Category Archives: Palestinian reconciliation

The Madness of America’s Arabs

 

 
 
Published Wednesday, March 27, 2013
 
Suddenly, the Arabs became men. They awoke to the fact that they possess military capabilities ready for use. But where? In an Arab land. And against whom? An Arab people.
Their rationale is that there are killings and death in Syria. They decided that the culprit is a segment of the Syrian population, and it must be fought with every means at their disposal.
Suddenly, the Arabs became men. But instead of feeling disgraced by the constant sight of death in Palestine, they decided to kick up as much dust as possible in the name of Palestinian reconciliation. They resolved to hold summits to ensure Palestinian reconciliation. They hope the dust-cloud will be thick enough to conceal their big crime in Syria.
 Suddenly, the Arabs have all been exposed. There are no major countries left in the Arab world.
In Egypt, the government is busy ingratiating itself with the whole world in search of loans to exchange for what is left of the public sector. Algeria faces daily threats of it being added to the list of Arab countries in urgent need of an Arab Spring.
There is no need to even mention Tunisia, Libya, or Yemen. They have become centers for the production of terrorist groups to fight beyond their borders, while takfiris terrorize the folks back home.
In Lebanon, all contracted services are being delivered on demand. The government resigns, and courts chaos and civil war, to keep the plunderers of Arab wealth happy.
In Jordan, meanwhile, they are told they have two choices: civil war, or signing up for the global alliance against the Syrian regime.
Palestinian boys and girls hold containers as they wait to fill-up with fresh water from the desalination station in Deir al-Balah refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip on 26 March 2013. (Photo: AFP – Mahmud Hams)
As for Palestine, it can continue to be ignored, as there’s no tragedy there that merits action.
This has left the institution of the Arab League under the control of the madmen of the Gulf, and transformed Qatar, from one moment to the next, into a megalomaniac that thinks it is the leader of the Arab nation.
Thus, without shame, Qatar wants to persuade the world that the cause of Syria is top priority. They want to persuade us that they are qualified to champion a people, while they shackle their own peoples, and their wretched ruling families indulge in the theft of an entire nation’s resources.
America’s Gulf clients found that Palestine warrants no more than a few million dollars and some reconciliation efforts. They have never heard of a popular uprising going on in Bahrain for the past two years. And they certainly face no protests at home for a fair distribution of wealth. All that really troubles them is Syria.
Once again, these people seem confident that they are all-powerful. They are equally confident that American and Western armies will forever protect them..
The one thing that preoccupies them is an obsession that has become very personal. What they worry about the most is being caught vulnerable as they stand transfixed before their TV screens, waiting for just one item of news: the announcement that Bashar al-Assad has fallen.
Ibrahim al-Amin is editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar.
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.

جنون عرب أميركا

27 Mar 2013 at 9:16am
 
فجأة صار العرب رجالاً. استفاقوا على انّ لديهم قدرات عسكرية يمكن استخدامها. لكن اين؟ في أرض عربية. وبوجه من؟ بوجه شعب عربي. وحجة هؤلاء الذين يعيشون على ثروات وقدرات ليست لهم، أنّ في سوريا عمليات قتل وموت، وقرر هؤلاء ان المجرم هو قسم من الشعب السوري، وانه تجب مقاتلته بكل ما هو متوافر بيد هؤلاء، من مال وعلاقات وسلاح… وارهابيين يريدون التخلص من عبئهم في بلدانهم الاصلية، وغالبية هؤلاء هم من دول الخليج الاميركي نفسه.

فجأة صار العرب رجالا، وبدل ان تفضحهم صورة الموت المستمر في بلد اسمه فلسطين، قرروا، على طريقة الاحتفالات الكبيرة، بث اعلى قدر من الغبار، باسم المصالحة الفلسطينية، وان يعقدوا القمم والاجتماعات وتشكيل الوفود واللجان لضمان المصالحة الفلسطينية. وبمعزل عن العنوان والهدف الذي له اسم واحد وهو وقف المقاومة وتشريع الاحتلال، فان هؤلاء يعتقدون ان هذا الغبار يكفي لتغطية جريمتهم الكبرى في سوريا.
فجأة، انكشف العرب عن بكرة ابيهم. لم يعد هناك كبير في العالم العربي. الحكم في مصر منشغل باسترضاء كل دول العالم بحثاً عن ديون مقابل ما تبقى من قطاع عام. وفي الجزائر تهديد يومي بإدراجها ضمن قائمة الدول التي تريد ربيعا عربيا عاجلا. وفي السودان ايغال في جريمة تقسيم بلد الفقراء. ولا داعي إلى الحديث عن تونس وليبيا واليمن حيث باتت دولاً لانتاج المجموعات الارهابية المقاتلة خارج الحدود، بينما ينهش تكفيريون جسد الناس هناك. وفي المشرق، ثمة نشاط لا يتوقف لجعل العراق يدفع الاثمان عدة مرات، مرة لأن هؤلاء العرب انفسهم دعموا جنون صدام ضد اهل بلده وضد الجوار، ومرة لانهم وافقوا على استدعاء الاميركي والغربي لاستبدال ديكتاتورية بفوضى، ومرة لانهم اجبروا الاحتلال الاميركي على الفرار بجلده وتولي مجموعة من خارج حظيرة الخليج الاميركي الحكم. اما في لبنان، فها هي المقاولات غب الطلب. تستقيل الحكومة وتعرض خدمات الفوضى والحرب الاهلية كرمى لعيون ناهبي الثروات العربية. فيما يقال للاردن انك امام خيارين: اما الحرب الاهلية واما الانضواء في الجبهة العالمية ضد الحكم في سوريا. اما فلسطين، فلا بأس في المزيد من الاهمال… فليس فيها مأساة تستدعي العمل.
هكذا، تُترك مؤسسة الجامعة العربية، لأن تكون تحت سيطرة مجانين الخليج. فتتحول قطر، بين لحظة واخرى، من دولة قادرة على لعب دور المساعد، ما يمنحها حق الوقوف الى جانب الكبار، الى مجموعة تعاني مرض الانتفاخ، فتظن نفسها قائدة الامة العربية.

هكذا، ومن دون خجل او وازع، يريدون اقناع العالم بأن قضية سوريا تشكل رأس الاولويات. وان فلسطين لم تصل بعد الى مستوى يتطلب منهم شحذ السكين بوجه اسرائيل. ويريد هؤلاء اقناعنا بأنهم فعلاً اهل لنصرة شعب وهم الذين ينكّلون بشعوبهم وتتولى عائلات تافهة، من الجد الى الحفيد، سرقة ونهب ثروات تخص امة بكاملها. وصار لديهم كتبة صغار، تافهون، يعملون لديهم على شكل رقيق متعلم. وهم يكتفون بذلك لكي يطلقوا على انفسهم صفة القادة المنقذين لشعوب تستغيث بهم ليل نهار.

وجد خليج اميركا ان فلسطين لا تستأهل اكثر من بضعة ملايين من الدولارات وجهود للمصالحة. وهم طبعا لا يسمعون بأن هناك انتفاضة سلمية مستمرة منذ عامين واكثر في البحرين، وبالتأكيد ليس لديهم احتجاجات لتوزيع عادل للثروة بعيدا عن حصرية العائلات الحاكمة. وهم لا يشعرون بأي ضغط حقيقي سوى ما يجري في سوريا. لقد استفاقوا على وجود حكم ديكتاتوري. وقرروا ان من يموت في سوريا هم منتفضون احرار على النظام. وهم يعرفون، وحدهم يعرفون، أن بشار الاسد ليس معه سوى افراد من عائلته، وان من يقاتل معه انما مرتزقة من ايران وحزب الله وروسيا…. جنون هؤلاء وعماهم، اوصلاهم الى حدود اعتبار شيخ فاقد للاهلية العقلية مثل يوسف القرضاوي، مفتيا عاما لكل مسلمي العالم شاء من شاء وابى من ابى، وان العلامة محمد سعيد البوطي مرتدّ يحلّ قتله.

هكذا، وخلال وقت قصير جدا، صار الجميع شريكا في الجريمة الكبرى، ويبدو مرة جديدة، ان هؤلاء واثقون بأنهم الاقوى، وان احدا لن يقدر على مقاومتهم، وهم واثقون ايضا ان جيوش اميركا والغرب مستنفرة لحمايتهم ليل نهار، لا يريدون التعلم من التجارب البعيدة او القريبة. وكل ما يشغل بالهم، عقدة صارت شخصية جدا جدا، واكثر ما يقلقهم، كيف ان اولادهم والعاملين في منازلهم، ينظرون اليهم كل وقت، ويفضحون عريهم وهم يقفون امام شاشات التلفزة.. ينتظرون خبرا واحدا: اعلان سقوط بشار الاسد!

 

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!

Israeli soldiers raid West Bank villages, arrest five

Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian man during clashes with demonstrators in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya on 8 February 2013, following a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinian hunger striker Samer Issawi. (Photo: AFP – Ahmad Gharabli)
 
Published Sunday, February 10, 2013
 
Israeli forces arrested five Palestinian youths, including a 14-year-old, during overnight raids in the West Bank Sunday, local media reported.

The latests arrests come as Palestinian factions wrapped up two days of reconciliation talks in Cairo.
In the West Bank village of Burqaa, near Nablus, soldiers arrested Shadi Abu Omar, Fadi Abu Omar, and Munjed Daughlas at dawn, according to Ma’an news agency.

Israeli forces arrested another man, 24-year-old Moussa Issa Abu Sabha, during a raid on Yatta, south of Hebron.

An Israeli military spokesperson said two others were arrested in Arura, near Ramalla, and another in Beit Kahil, in the Hebron area.

Israeli forces raided the town of Burqeen, west of Jenin, and arrested 14-year-old Mohammed Ghanem. Other residents suffered from asphyxiation after soldiers fired tear gas at them.
WAFA news agency reported that soldiers also summoned two Palestinians, Sami Yousef Shariah, 23, and Mohammed Ali Al-Orouj, 22, for questioning near the illegal Jewish settlement of Ghosh Itsion, south of Bethlehem.

In Cairo, Palestinian rival factions Hamas and Fatah made little progress following two days of talks in Cairo. They remain divided over how exactly to apply a deal the two parties had agreed to more than a year earlier, an official said.

PLO Executive Committee member Wassel Abu Youssef had earlier on Saturday said that the main points of dispute were over the way elections were held for the PNC, as well as other issues relating to legislative and presidential elections in the Palestinian territories.

He also said there was disagreement over the timing of the establishment of a caretaker cabinet, which is supposed to prepare for new elections, and the announcement of a date for such a poll.
Another point of dispute was the type of voting system to be used, officials said.

The Cairo talks were convened by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah faction signed a reconciliation deal with Hamas in April 2011 aimed at ending years of rivalry, but which has never been properly implemented.
(Al-Akhbar, Ma’an, AFP)

Israel detains seven in violent West Bank raids

“The Embassy of the State of Palestine,”

“…“I informed my Palestinian counterpart of the decision of the government to upgrade the status of the Palestinian diplomatic representation in Cyprus from that of a Diplomatic Mission to that of an Embassy of the State of Palestine,” Marcoullis told reporters.She said this “important decision” was in line with the recognition of the Palestinian State in 1988 by Cyprus …”

 

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!

Popular Front Leader: ‘Palestinian Project No Longer Exists’

 

Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal (front) prays with senior leaders of Hamas and Fatah in Gaza City, Dec. 9, 2012. (photo by REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)
By: Ruba El-Husseini. Translated from As-Safir (Lebanon). 
 
Every now and then, Fatah and Hamas launch new efforts to reactivate Palestinian reconciliation. Although Qatar and Saudi Arabia take turns sponsoring Palestinian talks, Egypt remains the official patron in this regard.
However, reconciliation efforts today differ from previous ones. Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi seeks to highlight his presence in this issue, especially after having helped to implement a ceasefire following the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza. In addition, the Muslim Brotherhood seeks to soften Hamas’s position to win favor with Washington. It appears that the Brotherhood has thus far succeeded in its quest.
The gap between Fatah and Hamas, the most prominent movement in the Palestinian arena, seems to have narrowed and become almost undetectible. But they still have a long way to go before achieving reconciliation.
Both movements remain obstinate and refuse to make the slightest concession on their respective authority, whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian crises seem to drag on, and the Palestinian Authority has been gripped by severe political and financial deadlock. This has pushed Palestinians to accept a project that would draw the Palestinian cause to a close. Such a project could be along the lines of a confederation between the West Bank and Jordan, or a state for Hamas in Gaza that would be affiliated with Egypt.
Rabah Mhanna, a member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), explained the details of the situation in an interview to As-Safir on the sidelines of a brief visit to Lebanon.
A long-term reconciliation
According to Mhanna, three facts ought not to be overlooked in achieving long-term reconciliation. First, ending division is an urgent national need. “Unity is essential for the resistance, as well as for those who wish to negotiate,” he says. Second, even if Hamas and Fatah were the original reasons for the division, they can’t put an end to the division on their own. This was apparent in the aftermath of the conferences in Mecca and Doha, and even after the Cairo Agreement in 2011. Third, reconciliation can be achieved through “public pressure on both sides,” according to Mhanna.
Nevertheless, the gap between the two groups seems to have greatly narrowed. It is true that Mahmoud Abbas has been espousing the wrong policy since the Oslo Agreement, but Hamas has also taken different steps in the context of the conflict with Israel. This is not something new to the Islamic movement, Mhanna said. “Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder of the movement, had previously declared that he supported a 30-year truce project, without recognizing Israel. Hamas also signed the National Accord Charter, which recognized the state project.”
These facts have since proven true. Today, with the Muslim Brotherhood coming to power in Egypt, Hamas’s policy seems to be increasingly converging with Abbas’ policy, since the “brothers seek to become closer to the Americans” at the expense of the Palestinian cause.
In this context, Mhanna said that “the ceasefire agreement during the aggression on Gaza is further proof of this. The ceasefire has been sponsored by the US. Most importantly, the agreement provided for the cessation of hostilities on the part of Gaza.”
“The Muslim Brotherhood does not have any national project designed to liberate Palestine. It only seeks the establishment of an Islamic state,” Mhanna added. As a result, Egypt will work on taming Hamas to satisfy Washington and to make the Muslim Brotherhood accepted by regional and international regimes.
Despite the roles played by other Arab countries, Egypt has the upper hand in the Palestinian cause.
According to Mhanna, “one of the main goals of the regional axis — consisting of Qatar, Turkey and Egypt — is to drive Hamas out of the resistance axis and push it toward Sunni groups, which are more in line with US positions.”
Regarding the ambitions of the group’s political bureau chief, Khaled Mashaal, who some see as the moderate figure in the group compared to Hamas leadership in Gaza, Mhanna said that “while Mashaal is content with the authority in Gaza, he has his eye on the PLO, as he believes it is an important entity that would benefit any political force.”
Mhanna added that “the Oslo agreement sought to flatten the PLO, and has indeed succeeded in this quest, making it appear as if it was affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, while the exact opposite is true. Thus, when Hamas is introduced to the region, it will lose more ground, especially when the people find out that the Palestinian project no longer exists.”
Mhanna said, “Hamas remains obstinate when it comes to reconciliation, and Abbas gives it more reasons for this, especially when he insists on holding elections.”
The leader of the Popular Front believes that Hamas’s refusal stems from fear of the results, in addition to the commercial interests of its leaders. They do not want to give up any authority in Gaza without getting anything in return in the West Bank “while the project of Abbas is not strong enough, even at the diplomatic level.” Based on that, Mehanna concludes that “the two movements will sit together only to share the cake, not to develop a national project”.
The dangers of confederation
The Palestinian Authority has been weak since it originated. “It was originally designed with its entire details to be a subsidiary to Israel. This was followed by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s policy against the poor, and Abbas’ negligent policy,” Mehanna said.
However, he stresses that Israel — and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in particular — is not prepared for a peaceful project based on a two-state solution, especially since Israel tends to become more radical after legislative elections, such as those scheduled for Jan. 22. Thus the Palestinian crisis would grow greater and the Palestinian Authority would correspondingly grow weaker — especially since the occupation authority has withheld tax revenues and US aid, and Arab countries, with the exception of Algeria, failed to fulfill their promises of providing around $30 million.
Thus, Mehanna fears that Palestinians would be dragged into accepting a project eradicating the cause. He explains that “before the Oslo agreement, the Palestinians faced a severe economic crisis forcing them to accept the agreement.” He added: “It is feared nowadays that the financial crisis represents a new way to impose a project on Palestinians, namely the possibility of forming a confederation between the West Bank and Jordan, and to annex Gaza to Egypt. War in Gaza could also be a way to impose this sort of project.”
The popular front is always present
Although Fatah and Hamas control the Palestinian political scene, “the Popular Front — despite its political and military decline — remains present in the heart of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza,” Mhanna says. This is particularly true since its leaders have not contaminated themselves with politics and are known for their integrity.
Mhanna enumerates some indicators confirming that “the largest leftist movement in the Arab world” imposed itself on the Palestinian scene. During the 2006 legislative elections, it won 5% of the seats, and came in third after Fatah and Hamas. The student and union elections gave them about 15%. Recently, the Front refused to ally with Fatah or Hamas in the West Bank local elections, and won 21% democratically.
Unlike other movements, the Popular Front does not show off its achievements, and secrecy still characterizes its activity, according to Mhanna. He notes that in the recent period, the occupation forces arrested three cells of the Front that were planning to kidnap Israeli soldiers. The actions of the Front always represent initiatives, not reactions.
 

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
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Resistance and the "Arab" March 14th Movements

Commenting on the the visit of a delegation from the March 14 to Gaza to congratulate the Palestinian people on the victory against “Israel” in the recent aggression, Sayed Nasrallah said “I felt great and this is a good thing, and I encourage this team to go into Gaza,”

Hinting, to the double standards of March 14 movement, supporting the armed resistance in Gaza, and standing against the Resistance in Lebanon, and hinting that Hezbollah is a part in the victory of Gaza, Sayed Nasrallah, smiling, added “I don’t want them to support the weapons of the resistance in Lebanon resistance, the congratulation for the resistance in Gaza is more that enough.”

Nasrallah March 14 asked “What was said after the triumph achieved by the resistance in the war in July? They said, Hezbollah did not win, Israel has not been defeated,” adding that he “does not want them to admit winning, Israel formed tens of teams to take lessons and build a new army with new capabilities and training.” Nasrallah pointed that in spite of all that we have seen ”with my own eyes how two or three rockets landing in Tel Aviv forced the Israeli leadership to flee towards the shelters and made ​​them raise their ten fingrs against the unarmed and besieged Gaza”  

After Jully war, Goerge Galloway visted PM Siniora, who without saying Hi surprised Galloway saying, “Don’t tell me, we win”. Galloway replied “Mr. PM, I met defeated Arab leaders who claimed victory, and you are the first Arab leader, denying the victory of your country”
 

Antwan Zahra, the Lebanese war criminal who killed thousands at the famous Barbara checkpoint, was among the March 14 delegation representing the Lebanese Forces lead by Geagea, the hero of Sabra and Shatila massacre.

March 14 coalition’s visit to Gaza has yielded counter results to what its organizers have aspired. The presence of Lebanese Forces party MP Antoine Zahraa among the visitors made the Gazans very upset, some of them wanted to boycott the occasion and others leveled heavy criticism for receiving who they dubbed them ‘the disbelievers in Lebanese resistance.’ Other Palestinian sources dismissed the visit as “opportunistic” and “hypocritical.”

At Barbara checkpoint four Iranian diplomats kidnapped were kidnapped, and then transferred to occupied Palestine, and they are alive in Israeli prisons.

“Lebanese Forces” MP Antoine Zahra, and the delegation of  March 14″ who met with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and a delegation of legislative authority (who considered the visit as a historical event) conveyed their solidarity with the palestinians and support for their cause.


Zahra told the mtv: On behalf of ” March 14 “, and its leaders, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Fouad Siniora and Dr. Samir Geagea, the Delegation saluted the unity of the Palestinian “brothers” in Gaza in the face of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, because adhering to the unity is the shortest way to achieve their “first” legitimate demand, the stablishment of the state. Moreover, the two sides  agreed to continue communication and cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples, Palestinian and Lebanese.
 

It’s surrender stupid إنه الاستسلام يا غبي

Israeli forces stand by their armoured vehicle seen ablaze after Palestinian protestors thew a Molotov cocktail on it during clashes in the centre of the divided West Bank city of Al-Khalil (Hebron), on 19 November 2012. (Photo: AFP – Hazem Bader)

Published Monday, November 19, 2012

“No resistance, no negotiations.”

That was the Emir of Qatar’s catchphrase during his recent visit to the Gaza Strip. He used it to urge the Palestinians to reconcile. It was as though he was telling them: Your resistance camp isn’t resisting, and your peace camp isn’t negotiating, so why don’t you make up?

The Emir of Qatar didn’t explain why there should be a reconciliation, or over what. Nor did he see why the peace camp isn’t negotiating – because Israel is the party that doesn’t want negotiations or peace. And, who told him that the resistance camp has stopped resisting? Is it because Hamas belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, and the parent organization’s current priorities do not include resistance? Is that what he meant?

This faulty catchphrase came about immediately after the outbreak of the Arab revolutions. Its aim was to enable the ascendant political forces in Arab countries whose rulers were toppled – such as Egypt, Tunisia and Libya – to adopt policies in line with these revolutions’ Western and Arab sponsors. They want these new powers confined to domestic issues.

“No resistance, no negotiations” means that Palestinians must act on the assumption that the occupation is there to stay, and that they shouldn’t expect any help just because of the revolutions. One Gulf official facetiously imagined what Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi would be telling Hamas leader Khaled Meshal: “Come off it, man. We can’t even afford to sweep Egypt’s streets. What do you want? Give up. Cease firing and trust the Lord.”

Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Adnan Mansour seemed out of place at the Arab ministerial meeting the day before yesterday. He angered those present by using “outmoded” language about boycotts and resistance. The proper, in-vogue language was provided by the foreign minister of Qatar who made a declaration of impotence, telling the Palestinians: We know the limits of our capabilities and resolve, and will never go to war.

This was before he made the obligatory reference to his support of the Gaza Strip’s steadfastness.

“No resistance, no negotiations.” This phrase is not only said to justify said impotence, but also to frame the real objective of the Arab revolutions as achieving a change in power. In this line of thinking, the Egyptians’ only problem was that Gamal Mubarak did not perform his religious rituals or grow a beard. A disastrous initial outcome of the mass protests in Egypt has been to usher into power replicas of the country’s previous rulers – albeit with beards. Cronies have been replaced with other cronies, while the economic policies are the same, relations with Israel are unchanged, and the country’s role as mediator between the enemy and the people of occupied Palestine has not changed.

The proponents of “no resistance, no negotiations” are filling a dirty role. They believe the priority is to attend to other opportunities. They say there is no resistance because they have chosen to withdraw from the battle, to disown the resistance, and cave in to the realities of the occupation. To defend their stance, they promote religious divisions and accuse resistance forces of not having liberation as their goal.

But how does the Qatari foreign minister’s assessment that the Arabs are impotent to act over Gaza square with the fact that he and other Gulf states can find the resolve to supply the Syrian opposition with arms and media support?

How can they decide – and do they really expect us to believe – that the Palestinians don’t need similar support and attention?

What is preventing these countries from continuing to back the Syrian opposition and doing the same for Palestinians?

How can people with a record of struggle – especially Palestinians who reside at the courts of Gulf decision makers – justify their ties with the holy alliance of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, the US, and colonial Europe?

How can Palestinians active in academic, scientific, media, and diplomatic institutions controlled by the GCC states justify such policies to themselves?

What is happening in Palestine attests to one thing: The occupation endures and continues, and that means resistance endures and continues. The resistance has been hourly demonstrating its capabilities, and its ability to exert more impact on Israel.

The alternative is the option of yielding. There is no need to be oblique about such a stance since, whatever the phrasing, it amounts to the same thing: surrender.

Ibrahim al-Amin is editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar.

This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.

  • Sayyed Nasrallah: Nation’s Future is that of Heroes, Not Ewes
  • DISARMING GAZA
  • Hamas leadership threatens Islamic Jihad to impose truce by force
  • LONG LIVE GAZA / FIGHTING THE BATTLE OF ALL PEOPLE
  • هوميروس قطر “أبو النعاج” في “غزة والذئب” والعرب في زمن الكوليرا
  • Gaza: Still the Same Old Egypt?

  • إنه الاستسلام يا غبي

    «لا مقاومة، لا مفاوضات».




    الشعار رفعه أمير قطر خلال زيارته الأخيرة لقطاع غزة. استخدم الشعار لحثّ الفلسطينيين على المصالحة، كأنه يقول لهم: أنتم تيار المقاومة لا تقومون بمقاومة، وأولئك تيار السلام لا يجرون مفاوضات. فلماذا لا تتصالحون؟
    أمير قطر لم يشرح لماذا المصالحة وحول ماذا، وهل صحيح أن فريق التسوية معطّل من تلقاء نفسه، أو لأنه أجرى مراجعة، أو لأن إسرائيل لا تريد المفاوضات ولا تريد السلام. ثم من أخبره أن تيار المقاومة توقف عن المقاومة، إلا إذا كان يقصد أن حماس عادت إلى تيار الإخوان المسلمين، وأن لا أولوية لدى هذا التيار اليوم اسمها المقاومة. فهل هذا ما قصده؟
    الشعار جاء مباشرة بعد اندلاع الثورات العربية. الهدف ليس التوصيف ـــ وهو أصلاً غير صحيح على الإطلاق ـــ بل تبرير برنامج سياسي للقوى الصاعدة في الدول التي سقط فيها حكام مثل مصر وتونس وليبيا، أو تلك التي تشهد أزمات وطنية كبرى مثل اليمن وسوريا، باعتبار أن الرعاة الخليجيين والغربيين لهذه الثورات يريدون حصرها في ملف داخلي سرعان ما ينتهي، كما حصل، الى عملية تداول للسلطة ولكن… بالقوة.
    «لا مقاومة، لا مفاوضات». شعار يعني ببساطة أن على الفلسطينيين التصرف على أساس أن الاحتلال قائم وباقٍ، وألا ينتظروا دعماً استثنائياً جراء المتغيّرات التي حصلت. ووصل الأمر بأحد مسؤولي الخليج الى التندّر، متصوراً حواراً بين الرئيس محمد مرسي وخالد مشعل. يقول فيه رئيس مصر: «إيه يا راجل، إحنا مش قادرين نكنس الشوارع. عايز إيه، خلاص، أوقف إطلاق النار، وربّنا المسهّل».
    في اجتماع المجلس الوزاري العربي، أول من أمس، بدا الوزير عدنان منصور غريباً. أغضب الحاضرين لاستخدامه «لغة خشبية» حول المقاطعة والمقاومة… أما لغة العصر، فكانت على لسان وزير خارجية قطر. عاد الرجل إلى أداء الدور الذي يتقنه، وذهب مباشرة إلى إعلان العجز، وهو يقول لأهل فلسطين: نحن نعرف قدراتنا وإمكانياتنا وعزيمتنا. لن نذهب إلى الحرب… ثم أضاف اللوازم من العبارات حول ضرورة دعم صمود أبناء القطاع.
    «لا مقاومة، لا مفاوضات». أصحاب العبارة يحاولون ليس تبرير استمرار العجز فحسب، بل اعتبار أن الأهداف الفعلية للثورات العربية هي تحقيق تداول في السلطة. أصحاب هذا المنطق يعتقدون بأن مشكلة المصريين كانت محصورة في إقناع جمال مبارك بإقامة الشعائر الدينية وترك لحيته تطول. وحقيقة الأمر أن أولى النتائج الكارثية للحراك في مصر هي إيصال حاكم بالمواصفات نفسها، ولكن مع لحية، واستبدال أزلام بأزلام، فيما تبقى السياسات الاقتصادية هي نفسها، وتستمر سياسة إقصاء الآخرين ومنع الشراكة في الحكم. وتبقى العلاقات مع العالم، بما في ذلك إسرائيل، على ما هي عليه، ويتواصل دور الوسيط بين العدو وأبناء فلسطين المحتلة.
    أصحاب شعار «لا مقاومة، لا مفاوضات» يلعبون أقذر الأدوار في هذه اللحظة. هؤلاء يعتقدون بأن الأولوية هي لمواجهة استحقاقات أخرى. يقولون بعدم وجود المقاومة لأنهم اختاروا انسحاباً من المعركة والابتعاد عن المقاومة والقبول بوقائع الاحتلال، وهم في دفاعهم عن وجهة نظرهم هذه يبرزون جوانب خلافية ذات طابع عقائدي. واتهام قوى المقاومة بأنها تنظر إلى المقاومة كأداة، وأن التحرير ليس هو الهدف… هذا نوع أو شكل جديد من التخاذل الذي يقود، بحسب التجربة، إلى الخيانة!
    لكن، كيف يستوي موقف وزير خارجية قطر حيال قدرات العرب في مواجهة ما يحصل في غزة والقول بالعجز، ثم نجده نفسه ومن خلفه دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي يجدون أن لديهم الأموال والقدرات والإرادة، لتزويد المعارضة السورية بالسلاح وبكل أشكال الدعم المادي والسياسي والإعلامي؟
    كيف يعقل لهؤلاء أن يقرروا ويريدون منّا أن نقبل أن أهل فلسطين لا يحتاجون إلى مثل هذا الدعم ومثل هذا الاستنفار؟

    ما الذي يمنع هذه الدول من مواصلة دعمها بالطريقة التي تريدها للمعارضة السورية، وأن تقوم بالأمر نفسه مع أبناء فلسطين؟
    كيف لأصحاب تاريخ نضالي، خصوصاً الفلسطينيين المقيمين في دواوين القرار الخليجي، أن يبقوا حيث هم وأن يبرروا علاقاتهم وتنظيراتهم لمواقف دول التحالف المقدس بين مجلس التعاون الخليجي وبين الولايات المتحدة وأوروبا الاستعمارية؟
    كيف يقبل الفلسطينيون الذين ينشطون في مؤسسات أكاديمية وعلمية وإعلامية ودبلوماسية تخضع لسلطة دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي أن يبرروا لأنفسهم، وأمام أولادهم وأهلهم في فلسطين، سياسات تخاذل وإذلال مثل هذه؟
    ما يحصل في فلسطين دليل على أمر واحد، وهو أن الاحتلال قائم ومستمر، وهذا يعني أن المقاومة قائمة ومستمرة، وساعة بعد ساعة تظهر المقاومة قدرتها على تطوير قدراتها وإمكانياتها، وتظهر قدرتها على إصابة المزيد من بنيان إسرائيل.
    أما البديل فهو خيار التنازل. موقف كهذا لا يحتاج إلى مواربة أو مناورة، ومهما غُلّف بعبارات وأفكار، نتيجته واحدة: الاستسلام

    River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  

    The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!

    !

    Hamayreh: Sheikh Hamad: ahlan wasahlan (welcome to Palestine)

    Updated

    Hamayerh claims that he wirites from occupied Jerusalem. If true, Hamayreh is a mossad agent, holding a VIP pass, to move from Dura, Al-khalil to Jeusalem. 

    In his latest comment in the sectarian PIC, he claimed:

    “It was…Qatar that rolled the sleeves up, hastening to the rescue of Gaza, unfazed and undeterred by criticisms from friends and foes alike. Thank God, Qatar wiped away the tears that were streaming down the orphans’ faces and restored a certain smile to some of those who never experienced a moment of joy in their lives.”

    “One may not agree with everything the Emir of Qatar and state of Qatar have done, including hosting American military bases on the small island.” he said before excusing Qatar’s policy, in his final anal-ysis, Qatar is not a superpower, its a , “moral super power”

    None the less… one should never forget or ignore the positive role…Qatar played….in enabling Libya to get rid of its infamous tyrant…..And now, Qatar is actively helping freedom fighters in Syria against one of the most evil and most murderous regimes in the history of mankind.

    Yes, this help may not be sufficient, given the huge firepower of the cultic sectarian regime in Damascus.

    Needless to say, this evil regime is supported and backed by the evil powers of the world, while other evil powers, including NATO, are watching passively as Syrians are being slaughtered en mass, all in order to satiate Assad’s thirst for Syrian blood. …..

    Qatar is at least doing its duty while others are escaping theirs, watching the Syrian genocide unfold. Once again, this is a great honor for Qatar, while others remained ensconced in their cowardliness and ineptitude.

    “On this occasion, we must salute Qatar and its brave emir for their unselfishness and self-abnegation.

    We salute Qatar for its heroic solidarity with the people of Gaza. We salute Qatar for doing its duty on behalf of an Umma that is yet to wake up from its prolonged dormancy.

    May the Almighty help Qatar achieve more prosperity and give its emir good health and longevity.”

    Fact Check

    Qatari Merchant of Venice shaking hands with Gaza Butcher after signing a new gas export contract and writing Qatari textbooks by Israeli experts
     
    Qatari and Gazan Merchants of Venice walking on Carpet soaked with Gazan Blood
     
     
     
     
     
    ———-
     
     
     Shylock Peres the Gaza Butcher, shopping in Doha Markets, not mentioned at all on Al Jazeerah as if it never took place?!
     
    Palestine map as recognized by Islamists Merchats of Vinice, before and after “Saladin’s Visit”
     

    Gaza before the “Nationial Day” , the LANDMARK, and HISTORICAL visit

    The visit is seen by some Palestinian factions as political recognition of Hamastan, a bribe for selling out the Resistans GUN and resistance option.

    The visit comes a day after two persons were martyred and four critically hurt in several Israeli air strikes, and another died later in the day.

    During the visit, Haniyeh hailed the top-level visit as a “victory” over the political and economic siege on his government. “You are officially declaring the end of the political and economic blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip by the forces of injustice and tyranny,” he told the emir. “Today we demolish the wall of the blockade through this visit, thank you Qatar,” he said.

    Qatar Emir fled Gaza after a gun was found in the Haniya’s headquarters

    Palestinians said to Arab times that Sheikha Mozah appeared heavier and larger than usual fuelling claims that she weared clothing resistant to bullets from her neck to her feet while her husband was fat strikingly because of bullet-resistant vest he was wearing under his cloak.  Lebanese newspapers had revealed that 12 Israeli plane to welcome Shaikh Qatar when Lebanese newspapers laimed that 12 Israeli planes welcomed Hamad his helicopter entered Gaza. 

     

    Hamad cancelled the puplic ceremony because only 2,000 people out of 30,000 came to Palestine Stadium. The Qatari security elements disagreed more than once with Hamas security elements  about security arrangements..  One Qatari guards said “We have come here to protect both the Prince and Haniya.


    While thousands of Palestinians awaiting the Palestine Stadium in Gaza, the security-English-American accompanying the Prince, smuggled him and his Moza from Gaza to Egypt after finding a gun (under a seat facing Hamad’s platform) in the Cabinet Hall hours before cabinet meeting, although the hall was wiped before the arrival of Hamad. According to a Palestinian source, discovering the gun after the scanning process means that the assassination attempt was planned to be made at the Haniya’s headquarters.

    During the opening of Hamad Town Israeli f-16 planes were flying at low altitudes above Khan Yunis, and reconnaissance planes were hovering over the Qatari delegation.
     

    After the visit the IOF resumed pouding south Gaza, IOF advanced in southern Gaza to kill the Hamastan joy for the Qarari merchant of Vinice. Haneyya gov’t asks for urgent Arab League intervention to stop the aggression.

    The resistance factions responded. An Israeli military spokeswoman said 86 projectiles had been fired over the border between Tuesday and Wednesday and that the Iron Dome system had intercepted eight of them. Several homes had been damaged by Palestinian rockets.

    Most likely those rockets were manufactured in the
    Sudani military facility build by IRAN, and
    smuggled into Gaza through the Tunnels destroyed by the Mechant of Vinice in Cairo who rushed to sponsor a new truce.

    “The Egyptians have a very impressive ability to articulate to (Hamas) that its primary interest is not to attack and use terror against Israel or other targets,” Israeli defense official Amos Gilad told Israeli Army Radio. Sudanese weapons factory bombed by Zionist warplanes; Oct. 24, 2012Sudan’s information minister has accused Israel of striking a Sudanese military factory Wednesday causing it to explode and burst into flames.

    Meanwhile, Palestinians were digging new tunnels, three Palestinian workers were trapped at a late night hour on Wednesday when a tunnel they were digging at the Egyptian borders collapsed????….

    Dozens of Palestinians were killed or injured in tunnels dug under the Egyptian-Gaza borders to provide vital supplies for the besieged coastal enclave.

    ——-

    Having seen the positive of role the small emirate carried out in the Arab world, we should see also the Great role of the Greater Arab Country before and after the “Brotherhood’s revolution

    Antonio Musrsi in Murshid Days
    Merchants of Vinice demanding Mobarak to expell zionist and American Ambassodors

    Being desirous of maintaining and strengthening the cordial relations which so happily exist between our two countries, I have chosed Mr. Atef Mohamed Salem Sayed El Ahl to be our ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

    I request you to please, grant him your support, your patronage… especially since I had the honour to convey to you what I wish happiness for your, and your country.

    With highest esteem and consideration

    Your “loyal friend” Antonio known as Mohamad Mursi

    ——–

    Hamayreh: Sheikh Hamad: ahlan wasahlan (welcome to Palestine

    [ 23/10/2012 - 09:36 PM ]

    By Khalid Hamayreh in occupied Jerusalem

    It is very difficult to underestimate or downplay the visit of the Qatari Emir, his highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani to the Gaza Strip. The visit, short in its duration, will be proven monumental in its symbolism as well as its practical ramifications.

    The fact that an Arab statesman has decided to fly in the face of Israeli hegemony and the so-called “international consensus” by visiting the thoroughly abandoned, thoroughly blockaded, thoroughly starved and thoroughly tormented Gaza is a badge of honor for Qatar and its gallant and generous Emir.

    Much of the Gaza Strip was flattened by a diabolical, Nazi-like Zionist blitzkrieg a few years ago. Gaza and its abandoned 1.7 million human beings cried out for help, only to find empty words or even indifference from the bulk of Arab regimes. Some Arab states have been too cowardly to identify with a wounded Gaza lest they upset America and Israel.

    Hence these states opted to leave Gaza to die quietly rather than displease the Pharaohs of our time. Others were so hostile to the Islamic ideology of the rulers of Gaza that they preferred to watch thousands of Gazans fall victim to starvation and poverty than extend a helping hand to the last defenders of Arab honor and Islamic dignity.

    It was mainly Qatar that rolled the sleeves up, hastening to the rescue of Gaza, unfazed and undeterred by criticisms from friends and foes alike.

    Thank God, Qatar wiped away the tears that were streaming down the orphans’ faces and restored a certain smile to some of those who never experienced a moment of joy in their lives.

    Qatar is not a super power, neither in the political nor in the economic sense. However, Qatar is a moral super power in its own right.

    One may not agree with everything the Emir of Qatar and state of Qatar have done, including hosting American military bases on the small island.

    None the less, whatever one’s objections about this dimension of Qatar’s internal policies, one should never forget or ignore the positive role the small emirate has carried out in the Arab world, Qatar played an indispensable role in enabling Libya to get rid of its infamous tyrant.

    Egyptian army with heavy machinery used to destroy tunnels linking Egypt and the Gaza Strip, arrive at Rafah city, about 350 km (217 miles) northeast of Cairo August 9, 2012. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
    “Post-revolutionary Egypt” destoying Gaza tunnels

    Qatar is also generously helping post-revolutionary Egypt overcome its chronic economic troubles which accumulated during decades of mismanagement, corruption and dictatorship by the defunct Mubarak regime.

    And now, Qatar is actively helping freedom fighters in Syria against one of the most evil and most murderous regimes in the history of mankind.

    Yes, this help may not be sufficient, given the huge firepower of the cultic sectarian regime in Damascus.

    Needless to say, this evil regime is supported and backed by the evil powers of the world, while other evil powers, including NATO, are watching passively as Syrians are being slaughtered en mass, all in order to satiate Assad’s thirst for Syrian blood.

    We are hearings a lot of dog-barking from several quarters. Others, including some Palestinians, have spoken abusively of the emir of Qatar. Well, let us not dignify these little men by commenting on their ranting and raving.

    Qatar is at least doing its duty while others are escaping theirs, watching the Syrian genocide unfold. Once again, this is a great honor for Qatar, while others remained ensconced in their cowardliness and ineptitude. On this occasion, we must salute Qatar and its brave emir for their unselfishness and self-abnegation.

    We salute Qatar for its heroic solidarity with the people of Gaza. We salute Qatar for doing its duty on behalf of an Umma that is yet to wake up from its prolonged dormancy.

    May the Almighty help Qatar achieve more prosperity and give its emir good health and longevity.

    River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian
    The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!

    Palestinian Reconciliation: Cocking aggregates

    From Khalid Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem:

    Dweik: Reconciliation must come before elections.

    According to Abbas, Elections must come before Reconciliation.

    Palestinian are facing a puzzle similar to the egg and chicken puzzle: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

    Since the last elections Fateh and Hamas never stopped taking about Palestinian reconciliation. Hamas never stopped telling us that reconciliation is a strategic goal.

    After storming his one brain Khalid Amayreh wrote: Palestinians must rearrange their priorities?

    “The Palestinian Authority (PA) is trying desperately these days to maintain its precarious survival under the Israeli occupation.
    With empty coffers and no political breakthrough in sight, the Ramallah leadership is busy fabricating short-term “solutions,” rather than tackling and solving real problems.” he wrote without telling us what are the real problems, or how to tackle them.

    “Last week, an Israeli cabinet minister was quoted as saying that the PA had only one and only reason for its existence, namely to serve Israeli security interests…If the PA failed to carry out this task to the letter, then it would lose its reason for existence as far as Israel is concerned.” he added.

    If so, and it’s so, why Hamas don’t deal with PA as an occupation sub-contractor, the same way Hezbollah dealt with the Southern Lebanese army?

    The majority of Palestinians are aware that “that the PA is an authority without authority, a police state without a state, an entity unlike any other under the sun.”

    It is him, Khalid Amayreh, who promoted, after the famous meeting of Mishaal and Abbas in Qatar, the illusion of reconciliation with the Ramallah Traitor. He said that History will remember Abbas as a sincere man who tried but failed.

    “But how can the Palestinian people hold real elections under the current circumstances?” asked Amayreh.

    “Hamas shouldn’t be carried away by PA harrowing toward organizing elections that could only allow Israel to claim that the Palestinian problem is nearly over and that most Palestinians live under the rule of the PA, not Israel.” he added “”Elections can be an acceptable option if proper guarantees are obtained from the international community to the effect that the occupying power wouldn’t interfere or intervene in the polls in any manner.”

    So the real issue is not the “security coordination”, not the occupation. it is the election and the “grand names, such as President, Prime Minister, parliament, etc.”

    “Since the military solution in Gaza in 2007…In the process of avenging the ousting of Fatah militias from Gaza, the PA arrested thousands, tortured hundreds, sacked many from their jobs and launched a witch-hunt campaign against the supporters of Hamas….This reign of fear and terror, which is yet to come to an end, must be desensitized first and foremost before any election can even be contemplated. And this takes time.”

    So, Abbas won’t election first, without giving Hamas “minimal degree of freedom of speech and expression and freedom to campaign and hold election rallies.” And Hamas won’t reconciliation first to guarantee its share in the PA cake.

    I understood and supported Hamas going to Cairo for reconciliation during Mubarak era. At that time Hamas had no other choice.

    I used to defend Hamas against those who wanted Hamas to be a Hezbollah saying that Hezbollah’s neighbor is a Lion, while Hamas neighbor is a traitor.

    Now, after the so-called Arab spring Palestinians has the right to ask why Hamas don’t break with Ramallah, declare that west bank is occupied and declare a Palestinian state in ” liberated” Gaza?

    Unfortunately, Hamas can’t do that and should comply with Mama’s priorities (Changing the regime in Syris), and Mama’s international comittments (Shalom for Israel)

    River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
    The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!

    Comment: The Naive and the Palestinian "naivety"

    In case you missed it:

    [This carton tells the story of "Father Palestine", the story of turning Palestine Liberation Organization into Palestine Liquidation Oraganization, Both are PLO.
    Six weeks ago,Khalid Amayreh, hailed "The good news" from Cairo" The latest agreement between Fatah and Hamas to translate national reconciliation efforts into facts on the ground is a perfect Ramadan gift for the Palestinian people. ""the Palestinian Authority (PA) decision to move against Muhammed Dahlan, the perpetual trouble-maker, will erase a major cause of the collision between Hamas and Fatah." he claimed. ]

    Palestinian naivety
    [The Arab, regional and international situation appears to be more adequate than ever for pursuing Palestinian statehood even without sacrificing or compromising other legitimate rights, including the right of return, the soul and heart of the Palestinian cause. ]
    Khalid Amayreh,





    In case you missed the naive:

    ["There are those who show a certain propensity to cast a thick shadow of doubt on the authenticity of the Libyan revolution.....the Libyan people will never allow a foreign power to arrogate or hijack their hard-earned sovereignty, independence and free will....we advise those who don't stop making all sorts of silly insinuations about the Libyan revolutionaries to wait and see and reserve their final judgment for sometime, instead of trying to create confusion and spreading false propaganda.
    

    "Just give them a grace period"

    A final note. There are some pro-Palestinian activists who are, either sincerely or maliciously, worried about a "less than complete commitment" by the new rulers of Libya to the Palestinian cause.
    Tyrants and their murderous thugs may kill and spill untold blood of their own people. However, they too will face their ultimate hour of truth because those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.

    I say to those; assuming their sincerity, don't worry.

    In the final analysis, the Libyan revolution has an Arab-Islamic face, heart and mind. It will not betray or disappoint Muslims anywhere in the world. Just give them a grace period, and they won't disappoint you."]

    Now read the smart taking about Palestinian naivety, Is it naivity??

    [ 03/06/2012 - 11:29 PM ]
    By Khalid Amayreh

    The recent agreement between Fatah and Hamas to patch up their differences is raising many eyebrows in Occupied Palestine and beyond. Discouraged by the numerous fiascos of the past, many Palestinians think the agreement will eventually evaporate into another disappointment.

    Others prefer to look at the proverbial half-full glass. They argue that the rift between the two largest Palestinian political camps has lingered for too long and cost the Palestinian people and their just cause irreparable damage, so much so that the two groups have now learned the required lessons and are willing to coexist peacefully. If not amicably.
    As part of the agreement, the two sides agreed to form a national unity government, prepare for elections and begin a process of normalization and national reconciliation.
    However, it is amply clear that reality on the ground doesn’t leave much room for optimism even for those who want to give the parties the benefit of the doubt.
    Let us cite some of these facts on the ground that will make the realization of a genuine and durable reconciliation unlikely.
    First, the Israeli occupation army, not the Palestinian Authority (PA), controls every nook and cranny in the West Bank, hence it is the apartheid Zionist state that has and will have the final say with regard to matters such as holding elections, especially in East Jerusalem.
    Second, it is inconceivable that the Islamic liberation group, Hamas, would consent to continued security coordination between Israel and the PLO. Such consent would eviscerate Hamas of all its Islamic and nationalist credentials and project the movement as just another Fatah, or another political group vying for “power” under the heels of Israeli military occupation. This scenario amounts to political suicide for Hamas and could consign the movement to the museum of history.
    This issue is very crucial for reaching national reconciliation. The so-called security coordination between Israel and the PA is a matter of survival for the Ramallah regime. Indeed, for Israel, security coordination with the PA (against Hamas and other opponents of the scandalously bankrupt peace process) constitutes the ultimate Raison d’être of the PA.
    Hence, it is highly unlikely that Israel will tolerate any serious reduction in the level of security coordination and collaboration with the PA. It is true that Hamas would probably opt for political and popular resistance against the Israeli occupation. But this is no guarantee that Israel will allow Hamas to reestablish itself in the West Bank, even through reincorporation into the PA apparatus.
    In the final analysis, the Israeli witch-hunt policy against Hamas has very little to do with resistance to the occupation or “terror” as Israeli propaganda refers to every act of resistance or opposition to the Nazi-like occupation.
    Israel is simply against Hamas because Hamas refuses to lower the ceiling of Palestinian national aspirations, especially those pertaining to such core issues as Jerusalem, the paramount Right of Return for the refugees, recognition of Israel and settlements.
    It is true that Fatah publicly adopts more or less similar positions on these issues. However, it is clear that Israel believes or at least hopes that Fatah could be bullied or cajoled into making far-reaching compromises that would enable Israel to clinch a significantly better deal than anything involving Hamas.
    Hamas refuses to recognize Israel, let alone recognize it as a Jewish state for ideological reasons. The group argues rather convincingly that it is grossly unfair to demand a Palestinian recognition of Israel at a time when Israel continues to refuse to acknowledge the very existence of the Palestinian people.
    Moreover, Hamas argues convincingly that Israel never has peace with the Palestinians on the top of its priority list as the apartheid state continues to build settlements on occupied land and transfers hundreds of thousands of its Jewish citizens to live on land that belongs to another people.
    Third, the continued rounding-up of Hamas’ supporters in the West Bank underscores the utter ill-will of the Fatah movement which apparently prefers to appease Israel and its guardian-ally, the United States, rather than respond positively and sincerely to reconciliation efforts with Hamas.
    Hundreds of Hamas supporters, including college students, are still being detained in PA lockups in the West Bank. This fact means that mistrust and mutual suspicions will continue to shape the manner in which the two groups relate to each other.
    More to the point, it is well known that hundreds of Islamist institutions, including schools, clinics, youth clubs, cultural centers, charities and social centers have been taken over by Fatah, which refuses to return them to rightful owners. This, too, shows that Fatah doesn’t have much faith in the reconciliation process with Hamas and wants to keep its bargaining cards close to its chest.
    Notwithstanding, it is widely expected that the election issue will prove to be the most difficult obstacle impeding the realization of genuine reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Since the last Palestinian general elections were held in 2006, Israel has been rounding up Hamas or pro-Hamas politicians, serving them with prolonged prison terms for “association with a terrorist organization.” In fact, even today, five years later, as many as 26 Palestinian lawmakers are still languishing in Israeli dungeons and detention camps on purely frivolous charges. The captives include the Speaker of the Palestinian parliament Aziz Dweik, a professor of Urban Planning.
    A lawyer representing some of these lawmakers told this writer that in any other country; his clients wouldn’t spend a single day in prison.
    “They are held in Israeli jails because Jewish officials want to satiate their sadistic urges. This is the reason my clients and others are not brought before a genuine court of law…because they have done absolutely nothing wrong.”
    In light, Hamas must seek real guarantees that its candidates and supporters will be granted full freedom to campaign unhindered by the Israeli occupation army. Similarly, Hamas must obtain guarantees against the arrest of its candidates, before or after the elections.
    But Neither Fatah nor the PA, not even the EU and the US, can give such guarantees, given the lawless and insolent nature of the Israeli state.
    Hence, it is imperative that Hamas make every effort in order not to fall into the trap that is being set up for it, especially in the West Bank.
    This is because a genuine election that is worthy of the name must at the very least ensure that all participating parties and groups are treated on equal footing and given equal opportunities.
    Otherwise, the rift will be consolidated and the current agreement will vanish into oblivion.
    In conclusion, it is futile to conduct genuine elections, let alone pretend we are free and sovereign, while the Israeli occupation authorities continue to occupy our country, torment our people, strangle our will to freedom and dignity, and try to force us into succumbing to a status of water carriers and wood hewers in the service of the master race, the so-called chosen people.
    River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
    The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!

    Fatah and Hamas Announce Progress on Doha Agreement

     

    The Abbas-Mishaal encounter: what is next? – The start of a ”real” Palestinian partnership

    By:Hani al-Masri posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

    On May 20 [2012], a few days after major changes were made to the government of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Fatah and Hamas declared that they had agreed to implement the agreement they reached in Doha in February.

    About this Article

    Summary:
    On May 20, Hamas and Fatah declared that they were going forward with the implementation of the Doha agreement signed last February. Hani al-Masri is skeptical of this rhetoric, given that so many agreements in the past have failed. The success of this new agreement will depend on the two parties’ willingness to pay for political unity.

    Publisher: As-Safir (Lebanon)
    Original Title:
    The “Doha Declaration” is Back
    Author: Hani al-Masri
    Published on: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
    Translated On: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
    Translator: Sahar Ghoussoub

    Categories :Analysis & Opinion Politics Palestinian Authority Israel

    The new agreement stated that the formation of a government of national unity must be synchronized with the work of the election commissionin the Gaza Strip. In the event that the elections are not held on time for any reason beyond the control of both parties, the two sides will meet to discuss the possibility of forming a new national-unity government to be headed by an independent, mutually agreed-upon figure. The new agreement also provided for the resolution of the issue of public freedoms as early as possible before the election day.

    What has happened all of a sudden? Why has the Doha Agreement been brought back into the spotlight? Is this some sort of a joke? Is it an attempt to manipulate Palestinian hopes and emotions?
    I do not believe that the agreement will be taken seriously unless it is implemented, starting by the formation of a national unity government and the registration of voters for the elections process. The Palestinian people are fed up with false promises and unimplemented agreements.

    In truth, the Doha Agreement was not implemented due to certain practices of Hamas’ political bureau. Hamas did not complete its elections process; Khaled Meshaal’s term as Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau was not renewed, nor was a new Chairman elected.

    In essence, the Doha Agreement was not implemented because it was originally drafted in haste.

    It overlooked key issues such as restructuring the organization and its political program as well as the consolidation of institutions. The agreement focused only on the elections and the formation of a government.

    The agreement ignored the issue of the government’s political program. Will the national-unity government’s program be that adopted by the president, as President Abbas declared upon signing it? Or will the government be deprived of a political program, as declared by Hamas, since politics falls within the responsibilities of the organization, and not that of the authority? Should Hamas’ point of view be adopted, the US Administration, Israel and the international community will carry out their threat of boycott and cut off aid. This will happen if Hamas fails to comply with the Quartet’s decisions.

    In light of the deep rifts over key issues, the many unimplemented past agreements and the ongoing dialogues, there is reason to doubt the success of the new agreement until proven otherwise.
    So what were the factors underpinning the new agreement between Hamas and Fatah?

    First, Netanyahu’s response to Abu Mazen’s letter was quite disappointing, as expected. Also, the early Israeli elections have resulted in the broadening of Netanyahu’s scope of powers, making his government the most powerful government in the Israeli history. Consequently, Netanyahu has been called the “King of Israel.”

    The Obama administration is no position to exert pressure on Israel, especially in view of the upcoming US presidential elections. The US government cannot make proposals regarding the resumption of negotiations as it continues to oppose the Palestinian bid for full membership in the United Nations. However, it should be noted that the US was present when the Fayyad government was amended.
    In light of these developments, the Palestinian leadership finds itself once again at an impasse. The option of the negotiations will only push Palestinians toward the end of the road. The formation of a new government, on the other hand, did not provide any solutions.

    Second, Hamas went too far in its reliance upon the Arab Spring’s impact on the region and the rise of political Islam to power. It overestimated the repercussions this could have for Palestine. Hamas believed that this would consolidate its position on the Palestinian map, only to find out that it lost its bid.

    “Is it a pre-condition to recognize Israel in order to govern?”
    The Muslim Brotherhood is unlikely to rule Egypt, or even win a landslide electoral victory, as seemed likely during the first year of the Arab revolutions. According to polls, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Mohamed Morsi, is not leading the presidential race. What’s more, the triumph of Moneim Aboul Fotouh or Mohamed Morsi does not mean that all authority in Egypt would be placed in the hands of the new president. The military council remains a key player in Egypt’s politics, regardless of who the new president is.

    Rats desert a sinking ship, fools ride
    Perhaps the sudden change in Hamas’ position toward its rival Fatah can be explained in terms of the relation between the organization and the political Islam groups. The Muslim Brotherhood advised Hamas to espouse a more moderate policy when it comes to its relationship with the US administration and Israel. It also advised it to strike a deal with Fatah with an eye to Palestinian political legitimacy in gneral. The Muslim Brotherhood based its advice on the fact that Egypt may take a long time to stand on its feet again. It will need external support to secure regional stability and make it through the transitional period given all the security, economic and political factors at stake.

    Third, Egyptian intelligence services played a key role in the last meeting that took place in Cairo between Fatah and Hamas, and in the resulting outcomes. The Egyptian military council seeks to settle things before the elections so that it can secure its role in the upcoming phase.

    The success of the new-old Doha Agreement depends to a large extent on the political will to implement it and the willingness to pay for unity. Thus, Palestinians ought to give up private programs and interests and be willing to agree upon a political program that would include the common interests of both factions. Furthermore, the new agreement must provide for basic Palestinian rights and goals. It must be based on international laws and UN resolutions, binding Israel to implement its obligations as stated in the agreements it has signed with the Palestinians.

    Moreover, Palestinians ought to proceed with the radical restructuring and reform of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, so that it includes the different colors of the Palestinian political spectrum. The organization must restore its role, in word and in deed, as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. The organization’s charter must also include a national agenda that would be inspired by the best provisions stated the previous national and nationalist agendas. Palestinians ought to learn from their past experiences and take advantage of the new developments and realities on the ground.

    Moreover, civil and security institutions must be unified. As a first step, the police apparatus in the West Bank and Gaza strip ought to be united, so the that the Central Election Commission is able to supervise the election process. Such unity would help end and manage the division.

    A real political partnership based on periodic elections and democracy must be established in Palestine. In light of this partnership, no party would be allowed to monopolize power or be excluded. This is would be an additional guarantee for Palestinian unity and lead it to embark on the road of victory.
    Palestinians need to join hands to tip the balance in their favor, once and for all. They must practice their right to self-determination and focus on ending the occupation.

    However, they must not neglect other fundamental rights such as the right of return, the right to establish an independent sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital within the 1967 borders and the right of the Palestinians to equality and individual rights. All Palestinians in the diaspora have the right to live in dignity until they return to their homeland.

    River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
    The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!

    "Abbas makes “big error” in naming new cabinet"

    The start of a ”real” Palestinian partnership

    Abbas makes “big error” in naming new cabinet

    Published Thursday, May 17, 2012
    President Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has sworn in nine new ministers to his cabinet in a reshuffle condemned by the opposition Hamas as a “big error”.
    PA Prime minister Salam Fayyad was retained in that role but had to relinquish his influential second post as finance minister.

    The move is a blow to reconciliation efforts with Hamas, which governs Gaza, as the PA appear to be moving away from plans for a unity government.

    It is more than a year since Fatah and Hamas agreed a reconciliation deal in Cairo in an effort to end years of bitter infighting, but no meaningful agreement has since been secured.

    The factions disagree over who to appoint in a new transitional unity government ahead of legislative elections scheduled to be held before the end of this month.

    Hamas condemned the naming of a new cabinet as a “big error.”

    Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the party, said the decision conflicted with the agreement between the parties.

    Barhoum wrote on Facebook that Abbas was introducing a reshuffle which “reflects an insistence on misconduct and maintenance of illegitimacy and disagreement.”

    He added: “This patching policy will not bring any benefit to the Palestinian people and won’t be helpful because it is not approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council. What starts wrong ends wrong.”
    Abbas had said on Wednesday that the incoming government would “be dismissed immediately” if the political partnership with Hamas is implemented.

    Fayyad was replaced as Finance Minister by Nabil Qassis, a former university president who like Fayyad is a political independent.

    This is the second reshuffle for the Ramallah-based government, which was first established in June 2007 under Fayyad.

    (Al-Akhbar, Ma’an)

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