The “Times of Israel” is one of the leading newspapers in Israel, highly popular among the Jewish community residing in Israel and Western countries. The articles published in this newspaper are of significant importance and often receive the endorsement of the Israeli government.
Recently, an article titled “An Unlikely Ally: How Imran Khan Could Shape Israel-Pakistan Relations” was published in the “Times of Israel,” creating a stir in Pakistan’s political landscape. The article was written by a Jewish journalist, Anwar Beshirva, who described the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, as the most suitable person to establish Pakistan-Israel relations.
The article details how Imran Khan, during his tenure as Prime Minister, made connections with Israel through his ex-wife Jemima’s Goldsmith family, assuring the Israeli government that he was serious about normalizing relations between Pakistan and Israel. It also highlights that Pakistan has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian liberation movement, deeply rooted in Pakistani society and constitution. Pakistan has consistently supported Palestine politically, morally, and diplomatically at international forums, and recognizing Israel is seen as contradictory to Pakistan’s identity.
While Imran Khan publicly repeated this anti-Israel narrative, he was allegedly working behind the scenes to establish ties with Israel. The author notes that Imran Khan has a unique ability to bridge the gap between the West and the Islamic world, which is why Israel and its Western allies should support his return to politics and governance.
It is noteworthy that during Imran Khan’s tenure, rumors were circulating that Jemima played a crucial role in fostering Pakistan-Israel relations. It is well known that the Goldsmith family is part of the British elite and has deep connections with the pro-Israel lobby.
Imran Khan also played a significant role in bringing Jemima’s brother, Zac Goldsmith, into British politics, actively supporting his campaign for Mayor of London in 2016. Imran Khan openly endorsed the Jewish candidate, Zac Goldsmith, over the Muslim, Pakistani-origin candidate, Sadiq Khan, leading to widespread criticism from Muslims in both Pakistan and the UK. Due to his close ties with a Jewish family, personalities like Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Hakim Muhammad Saeed, and Dr. Israr Ahmed have labeled Imran Khan as a “Jewish agent.”
The recent publication of this article in an Israeli newspaper and Imran Khan’s loyalty to the Goldsmith family may further tarnish his reputation and increase his troubles in the coming days. Although Imran Khan vocally supported Palestine during his tenure, it was often seen as mere lip service, while he maintained a balance between public statements and secret relations with Israel. This suggests that Imran Khan might have been considering revising Pakistan’s traditional stance on Israel and possibly moving towards establishing diplomatic ties with Israel during his tenure, especially given the rapidly changing geopolitics in the Middle East.
In Pakistan, support for the Palestinian people is not just a political issue but is deeply ingrained in the nation’s psyche, as reflected in the country’s official policies. At a time when over 40,000 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed by the occupying Israeli forces in Gaza, and anti-Israel sentiments in Pakistan are at their peak, the publication of an article in favor of Imran Khan in an Israeli newspaper will likely exacerbate his problems. This will not only benefit his political opponents but also lead to a decline in his popularity.
Israel and its Western allies already seem active in trying to bring Imran Khan back into politics and governance. Efforts to appoint him as the Chancellor of Oxford University appear to be part of this strategy to elevate his stature and present him as a global leader who played a role in establishing true democracy in Pakistan. Later, like Malala Yousafzai, Imran Khan could be nominated for the Nobel Prize, and upon returning to power, could be used to serve their nefarious objectives.
