President Museveni, in his capacity as the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), has called for peace in the escalating Iran-Israel conflict, urging both nations to embrace diplomacy and mutual recognition.
In a statement on his X handle, Museveni condemned extremism and historical denials on both sides, advocating for a two-state solution to resolve the longstanding Middle East tensions.
Museveni said his statement was prompted by Iran’s ambassador to Uganda, who criticized Uganda’s silence on the issue.
Museveni reflected on his past engagements with Iranian and Israeli leaders. Recalling a visit to Iran, he criticized former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s dismissal of historical Persian peoples and warned against religious fundamentalism, citing historical conflicts like the Inquisition and Sudan’s collapse.
He labeled Iran’s refusal to recognize Israel as a “grave error,” arguing that Israel’s historical and biblical ties to the region, solidified by the UN’s 1947 partition of Palestine, demand acknowledgment.
Museveni was equally critical of Israel’s rejection of Palestinian identity and rights. In discussions with Israeli historian Benzion Netanyahu, he questioned Israel’s resistance to a two-state solution, emphasizing the deep-rooted history of Palestinians in the land alongside Jewish tribes.
“Denying their belonging is as flawed as past expulsions in Uganda,” Museveni wrote, referencing Idi Amin’s 1972 expulsion of Ugandan Indians.
Museveni also condemned Western imperialism, particularly the CIA’s 1953 coup against Iran’s Mohammad Mosaddegh, which he said fueled Iran’s anti-Western regime.
However, he cautioned against resolving conflicts through force, pointing to historical failures like the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
“Force must be for legitimate defense, not aggression,” he said, urging a diplomatic path forward.
Museveni called for collective prayer to seek divine wisdom, envisioning a future where Iran recognizes Israel, Israel embraces a two-state solution, and both sides pursue peace.
“We are all praying people,” he concluded, urging humility and dialogue to mend a fractured world.
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