Some see Hizbollah's performance against Israel in the recent Lebanon war as a major morale boost for Palestinian resistance. Others see it as an eye-opener for Israel, which could push it into accepting that its "security" could not come through the barrel of a gun but through a fair and just settlement with the Arabs.
Similar views and their variations are heard throughout. However, not much is heard, at least not in public, about how the Palestinian leaders themselves see their situation.
The agreement by the Fateh Central Committee last week to start negotiations with Hamas and other Palestinian groups on a national unity government could turn to be a landmark in Palestinian history if it is followed up in earnest and in all transparency for the common Palestinian interests.
Hamas is amenable to the idea, and so are most of the other Palestinian groups inside and outside the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).
Behind-the-scene talks are already under way on a national unity Cabinet which would reflect the Palestinian realisation that a common front is the only option to counter the Israeli designs in Palestine and efforts to ward off the possibility of negotiations on an equal footing with a united Palestinian entity.
In the short term, a Palestinian national unity Cabinet might be an answer to the international isolation and resulting sanctions concerning aid to the Hamas-led Cabinet in Palestine. National unity is central to the Palestinian cause at this point in time more than any juncture in history. Such is the challenge facing the Palestinian freedom struggle. However, it is not enough.
The Palestinians have to conduct self analysis and figure out the internal crises and problems facing them before their fight for liberation. In this context, Hamas government spokesman Ghazi Hamad published in the Palestinian daily Al Ayam and commentary that was very revealing (translation courtesy: www.memri.org). Hamad wrote: "... I want to make a reckoning and own up to our mistakes. We are always afraid to speak honestly about our mistakes, as we have become accustomed to placing the blame on other factors. The anarchy, chaos, pointless murders, the plundering of lands, family feuds... what do all of these have to do with the occupation? We have always been accustomed to pinning our failures on others, and conspiratorial thinking is still widespread among us...
"We exhausted our people time after time with errors in which everyone played a role...
"A simple statistical calculation shows that since the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, 500 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,000 wounded. There are 200 handicapped, and more than 150 homes have been demolished -- and this in addition to the destruction of the infrastructure, the bridges, and the electric power plants. The number of Israelis killed by [Palestinian] rockets is no more than three or four.... Would it not have been possible to limit our losses and maximise our achievements, if we had only used our minds?...
When you walk around in Gaza, you cannot help but avert your eyes from what you see: indescribable anarchy, policemen that nobody cares about, youth proudly carrying weapons, mourning tents set up in the middle of main streets, and from time to time you hear that so-and-so was murdered in the middle of the night, and the response comes quickly the next morning. Large families carry weapons in tribal wars against other families. Gaza has turned into a garbage dump, there is a stench, and sewage flows (in the streets).
"The government cannot do anything, the opposition (Fateh) looks on from the sidelines, engaged in internal bickering, and the president has no power.... We are walking aimlessly in the streets. The reality in which we are living in Gaza can only be described as miserable and wretched, and as a failure in every sense of the word. We applauded the elections and the unique democratic experience, but in reality there has been a great step backwards. We spoke of national consensus, (but) it turned out to be like a leaf blowing in the wind...
I have asked myself: What does the resistance gain if the country is all chaos, replete with corruption, crime, and futile murder? Isn't the building of the homeland part of resistance? Isn't cleanliness, order, and respect for the law part of resistance? Isn't strengthening social relations part of the policy of shortening the life of the occupation? We have lost the connection between the resistance and other aspects of life. There is an abyss between the resistance, politics and the people. That is why the people are scattered, with no unifying or organising (hand).
"... sometimes we laugh at ourselves when we see all these conferences and meetings and announcements, while there is no trace of any of that in reality. We talk unclearly, spin our wheels, steal our people's blood, and deprive it of even a moment of peace. So many families are tormented and slaughtered, and so many families are in distress because of their miserable lives. So many shout (in despair), but nobody hears."
Hopefully, Hamad's words are read and heard in the same spirit as he wrote it. The Palestinian resistance movement, whether nationalist or Islamist, or whatever colour or shape, should not only realise that the only party benefiting of the disarray in its ranks is Israel but also have to adopt a political programme from a platform of unwavering national unity.
By Musa Keilani
© Jordan Times 2006
