“Musharraf’s missed opportunity”

Many observers thought that Pervez Musharraf speech before the American Jewish Congress on September 17 was a historical act. In fact, it was the first time a Muslim leader of a country with no diplomatic relations with Israel had a public dialogue with Jewish leaders. This meeting will have an impact on the Pakistani public opinion, which is always ready to present Jewish organizations as a hostile force. This meeting will help to make the Jew’s image as a human one in that country. Besides, by linking the Jewish community to Israel, a clear message is being sent to his fellow citizens: respecting the Jews means respecting Zionism.
Unfortunately, despite these achievements, Musharraf did not go too far. He was right in condemning terrorism but he lost the opportunity of making a constructive contribution to the peace process: he should have stated that Israel was the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people. Instead of this, he presented Israel as a structure that can not be changed, as a necessary evil. Likewise, Musharraf missed the opportunity of developing the Judeo-Muslim dialogue. As I asked him for, he could have opened a centre to boost such an exchange and name the place after my son, Daniel Pearl, who was murdered in Karachi.