Palestinian civilians from the military responses by Israel countering the atrocities committed by them in Israel. Numbers of civilians injured or killed in the conflict simply play into the terrorist propaganda of victimhood, aiding their narrative of 'genocide'.

 

Israeli athletes competing in the Davis Cup 2025 Qualifiers Israel vs. Germany. Photo: IMAGO/Paul Zimmer via Reuters Connect

 

The open letter addressed to Sport Canada and Tennis Canada insists that "This is an important moment for Sport Canada and Tennis Canada to promote social justice and stand on the right side of history". In response the International Tennis Federation which organizes the Davis Cup, stated it had no intention of barring Israel from competing. As did Tennis Canada, stating that the match will proceed as planned, emphasizing its role is one of promotion of sport.

 

Journalists and University of British Columbia professors Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis, Alex Neve, (former secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada, now a professor at University of Ottawa), and three former United Nations special rapporteurs were among the 'social justice' luminaries whose signatures adorned the letter. Every one of whom has always been a vividly committed accuser of Israel's very existence. 

 

A "small mob of extremists" is how David Cooper, vice-president of government relations for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs characterized the letter signees, adding that their censure of Israel in accusing the Jewish state of 'apartheid' and 'genocide' place them in no position to determine which nation may or may not compete in a sport dedicated to bringing human endeavours to a high degree of performance while respecting the sportsmanship of all countries whose athletes are capable of qualifying for championship status. 

 

A sign posted on Agricola Street in Halifax calls for officials to cancel the Davis Cup match between Team Canada and Israel that's scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Credit: Rob Roberts)