When is Palestine's Arab Revolution?

[Jefferson23]

Although Palestine seems absent from the Arab Spring, the unjust occupation was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Larbi Sadiki Last Modified: 25 Jul 2011 13:25

'Parity of esteem' is the name of the game - and finding a way to overcome inter-communal conflict matters. It matters because the Arab state has failed three basic tests: provision of security, provision of welfare, and distribution of power.

However, as the literati carry on unpacking the still-unfolding Arab revolution, one dimension is missing from this ongoing investigation which must be highlighted: The Palestinian corollary.

The Arab revolution, the phenomenon, the puzzle

Observers have been hasty in dismissing Palestine from the Arab revolution. I argue here that it was one of many dynamics, definitely one of the final straws that broke the back of an already heavily weighed down camel.

Two betes noires of international politics loomed large, by negation and denial, in much of the early diagnosis of the Arab revolution.

Islamists and the Palestinian cause were written off as inconsequential in the Arab revolution. The first is of issue to secularists, Westernisers and many Westerners. The second is of concern for those concerned about the Arab revolution's implications for Israel.

remainder: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/201172175243269488.html

[hack89]

1. It would help them immensely if they overthrew Hamas - they do need their own Arab Spring. nt

[Ken Burch]

2. They would be much more likely to do that if the Israeli government didn't keep demanding they do it

You'd think that Bibi would realize that the worst way to get Palestinians to do something would be for him or his cabinet or their apologists to keep screaming that they do it.

If Bibi and the "pro-Israeli" posters here really wanted to see things change in the Palestinian leadership, they would accept that it's up to the Palestinians themselves to determine who their leaders should be.

[hack89]

3. When there are elections in the West Bank but not in Gaza

I think it will be very clear to the Palestinians what they need to do.

[Ken Burch]

4. Good point.

It serves no purpose, in the meantime, for Bibi and Co. to keep making these pompous, sanctimonious demands, demands based on an assumption that the Israeli government is intrinsically morally superior to Palestinians when it clearly no longer is.

[hack89]

5. They are clearly morally superior to Hamas

Hamas is a terrorist group.

[Ken Burch]

6. You could say that of a lot of the settlers.

And the larger point is, the Israeli side isn't entitled to act as if the whole thing is the Palestinians' fault and would just end if only the Palestinians were nicer about things. It wouldn't, because the settler movement and the Occupation have done as much harm, if not more, to Palestinians, as any amount of what gets called terrorism has done to Israelis.

It serves no purpose for the Israelis to keep screaming "we're better than you, we're better than you".

[hack89]

7. When the settlers start bombing buses and pizza parlors, let me know. nt

[Ken Burch]

8. A lot of them aren't far from it.

Neither side has moral superiority and it's pointless to try to assert it. The only way to end this conflict is to acknowledge that both sides have grievances, both have suffered in significant measure, and that both need to respect and listen to each other.

It can't be about being able to say "we won and they lost".

[hack89]

9. Hamas need to stop shooting rockets - only then can talks happen.

Don't care what happened in the past - if they are shooting rockets then then they are not serious about peace. Perhaps they should be the adults in room and make the first step.