We the Arab generation now in its sixties believed that Palestine would emerge as the first Arab democratic state. This belief is likely to turn out to be a mere dream going by the current indications.
It was widely believed that the unparalleled suffering of the Palestinians would impel them to evolve into a democratic society. It was supposed that a society groaning under occupation that deprived them of all their basic rights would serve as a firm foundation for a democratic order the moment an inch of the Palestinian land was granted freedom.
But the bitter reality is that the Palestinian democracy is frustratingly identical with the type of democracy already existing in another Arab country or even worse. Anarchy is the order of the day. Armed gangs devoid of any responsible political ideology roam about the towns and countryside plundering and murdering people and hijacking foreigners.
The entire society will have to pay for the lawlessness of a few. The price is huge, as the feuding groups thriving in lawlessness will, undoubtedly frighten away investors. Only investments would generate jobs and guarantee the daily bread apart from creating a sense of security and self-respect for both the individual and society.
The Israeli hard-liners chuckle with delight at the present Palestinian crisis as it would simplify their task of portraying the Palestinians as a bunch of thugs incapable of controlling the armed gangs, let alone running a state.
One of the toughest problems the Palestinian Authority faces in its relations with various organizations is their brinkmanship or the tendency to take very extreme and uncompromising positions on vital issues. Such political maneuver can be seen throughout the region but in the case of Palestine this may prove more harmful. These groups cling to the dream of liberating all the land between the (Mediterranean) Sea and the (Jordan) River with no regard for practical realities. Every reasonable man knows that only adopting a balanced position based on available means and the ground realities could solve the Palestinian problem. No Palestinian has to be told that he has no weapons to match the enemy’s arsenal. On the other hand he possesses a far superior weapon but of a different kind. It is the moral strength of the victim of gross injustice. He can bring to the notice of the world the horrendous deprivation of his rights. Unfortunately this weapon loses its striking power if he resorts to extreme positions leading to lawlessness in the land under the Palestinian control and elsewhere. The international sympathy for the just cause of Palestinians will simply evaporate if they do not conduct themselves in a reasonable manner.
A Palestinian youth carrying weapon in the streets of Gaza or the West Bank towns feels that he is free from all oppression. But it is only when he comes face to face with the realities he realizes the need to subordinate his personal freedom to the greater freedom of the nation.
In the run-up to the elections the various parties are planning their election strategies without genuine concern for the basic issues.
Any dependence on other Arabs should be to boost the Palestinian morale with the required diplomatic support and perhaps with material assistance. Seeking or expecting any help beyond this is unreasonable. The encouragement and help from Israeli organizations striving to end the occupation are, however, welcome. Losing the support from such organizations will, no doubt, be a severe blow to the liberation movement. The history of freedom struggles the world over is replete with some forces amidst the occupiers coming out to help the liberation movements in colonies. Examples can be seen in the history of America, Algeria and Vietnam. The Arabs and Palestinians within Israel, despite the limitations imposed on them, have also been very active in supporting the Palestinian cause.
By stepping up their attacks on civilians and other acts of lawlessness, some Palestinians groups are only playing into the hands of their enemies who are striving to suppress the freedom struggle by sticking the label of terrorism on it.
The upcoming Palestinian elections, to be followed by Israeli general elections, are very important. The Palestinian performance in the elections will, undoubtedly, influence the preferences of the Israeli voters in choosing their leaders.
The elections in Palestine will also determine the nature of regional and international support for the cause. But the pre-election indications are not very encouraging. Fatah, the moderate liberation movement, is riddled with internal squabbles and divided into various groups without a will to take a uniform decision. Others such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad and lesser parties adopt uncompromising and extreme positions on Israel thinking this will attract more votes. Of course they get support from some outsiders safely away from all danger.
Palestine in its run up to the polls also faces the dilemma of harmonizing the need to liberate the land with civilian freedom. Some people believe the liberation means taking a position of brinkmanship and some others hold the view that it means denying the freedom of expression.
A large share of the contemporary Arab problems originated from Palestine and a good part of its solutions lies in the emergence of a democratic Palestinian leadership capable of striking a balance between what is ideal and what is possible. The whole region is eagerly awaiting the election results.
