Daoud Kuttab writes about the Palestinian reaction to the Gaza pullout. Sounds fractured and befuddled to me. Which is why I expect them to start attacking soon, it's their default position.
Here's an interesting question for the Gazans: Will the electricity and phone system, as well as bread and milk that come exclusively from Israel, continue to arrive without delay?
Did you know that the territories get their electricity and phone from Israel (water too I believe) and have done since 1967? For all those moaning about Israel's "collective punishment" of the Palestinians, consider what they could have done these past five years, just by throwing a switch.
Confusion over Gaza
By DAOUD KUTTAB
In over 25 years of journalism I have never witnessed more confusion in the Palestinian national (and Islamic) movement as I have seen during the past few months.
There is no doubt that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has thrown the Palestinians, and the rest of the world, a monkey wrench, and how and where it will lead no one seems to know. The utter refusal of Israel to reveal even the most mundane issues of its plans, even to its American allies, has been the main reason for this state of confusion by the Palestinians.
One would have expected that Palestinians should be happy about the turn of events in Gaza. After all the Israeli decision to withdraw from Gaza is everything the Palestinians have wanted.
Politically the unilateral Israeli action doesn't cost Palestinians anything. There are no agreements to be signed and no commitments to be made.
But the Israeli decision was initially faced with skepticism. Many doubted that it would ever take place. Then they argued that it would cause a harder line in the West Bank and Jerusalem. This is probably true, but it should not have prevented Palestinians from welcoming the withdrawal.
Then further issues came up. Should Palestinians celebrate this Israeli decision?
Again arguments varied. Some wanted to celebrate and to brand the Israeli decision a result of the Palestinian resistance. Others preferred a much lower profile because the withdrawal is partial and doesn't include the bulk of Palestinian land – though it will include a major portion of Palestinians living under occupation.
Hamas was the first to argue publicly for the need to celebrate. It even announced a prize for the best poster depicting the success of the resistance in forcing the Israelis to leave. Palestinian leaders reacted with fear that the celebrations could cause havoc and get out of control. A more organized set of events was suggested.
At one time public utterances reflected these contradictions. One day President Mahmoud Abbas and Minister Muhammad Dahlan spoke about the need to keep the celebrations low-profile. The next day the local Palestinian press quoted Marwan Barghouti as sending a message from his jail cell that Palestinians should loudly and publicly celebrate the success of the resistance in kicking out the occupiers.
THE DEBATE continued on Arab satellite television. A Hamas spokesman said on the Hizbullah station Al Manar that the Israelis were leaving because of the success of the Kassam rockets. A Fatah representative replied angrily that this statement belittled all the other Palestinian sacrifices and, as Barghouti argued, the military and political efforts of Palestinians in and outside Palestine.
Even the issue of the debris that the Israelis will leave behind has been a source of confusion. Will they or will they not leave houses undestroyed? (They will destroy them.) Who will pick up the debris? (It looks like Palestinian and Egyptian companies paid for by Israel will do that.) What about the agricultural hothouses, will they be left or sold intact? (Most are being sold through an Israeli foundation.) Will Palestinians have to pay for what was built on illegally occupied areas? Or will they be able to buy them with American foreign assistance funds?
A more important discussion was over whether the withdrawal from Gaza should be accompanied by some kinds of attack so as to give the impression that Israel was leaving under military pressure, as in the case of south Lebanon. Again this issue was debated between Islamic and nationalist groups against the background of threats from the Israeli army and senior politicians to crush and reoccupy Gaza if there were attacks during the withdrawal.
Once these questions are answered, another set, no less important, awaits resolution. Is Israel planning to reject any further withdrawals, as some Israelis politicians have suggested, or is quitting Gaza part of the road map, as the Americans and the Quartet are insisting?
There are many immediate concerns that affect the daily lives of Palestinians. Will the electricity and phone system, as well as bread and milk that come exclusively from Israel, continue to arrive without delay? Will Gazans be allowed to move freely to and from the West Bank?
Will the borders with Egypt, the airport and the future port be opened? What kind of tax and customs relations system will be put in place? Will Palestinian air space be liberated, and will Palestinians be allowed to leave and return to Gaza without Israeli approval? Will others be allowed to enter Gaza without Israeli visas?
The Israelis' decision to quit Gaza is certainly a unilateral one. The questions that remain will only be answered once they belatedly end their long stay. How they are answered will determine much for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
jpost.com |
