Modi’s lesson from Israel: Demolish Muslim homes, erase their history

In a recent article published in Al Jazeera, Gideon Levy argues that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have learned an important lesson from his visit to Israel in 2017 - the importance of demolishing Muslim homes and erasing their history.

Levy argues that Israel has perfected the art of ethnic cleansing and has become a global model for how to oppress and exclude Muslims and Palestinians. He points to the example of East Jerusalem, where Israel has demolished thousands of Palestinian homes and replaced them with Jewish settlements, effectively erasing the Palestinians' presence and history in the city.

Modi, Levy argues, seems to be taking inspiration from Israel's policies. He mentions the demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya in 1992, under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which Modi belongs to. The demolition of the mosque was followed by widespread violence against Muslims, and Modi himself was accused of orchestrating the violence.

Levy also mentions the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed by the Indian government last year, which critics argue discriminates against Muslims by fast-tracking citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from neighboring countries. He argues that this is a clear example of how Modi is following Israel's example of excluding and marginalizing a particular religious group.

Levy concludes by warning that Modi's embrace of Israel's policies towards Muslims is dangerous and will only lead to more division and violence in India. He argues that the international community must condemn and reject these policies, and support those who are fighting for justice and equality.