More than 500 Palestinians have died at the hands of Israeli forces since July. Unemployment is rife, hospitals are crying out for supplies and many families are living below the poverty line with children suffering from malnutrition. Their frustration and hopelessness is so dire that instead of holding together in the face of a common enemy, they have turned against one another. This has to be one of the saddest periods during the long history of this proud and tenacious people.
It’s hardly surprising, though. This is exactly what Western governments planned to happen when they rejected the democratically elected Hamas-led government by freezing its funds and treating it as a pariah. Their aim was to topple Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah or twist his arm until he renounced his party’s doctrine and fell-in with Israeli demands.
They banked on Palestinian support for Hamas dwindling once people were driven to the edge of the abyss by an absence of security, freedom, jobs and even food. This is exactly what’s happened with 48 percent now backing the call of President Mahmoud Abbas for early elections. It was a cold and cruel calculation on the part of Western powers.
The problem is 47 percent still support Hamas and so the Palestinians are split right down the middle; a recipe for civil war. Indeed, Haniyah has accused Abbas of leading the country to civil war and vows not to participate in any precipitant “illegal” ballot.
Last Friday, Haniyah’s convoy was fired upon resulting in the death of one of his bodyguards and causing injury to his son.
On Sunday, militants launched mortar shells at the office of President Abbas while the motorcade of the Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar came under fire as it sped through Gaza.
Earlier that week, three children of an intelligence officer affiliated with Fatah were murdered in cold blood. It all goes to highlight the late Yasser Arafat’s unique ability to glue all Palestinian factions together.
Hamas and Fatah have since agreed to a cease-fire but with Abbas, backed by the US and Britain, pushing for a change of government, it’s unlikely to hold.
It doesn’t help either that US Secretary-of-State Condoleezza Rice plans to ask Congress for tens of millions of dollars destined to boost the security apparatus of President Abbas. So, no money from the US to pay the salaries of 160,000 civil servants but plenty for guns with which to wage civil war.
On Sunday, Tony Blair flew to Jerusalem as battles raged in Gaza. Like Condoleezza Rice, he offered his full support for President Abbas in his desire to dissolve the government and force early elections. Blair was criticized by moderate Palestinian parliamentarians for publicly taking sides in what is supposed to be an internal matter. Furthermore, Palestinian lawmakers say such a move would fly in the face of the Palestinian Constitution as it now stands.
The other alternative is the formation of a government of national unity that would include representatives from Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian parties. This idea has been championed by Abbas but rejected by Haniyah, who would be required to step down as prime minister if the plan went ahead.
Abbas believes a united government headed by him would encourage the US and the EU to loosen the shackles on international aid and would be a government with which Israel could deal. But once again there are no guarantees that this would be the case since Hamas has been labeled “terrorist” by most Western countries and it’s likely that any Palestinian government that includes Hamas members would be ostracized.
So what’s the answer?
There is no magic wand but I believe a government of National Unity would be a lesser evil. Hamas can attempt to hold on to power in the face of growing opposition but that could lead to all out civil conflict. Early elections may sound a suitable option but what if Hamas wins again? Would the Palestinians then be back at square one? A unity government would at least bring leaders, parties and factions together and provide a platform for close cooperation.
It’s understandable that this might be a bitter pill for Hamas to swallow, which successfully fought last January’s elections fair and square. Since then, they have been blocked from doing an effective job at every turn and it’s through no fault of theirs that the territory under their control is blighted by poverty and chaos. A power-sharing deal would also be tantamount to acknowledging the long arm of Israeli influence that runs through Washington.
But principles won’t feed children nor will they provide jobs or keep people safe. The Palestinians don’t have the luxury of holding out indefinitely waiting for justice or something approaching it. A unity government is certainly no panacea but it might work if viewed in pragmatic terms as the best hope in town.
Whether they like it or not Hamas and Fatah need one another. Switching to warrior mode is bad news for everyone with the exception perhaps of Israel that would like nothing better than to see the West Bank and Gaza weakened, fractured and torn.
Let’s not give them the satisfaction of seeing Palestinians killing each other. Let’s not give them the opportunity to say there’s no partner for peace and let’s remind the Palestinian people of their priority: A viable Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. That’s the way forward and on the day they reach their destination, which they surely will, it must be without the blood of their brothers and sisters on their own hands.
