"Palestinians don't deserve a state" - 4-Feb-07 - Generational Dynamics

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 4-Feb-07

"Palestinians don't deserve a state"

Even the most optimistic Palestinians are despairing that their dream is slipping away.

Generational Dynamics tells us that what politicians think matters little; what's really important is what large masses of people think. In particular, major shifts in opinion often signal important generational changes.

That's why I really homed into an article in Sunday's Jerusalem Post saying that the burgeoning street fights between Hamas and Fatah, especially in Gaza, is causing the international community to turn against the Palestinians, and even that the Palestinians no longer even deserve to have a Palestinian state side-by-side with Israel.

Here are some excerpts from the article:

"Everyone here is disgusted by what's happening in the Gaza Strip," said Shireen Atiyeh, a 30-year-old mother of three working in one of the Palestinian Authority ministries. "We are telling the world that we don't deserve a state because we are murdering each other and destroying our universities, colleges, mosques and hospitals. Today I'm ashamed to say that I'm a Palestinian." ...

Hafez Barghouti, editor of the PA-funded daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, said he was concerned that the fighting would tarnish the image of the Palestinians. "Tens of millions of people now look at us as worthless gangsters with no values," he complained. ...

Columnist Mahmoud Habbash also acknowledged that the fighting had caused grave damage to the Palestinians on the international arena. The internal fighting, he said, has distorted the image of the Palestinians in the eyes of the world. "The world is watching how the Palestinians are destroying their institutions and achievements with their own hands. They see how we are mercilessly slaughtering innocent people. We are losing the sympathy of the world. I'm afraid the world will now view us differently."

Reflecting the gloomy mood on the Palestinian street, political analyst Ikrimah Thabet said: "There is no reason for optimism. This is a real conflict stemming from two contradictory programs and political and ideological discord. The divisions are so deep that no temporary cease-fire will help. The bloody events have caused enormous damage to the reputation of the Palestinians, especially in light of the filthy and painful violence that has claimed the lives of children, activists, leaders and innocent civilians."

It's too early to tell whether this new attitude is temporary, or if it reflects a new and continuing reality.

At the very least it can be said that the increasing street fighting is giving support to those in the international community who claim that all Palestinians are terrorists and we shouldn't be supporting them at all.

It also gives support to those within the Palestinian community who claim that there's no point in negotiating with Israel or the west, since no compromise that supports Israel will ever receive enough popular support among the Palestinians.

By giving support to both of these groups, support is taken away from groups that want less violence. Thus, these new feelings of hopelessness could easily metastasize into an increased acceptance of violence.

Incidentally, you may have missed this on Saturday, but Hamas and Fatah signed another peace treaty, and this one had seven items in it. Unfortunately, it didn't make big news because it was the second ceasefire within 24 hours, the previous one having lasted less than an hour.

The Mideast has been deteriorating constantly since Yasser Arafat's death, as predicted in May, 2003, based on the generational changes that would occur with the disappearance of Arafat. The civil war among the Palestinians does not appear to be very far off, and a major new war between Arabs and Jews cannot be avoided. (4-Feb-07) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 4-Feb-07 "Palestinians don't deserve a state"

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 4-Feb-07
"Palestinians don't deserve a state"