Sheikh Mohammeds poem on Gaza shakes conscience

Abu Dhabi, Jun 18th, 2010 (WAM) -- A moving poem on Gaza written by H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has captivated the attention of the Arab world.

Khaleej Times, one of the UAE's English language newspapers, published today excerpts from the poem, which was originally written in Arabic by Sheikh Mohammed, moved and hurt by the Israeli attack on the Gaza peace flotilla and equally disturbed by the lack of concerted response to the barbaric attack on civilians.

The poem was published on Thursday in 'Al-Khaleej' criticising Israels blockade and urging the Arabs to come to the aid of the captive territory.

"His views on issues of regional importance have been always forceful and committed but the lyrical words of this poem hark back to Greek and Roman verse and even the title is reflective of Homers Iliad and the siege of Troy", said KT.

In "Gazas Iliad", Sheikh Mohammed has squarely condemned Israels deadly raid last month in which nine Turkish activists were killed and likened it to the famous siege in Troy and how it lasted 10 years, noted the paper.

In the many legends associated with Troy and its years under Agamemnon much is written about the substance of heroism and its texture. Sheikh Mohammed picks up the same thread and calls for that sort of heroism and togetherness that was shown by the warrior Achilles, the paper said in an appreciation of the poem.

"Gaza is an exam, A test of the times for us.", the paper quoted the lines from the poem.

"They turned the aid ship into fire,...

history will remember that we let down Arabs like ourselves when they called for help".

"Wherefore denial and the keeping of the blind eye?".

Oh, people of the world, give an ear to their plight".

In a stinging stanza, the poem criticised what the poet described the UN Security Councils silence on the blockade.

The poem said "call for peace without taking action a lie,".

Sheikh Mohammed used the lyric to underscore the suffering in Gaza in a poignant fashion.

"What cardinal sin has Gaza committed.

without any pretence a people areruined.

the call of peace is made but no actionfollows it".

"What is going on, Security Council? Why the silence?" Sheikh Mohammed asked in the poem.

In the original Iliad, too, there was this conspiracy of silence and he has deftly brought it into the modern context and shown that there is a time to be quiet and a time for action, the KT special report noted.

The poem contained a clarion call for action, both collective and concerted, and said:.

"History shall show we let them down,They are Arabs like us and they need our protection".