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bitterlemons-international.org
Middle East Roundtable /
Edition 11
A Palestinian View:
Give us an option
by Ghassan Khatib
[DEUTSCH]
The results of the Palestinian elections reflected the will of the majority
of Palestinians, but the factors contributing to the election of Hamas were
not all or even mostly political. However, Palestinians have started to
realize the potential political implications of Hamas' victory and there is
a great deal of worry about the future.
Most Palestinian politicians and analysts are warning against an Israeli
attempt to exploit the new reality by reaffirming Israel's previously
declared intention to unilaterally determine the future of the occupied
Palestinian territory. This would entail the confiscation and annexation of
significant parts of occupied Palestinian land, including occupied East
Jerusalem and surroundings, the Jordan Valley and areas on the western
borders of the West Bank.
In addition, Israel seems intent on dividing the Palestinian territories in
such a way that it will prevent any possibility of an integral, viable and
independent Palestinian state ever emerging. The West Bank is separated from
the Gaza Strip with no possibility of movement between them, while movement
within the West Bank is getting harder and harder, whether for persons or
goods.
It is unfortunate that with this going on, the international community and
the sponsors of the peace process, particularly the Quartet, have been so
preoccupied with whether, and if so how, they should continue financial
support of the Palestinian people or the Palestinian Authority, that they
have neglected to address this blatantly illegal Israeli plan.
Israel has, of course, contributed to the confusion. It has justified
refraining from any kind of political engagement with the Palestinian side
because of Hamas' election victory, conveniently obscuring the fact that
Israel refrained from any political engagement with the PA long before
Hamas' victory.
Indeed, the reality is that the gradual radicalization of Palestinian public
opinion that led to victory for the opposition to the peace process is a
direct result of systematic Israeli policies and practices that aimed at
preventing any prospect for a politically negotiated solution on the basis
of international legality. These also led to economic deterioration and
unmanageable levels of unemployment and poverty.
Those local or international forces and players that are concerned with the
defeat of the peace camp in Palestinian elections have to coordinate their
efforts toward reversing this reality. First, the international community
should work to improve the economic situation, not worsen it.
Then, clearly and with unshakeable commitment, the international community
must offer the Palestinians a real option: that a peaceful negotiated
process can lead to the fulfillment of the legitimate rights of the
Palestinian people in line with international law.
If that option is viable and that road is open, the Palestinian people will
respond. Post-Israeli elections and under the continued leadership of
Mahmoud Abbas is the time for the international community to step in and
provide an opportunity for the re-opening of political prospects. Such
prospects, together with economic improvements, should re-empower the peace
camp and the secularists and reverse the radicalization of Palestinian
society.- Published 13/3/2006 © bitterlemons.org
Ghassan Khatib is coeditor of bitterlemons.org and
bitterlemons-international.org. He is the Palestinian Authority minister of
labor, acting minister of planning and has been a political analyst and
media contact for many years.
[DEUTSCH]
Bitterlemons-international.org is an internet
forum for an array of world perspectives on the Middle East and its
specific concerns. It aspires to engender greater understanding about
the Middle East region and open a new common space for world thinkers
and political leaders to present their viewpoints and initiatives on the
region. Editors Ghassan Khatib and Yossi Alpher can be reached at
ghassan@bitterlemons-international.org
and
yossi@bitterlemons-international.org, respectively.
hagalil.com 30-03-2006 |
