Two new eras have been ushered into Palestine, both appearing dramatically on one day and both of immense political and economic significance. The opening of the Rafah crossing marks one of the most dramatic improvements ever witnessed in the daily lives of Palestinians. The West Bank also saw a milestone: The veterans of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ ruling Fatah movement were swept aside by younger activists in Fatah’s first primary, signaling a change of generations and the rise of jailed uprising leader Marwan Barghouti.
For fenced-in Gazans, the opening of the border between Gaza and Egypt means that for the first time in almost 40 years they have a border they control. They need no longer submit to Israeli security checks and questioning which often caused delays of hours or days, if they were allowed out at all. The border is not completely managed by Palestinians. Israeli forces will continue video observation from a nearby base and retain control over the movement of all goods and trade in and out of Gaza. But Israel will not have a veto over travel which makes the situation markedly different. Because Gaza has no seaport and Israel has not agreed to allow its airport to reopen, the Rafah border becomes Gaza’s only direct path and link to the world beyond. The Israelis opposed the reopening until US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice secured their consent during her visit to the region earlier this month.
The Fatah primary was, on the other hand, completely made in Palestine. The fact that Fatah’s so-called young guard, led by Barghouti, swept West Bank primaries in January’s Parliament elections affirms his status as the most popular Fatah politician and possible Abbas successor. Just as important though was the step taken by Abbas to block demands by Fatah old-timers to be assigned secure spots on the slate. It was a clear acknowledgement from Abbas that the time has come for the younger activists who had long pushed for a greater say to start managing what has for many years been the mismanagement of Palestinian affairs.
Barghouti won 34,000 out of 40,000 votes, but he will remain where he is, in an Israeli jail serving five life sentences for his alleged involvement in attacks that killed five Israelis. But as attested by the vote, Barghouti continues to play an important role as a political figure even in prison and could end up as a symbol of Palestinian resistance much as Nelson Mandela symbolizes the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
For now there is no such symbolism on the ground in Gaza. The deal is real as thousands crossed Rafah in a smooth Saturday debut. Beginning in mid-December, Palestinians will also be able to travel between the West Bank and Gaza for the first time in five years. Construction is also set to begin on a Gaza seaport, and the United States has urged Israel to reach a quick agreement with the Palestinians on reopening Gaza’s international airport. Palestinians are therefore slowly acquiring all the prerogatives of a sovereign people, of a future state and the full freedom they want and which they deserve completely.
