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Wrong Time For New Intifada

By Nasser Laham

23 March, 2010
Maannews.net

It has become obvious that Israeli assaults against the Palestinian people, their holy places, and freedoms have become intolerable. It is also clear that no tranquilizers can prevent a new intifada against settlers in the West Bank and the occupied capital of Palestine, East Jerusalem. Those who fail to understand the might of logic will understand the logic of might.

Nevertheless, before taking an official decision to launch a new intifada, Palestinian civil society and popular leaders should deeply consider internal and external factors in order to avoid improvisation and chaos. An important factor to be taken into account is the atmosphere at an international, Islamic, Arab, Palestinian, and Israeli level.

Internationally, all countries in the world agree that the establishment of a Palestinian state on the territories occupied in 1967 has become a necessity. Thus, they support the Palestinian Authority financially, logistically, and politically in establishing a state, and under these conditions it is more a US interest than a Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic one. In this regard, it should be pointed out that the only obstacle impeding this achievement is the right-wing Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At an Islamic level, there are two aspect to be considered: Iranian nuclear armament, and the alternative peace plan suggested by Shimon Peres, who proposed normalization with 58 Muslim countries. The two aspects could be implemented simultaneously.

At an Arab level, the coming Arab League summit should not be counted on to end Hamas-Fatah rivalry or to wage war against Israel. Yet, an Arab vision should be declared, even if it is simply boasting, and this vision should publicly call for toppling Netanyahu's government and divestment from Israel. If the Arabs succeed in making this declaration, we will be grateful and thankful.

Locally, Hamas and Fatah leaders seem unable to end disagreement and rivalry between both parties, and thus, the only remaining solution will be elections. The decision should be agreed on internationally and within the Arab world. Otherwise, any side who opposes the idea is to be held accountable for "the destruction of the Palestinian Temple," and will be responsible for Palestinian suffering until the Day of Judgment.

Following 26 January, the elected Palestinian Legislative Council term ended, and both sides (Hamas and Fatah) are playing "stoppage time."

At the Israeli level, one telephone call from US President Barak Obama to chair of the Israeli Labor Party Ehud Barak will be enough to bring down Netanyahu's government. Therefore, it is a waste of time to discuss the details of the position of the US ruling party, the Democratic Party. This party should be judged and questioned for not taking this step, especially after the series of insults by Netanyahu hurled at Obama, his government, and envoys.

Furthermore, Netanyahu will not stop settlement construction in Jerusalem simply because his government will be collapse immediately as settlers will necessarily withdraw from his coalition. Moreover, a new intifada will secure for Netanyahu a network of protection in the Knesset which will keep him in power.

The alternative for the Palestinians will be moving forward and supporting caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s plan to declare statehood through UN platforms and recruit international recognition of this state. There are indicators that 130 countries in the world are ready to recognize a Palestinian state if it is declared unilaterally. When the State of Israel was declared, only 20 countries recognized it. This leads us to the conclusion that the most serious threat to Netanyahu and Israel now is the declaration of an independent Palestinian state, regardless of occupation’s recognition. This way, both occupation and apartheid will be brought down as was the case in South Africa.

Declaration of a new aimless intifada at this stage will be a most dangerous decision, taking into account internal disagreement and the lack of unity. We have to realize that each side will exert efforts to claim responsibility and take advantages of this intifada if it erupts. Despite all this heroic incitement through media outlets, none of the Palestinian leaders possess the potential to lead a popular uprising the same way the First Intifada was led. In order to prevent a siege on the West Bank similar to that imposed on the Gaza Strip, let us focus on taking our intifada to the UN where we struggle to declare statehood against occupation’s will.

The author is Ma'an News Agency's editor-in-chief.

 

 


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