"Occupation can only happen with the complicity of the occupied." The man's hands were gesticulating wildly. "You can think in this way for oppression in general."
I nodded as I tried to comprehend these last two sentences. I long ago learned that the "Palestinian Perspective" was a myth -- on most issues, there are twice as many "Palestinian Perspectives" as Palestinians. And yet, in trying to understand the Roadmap initiative currently being passed around like some cheap whore, I noticed that people seemed to generally agree. Their agreement came from a basic analysis of three things: intention, novelty, and historical precedent.
Islamically, the concept of "intention" is such that if one has good intentions, but is unable to follow-up on them, credit is given for at least having the proper intention. This belief is quite universal, and easily evidenced by sayings like "it's the thought that counts"..
Realistically, we cannot know the intentions of the parties (Israelis, Palestinians and Americans) involved at this exact moment in time. One is tempted to do point-analysis of these things. So, we look at statements like "I want a contiguous Palestinian state" and "We're going to dismantle illegal outposts" by Sharon and think "Damn.. the man is serious!" Leaving aside Sharon's friends and foes in government, has Sharon changed his mind?
Sharon was the Defence minister when Israel invaded Lebanon and killed 14 000 civilians in Beirut alone in a matter of months, including the infamous massacres of Sabra and Shatila [ link | link ] (in which I lost family). Sharon was found indirectly responsible by a commission set up after the whole world cried bloody murder (it was). Sharon was basically run out of politics in the early 80s because of the fallout. But that's the beauty of politics, isn't it? Years later, in September of 2000, Sharon visited Masjid Al-Aqsa (the holiest Muslim site in Palestine, and 3rd holiest in Islam) with a massive and intimidating police presence. Sharon's visit was a spark in the powderkeg of Palestinian resentment at the failure of the Oslo peace accords, and helped trigger the second Palestinian Intifada, which bears the name of its origin: Al-Aqsa Intifada. Since then, Sharon, his right-wing Likud party, and the state of Israel have launched several massive offensives that did not discriminate between civilians and militants. I witnessed some of the brutality of these offensives last year in my time in the occupied territories. Such offensives are still on-going in the Gaza Strip and in many other parts of the occupied territories.
Has Sharon changed? Has he softened with age? Is he ready to move on? Maybe.
One of the very "heartening" things about this round of negotiations is that Arafat is finally not at the negotiation table. Instead, Abu Mazen is. Two parties pushed for Abu Mazen: 1. The Americans. 2. The Israelis. One has to wonder why. Was it that Abu Mazen didn't have blood on his hands? Is it that Abu Mazen is a clean, honest guy? Absolutely not. He is at least as despicable as Arafat, as ready to sell out the Palestinian people over whom he presumes to govern, and has a rich history of corruption. Electronic Intifada, a site assembled by a team of Israelis and Palestinians, has launched several investigations of Abu Mazen that have resulted in scathing criticism of his record on corruption.
Abu Mazen is completely out of touch with the Palestinian people. Where they seek the right of return of six million refugees, Abu Mazen has tacitly dismissed it. Where the Palestinians continue a legitimate armed struggle against an illegal occupation, Abu Mazen has made the self-same struggle tantamount to terrorism, wholeheartedly condemning it. There seems no purpose for the roadmap but to restore the Israeli economy, maintain the captive Palestinian market and workforce, and allow the international community to sleep a little bit easier.
"This is not peace. This is surrender. This is selling out every person who has been killed in their homes, and every person who will be killed". So closed a Palestinian who I engaged on the Roadmap earlier today. He took no joy in such a pronouncement. In his eyes, I saw only the pain of a man who knew that this was not nearly the end.
tarek : )
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