Israelis become furious and angry whenever they lose one of their people. They exact their revenge in the ancient biblical way — an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. With the latest American-made weapons, they lash out indiscriminately against Palestinian homes as the world watches. In an attempt to convince or deceive the world that their actions fall within the framework of accepted rules of engagement, they go after Palestinian Authority security buildings. If Palestinian civilians — men, women, children or babes in arms — are killed in the operation, the Israelis always produce an excuse —usually blaming the Palestinians for, as they say, not stopping the violence. Of course, what they really mean is that the Palestinians refuse to submit to the illegal occupation of their lands. This happens over and over again as the world remains a helpless spectator. Even we Arabs are too occupied with our daily concerns: whether there is enough water to take a shower or what the job prospects are for the new graduate in the family. From this, we see that an important new fact has now become evident. The struggle is now totally a Palestinian one. The Arab reaction will consist of no more than a courtesy, a formal expression of sorrow or an acknowledgment of a mistake.
This is unfortunately natural and is difficult to explain. The occupied lands and their people are Palestinian and we Arabs are busy with our own day-to-day affairs. Even in these days of intifada, we find nothing to make us optimistic. We observe the same stumbling in the Palestinian leadership, which fights without a clear goal, from the Black September in Jordan to the Lebanese civil war. The only thing that gives “leadership”, and us, any hope is that the Palestinian people, reeling under Israeli occupation, are fighting on their own land free from Arab pressures. Unlike in the past, they can now make their own decisions without waiting for orders from Damascus or Cairo or Baghdad as was formerly the case. Nonetheless, they still want the Arabs to intervene. And some Arab countries have preferred to become mediators while others have extended financial and moral support — which of course is the least they should offer to the Palestinians. In light of these general facts, we can now analyze events and arrive at the following conclusions.
Israeli forces strike Palestinian security headquarters and military facilities in response to any Palestinian attack against the Jewish state. They do not bother to find out whether it was the Palestinian Authority, one of its agencies or a Palestinian individual or group responsible for the attack. Such attacks may have been an expression of anger by a single disgruntled Palestinian. In any case, the Israeli government holds the PA fully responsible for any operation within its territory and even for terrorist activities inside Israel.
on this issue the United States and Europe are in complete agreement and understanding with Israel. The US not only keeps silent about Israeli attacks on Palestinians but also openly declares its support for the Jewish state. Europe is also silent, which is a sign of acceptance, despite the contradictions between Israeli acts and the ethics of all other conflicts in Europe. Britain, for example, will not strike Catholic areas in Ireland when a bomb goes off in London. Spain will not assassinate Basque supporters in front of their homes and children. Those are the accepted rules of engagement. Do they apply only to Europeans? Are we now facing the most blatant racial discrimination?
Israel and its allies always present a viewpoint, which may be legitimate. They say that under the Oslo Accords, the Palestinians are obliged to shun violence. This is a surrender of the Palestinian right to resist occupation of their lands. The Palestinians have also agreed to stop anybody from carrying out violence against Israel in its territory and also to fight terrorism by 100 percent. This term — to fight terrorism 100 percent — is one much beloved and used by both Israeli and American leaders.
The Palestinians have the right to demand equal treatment in implementing the agreements they have signed with Israel — agreements, which have been guaranteed by the US. But they have not only weakened their legal position but have completely spoiled it. One example was when they submitted to the argument of then Israeli Prime Minister Rabin who said a few months after Oslo that the timings of withdrawals were not holy writ. He refused to withdraw from Hebron but even after that, the PA continued to work with the Oslo Accord. This allows every Israeli to jump on the PA to smear its honor and that of all international accords and commitments. The PA is weak at Arab and international levels and does not have the means to pressure Israel or its benefactor, the United States.
When Israel and the US call for an end to violence, they mean only one thing: halting the intifada, which is a peaceful act of legitimate resistance. Halting the intifada, let us be clear, means the acceptance of occupation and the solutions imposed by an immoral Israel upon a moral Palestine.
All moves to restart the peace process mean a return to the situation which existed before the present intifada and thus to the circumstances which led to the intifada in the first place. In other words, the Palestinians have the choice of relaunching the intifada or surrendering to the forces of occupation.
It is evident that the Palestinians refuse to accept the occupation forces even though they have been deserted by their close relatives and alienated from distant “friends”. Their leadership has difficulty asking them to stop the intifada. A call to do so, which is seen by Palestinians as the most unpopular thing imaginable, would amount to suicide by the PA.
Israeli attacks on the Palestinian Authority headquarters will continue with Sharon and his allies saying that Israel is fighting those responsible for violence and that Israeli attacks are not aimed at innocent civilians. Even if women and children fall victim, the Israelis have ready-made justifications and quick, though insincere, expressions of sorrow. In addition, they hold the PA responsible for not stopping the violence.
And while the Israeli appears as only targeting the PA in reality they aim at crushing Palestinian resistance and insist on bringing them to their heels.
The issue is not the PA. Everybody knows that it came into existence with Israeli support. All its arms and weaponry as well as its manpower have been subject to Israeli scrutiny. Although both Israelis and Americans despise and scorn the PA, they will nonetheless protect it. They may even intensify their campaign against it but they will make sure it stays intact. They will not nullify it since it must have a role in any settlement of the conflict.
What is the alternative? Let us wait for a national leadership to emerge from the intifada and the Palestinian masses. It will be one lacking protocol or honor guards or parliament or television. It will come from the targets of enemy guns. It will be both a covert and an overt leadership. It will see its people in jails and detention centers like the members of all national liberation movements who seek independence and freedom. It will not entangle itself in the web of endless peace negotiations and fruitless agreements.
