How Should The Inter-Palestinian Dispute Be Addressed? By Ali Al-Hail

How Should The Inter-Palestinian Dispute Be Addressed?

By Ali Al-Hail

Al-Jazeerah, December 23, 2006

In order to get hold of a coherent picture to the inter-Palestinian factional row, one has to deal with it in view of a wider inter-Middle Eastern factional rows. Long before Islamic Resistance Movement (shortened to Hamas), was voted to govern on January 25th, 2006 there have, since 2002 been clashes between Hamas and Fateh. This development has been a reflection of 9\11 aftermath. Since Hamas has predominantly, been guided by Islamic propensity, it was classified by the Bush administration as a terror organization. So were almost entirely, all Islamic predispositions throughout the Middle East, and beyond. Thus, as are the cases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and elsewhere, Hamas has since 9\11 been focused on by US-instructed internal forces, to have it ended.

When the Bush administration, as a result of 9\11 called on Middle Eastern, and Muslim counties to install democracy apparently, up to the Bush administration's criteria Hamas, knowing its increasing popularity inside Palestinian lands, took up the challenge. On January 25th, 2006 Hamas won the election. International observers headed by former US president, Jimmy Carter applauded the outcome, as one of the cleanest ballots in the region. Accordingly, Fateh that has primarily, been the first Palestinian movement to lead the military struggle against Israel as early, as 1965, felt loosing ground.

Fateh which had and still has the Palestinian Authority presidency, fearing Palestinian street couldn't dare to hijack Hamas victory. However, it had presumably, worked with external forces to have Hamas victory aborted gradually. Otherwise, the PA, toped by Fateh's secular leaders could've followed the Algerian precedent. When the army incited by mainly, France had the Islamic Salvation Front polls of January 1992 terminated. This step got Algeria into a bloody, and severe war since then. In the same vein, analysts predict if Fateh-Israel-US-EU keep putting pressures on Hamas democratic freely, elected government, a civil war could erupt particularly, bearing in mind that, majority of Palestinians entitled to vote, gave their votes to Hamas. Naturally, by no mean, could they stay aloof, while their choice was scattered over. They would be obliged to defend their preference i.e., Hamas government.

Despite diplomatic teamwork with Hamas freely, elected government, Mahmoud Abbas, and other Fattah's secular anti-Hamas chiefs joined in with Israel, US, and the EU and boycotted Hamas government. As a matter of fact, this action was broadly, perceived as a collective punishment inflicted unfairly, upon all Palestinians, since the majority of voters had nominated Hamas. The result has been a drastic and further deterioration to Palestinian daily, lives. World-wide, the US and the EU credibility has conceivably, been viewed as collapsing as a role-model standing before the World for democracy, and human rights. Especially, with the 4th Geneva convention, prohibiting a collective punishment.

Israel has of course, benefiting from both internal, external factors and an open green light from the US, the EU, and oddly, from the PA been since Hamas came to office hitting at Hamas to wipe out its power. The PA has since been watching over, awaiting Hamas to crash under Israel's heavy military machine.

To worsen the situation further, last week, Mahmoud Abbas called for early elections. The aim was for sure, to shoot Hamas with the last bullet right in the foot, after all attempts had failed to finish Hamas freely, elected government.

Yesterday (December 21st ), Former president Carter, who supervised the Palestinian elections was reported to have said that, early elections would exacerbate further the situation between Hamas and Fateh. Carter has lately, been highly, critical of Israel, and similarly, critical of an absence in the US of a voice, capable of criticizing Israel for its brutality against Palestinian civilians.

Many believe that, calling for early elections by the PA president was imposed upon him by anti-Hamas forces. Hadn't not stopped, it could lead to an overt civil war between both factions. Additionally, it seems that, Olmert, the Israeli PM stopped his army's incursion in a series of an endless number and names of operations, on November 26th, 2006 against Hama in Gaza, leaving the mission to be accomplished by Israel-US-EU 'alleged' agent i.e., the PA, according to Ayman El-Dawahiri, the second man in command in Al-Qaeda. Israel-US-EU have since sanctioning Hamas on January 25th, 2006, been striving to see a civil war between Hamas and Fateh. Today (December 21st ) Israel has further fuelled this possibility, seemingly, by announcing releasing Palestinian taxes momey, and paying it off to the PA's Mamoud Abbas. This decision by Israel has been viewed as provocative to Hamas freely, elected government. This provocation reinforced itself yet again, in another unfortunate gun battle virtually, a day due to the fragile truce.

By the dawn of December 22nd renewed regrettable clash between the two rivals, Hamas and Fateh, had resulted in killing two Palestinians and injuring many more. One presumes, as do many that, apart from other reasons, these clashes reflect an increasing frustration of all resistance factions, much less Fateh and Hamas, because of their incompatibility with the Israeli military might. Feeling the biting of the siege, Hamas leaders taking advantage of Israel's periodical opening Rafah's border which is Gaza's entrance into and way out of Egypt, started leaving for Arab Gulf states, Jordan, Syria and Iran, where Hamas reputation is unquestionable collecting financial donations for Palestinians. For example, when the Palestinian PM visited Qatar for attending the 15th Asian games, the Emir of the State himself, Hamad Bin Khalifa had received him at the airport, along with his own PM, breaking, as such the usual protocol. News report on one hand, perceived such an initiative as a defiance on the Emir's part to the Israeli-U.S.-EU boycott to the Hamas freely, elected government. More significantly, manifesting apparently, a resentment to the policy of fear, and dominance, the Bush administration has systematically, and desperately, attempted to compel Arab states to, since the toppling of Saddam's regime in Iraq. While on the other hand, the Emir obviously, wanted to send a clear message to the U.S. which is, though Qatar harbors reputably, the largest U.S. military base in the entire Middle East, Qatar by no means, can stay aloof while Palestinians are under siege, and their children being slaughtered, and starved. Additionally, since there's a PM in Qatar, there was conceivably, another noteworthy indication from the Emir, receiving the Palestinian Hamas-MP which is, to Qatar, and to the entire Arab World at least, Hamas freely, elected government, has been weighed as a row-model to Qatar in particular, since its Emir, strives to install democracy in Qatar, despite tribal odds. This Qatari convention was further, reinforced by the Emir's decision to payoff salaries, and wages of more than 60,000 Palestinian employees in the educational, and health fields. The Qatari 'disobedience' to the Israeli-U.S. EU embargo imposed upon Palestinians since January 25th, as Hamas was voted to office, had even extended far more, by the Palestinian PM alongside with the Emir of Qatar inaugurating the Endowment Tower for Palestinian schools in the West Bay, the new site of the Qatari capital, Doha. Having said that, After Qatari Foreign Minister, Hamad Bin Jasim met Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. Secretary of State in Washington last week, the Qatari money could change its route instead of going to Gaza directly, to payoff Palestinian teachers, and those in the health field, it could go to the Arab league in Cairo. Either Egypt, or the PA presumably, influence by Israel-US-EU-PA boycotters of Hamas would under excuses to fund terror, confiscate the money from a Hamas minister, upon his return. This means neither, would the Qatari money, nor would the by hand-carried donations reach the needy Palestinians.

The latest drama in this regard, was the return of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas-Palestinian Prime Minister from Qatar, Syria, and Iran last week with 25 million dollars cash that aggravated sentiments on both sides. The Egyptian government seized the money, and later decided to deposit it into an Arab League account.

Rumors and speculations began to flow about US instructions in this regard. While on the subject, yesterday (December 21st ) Egypt had declared that, it would seize any amount of cash for Hamas from its side of border at Rafah.

Such as these measurements, tend to put the Egyptian government in an embarrassing situation before its people. Many in Egypt, as do other in the Arab World question why did not Egypt that, likes to flux its muscles against besieged Hamas, while it did nothing to retaliate against Israel for killing more than 3 Egyptian soldiers on its border with Rafah \ Gaza, and injuring many more earlier this year by Israel.

The PA allegedly, under mohammed Da'hlan's supervision plotted the Hamas-Palestinian Prime Minister, while entering Gaza at the crossing point at Rafah. His son was injured, one of his aids had been killed, and 90 others were slightly, wounded.

Observers viewed the prevalence, as a beginning of a potential civil war. Clashes between Fateh and Hamas gunmen continued in the aftermath of the Rafah's plot. Two policemen had been killed, and more than 11 were wounded in the clashes. Such as these incidents are always viewed by Palestinians, and Arab\Muslim streets as shameful.

Only, on December 19th, after purportedly, a number of wise men from Fattah intervened to spoil apparently, the Israeli-US-EU-Da'halan's group pleasure of seeing Palestinians kill more Palestinians. As mentioned earlier a fragile truce was declared, but was suspected to hold on, and at the time of writing (December 22nd the situation is extremely, shaky. The joint meeting between Palestinian factions, including Hamas in Damascus, Syria with Farooq El-Kaddoumi, Fateh's head of Political wing in exile, had, according to news media contributed to the truce.

However, the active presence of Fateh chiefs such as, Da'hlan and his 'disciples' are suspected to be 'hired agents' by Israel-US-EU and others to help ignite a civil war. The aim is to deactivate Hamas. So, what Israel wasn't incapable to do, despite its military upper hand, since the rise of Hamas in December 1978, Fateh is expected to do the job on behalf of Israel.

Palestinians, as well as Iraqis, Lebanese, Sudanese and others in the Middle East and Muslim World, such as Afghanis, Iranians and Pakistanis are full aware of the "Innovative Chaos" Bush administration policy for the Middle East. Therefore, sporadic civil wars here and there in the Middle East are signs of this policy. Nevertheless, there have been attempts by shrewd leaders, who could realize the long-term strategies of Israel-US-EU in the Middle East to stop any beginning of a potential civil war from spreading to a breaking point.

To conclude; Palestinian dramatic developments, exploded lately, are directly, linked to other developments in the Middle East. A government of national unity upon which Hamas agreed, and lavishly, compromised for the interest of all Palestinian, seems to be the only, possible exit out of this inter-Palestinian fatal disagreement. Attempts by Abbas, the PA president to call for early elections, avoiding the national unity government would, according to Carter and other observers lead to irresponsible consequences.

The resistance in Iraq against US-UK-led-coalition and government, the Taliban's tough fighting against US-led-NATO in Afghanistan, according to NATO Secretary-General, the crisis in Dafur, the anti-Israel-US-EU and anti-US-backed government opposition in Lebanon, the situation in Pakistan, al-Qaeda, the Iranian nuclear program, all in all are and have often, been influencing and influenced by Palestinian events. That's why earlier, was mentioned that, in isolation of understanding these occurrences, becomes almost, difficult to deal with the Palestinian question. The Turkey accession to EU, according to political theories cannot be either, separated from these developments in the Middle East.

Many argue, as does this writer that, the main factor upon which the EU has been fabricating an excuse after another, hindering Turkey from entering the EU is the Islamic factor. The fact that, the bulk of Turks are predominantly, Muslims, the fact that, Turkey is the only, state that, backs the Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the fact that, the majority of Turks support Palestinians.

Additionally, Turkey was until 1913 was the leader of the last Islamic Ottoman Khelapha (succession) Empire, and its alliance with Germany during WWI and the defeat it alongside with Germany inflicted upon the allies in 1915 in the battle for Gallipoli, was and wouldn't be forgotten. Especially, the Turkey, and Germany victory led to the Bolshevik Revolution. This happened because the British forces could not bring war supplies to their Russian allies through the Dardannelles and Bosphorus straits, the Russian front fell. According to historians this development was so significant outcome of Gallipoli battle.

Needless to say, the Soviet Union that, emerged out of the Bolshevik Revolution had given the US and Western Europe (the EU now) a big headache during the cold ward era. This is another matter upon which the EU wouldn't forgive Turkey for.

Hence; the Palestinian crisis is better comprehended in view of all these present and past events. After all, these developments in the Middle East, and in the Muslim World seem to complement and supplement each other. In other words; neglecting an issue amongst them wouldn't help understand the other related issues.

Professor, Dr. Ali Al-Hail, Professor of Mass Communication, Twice Fulbright Award Winner, Fulbright Visiting Scholar, and Board Member of AUSACE ASC, IABD, NEBAA, BEA, IMDA and EAJMC American Associations. Can be contacted via: pdaah90@hotmail.com

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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