Palestine experts see little hope for peace
By: Will Youmans - The Arab American News
Leading scholars on Palestinian affairs gathered in Washington, DC this week to discuss the direction of events since the Oslo peace process and its demise. The Palestine Center’s annual conference was entitled “The Palestine Question since Oslo: Current Options and Future Strategies.”
With more than 100 attendees, the event brought speakers from around the world. The panels looked at internal Palestinian politics, and regional, as well as international, dynamics. It closed with a discussion about future strategies.
The Palestine Center is the educational component of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. This foundation gives humanitarian and education grants to organizations working in Palestine or on public education about Palestine.
The Jerusalem Fund’s Chairman, Dr. Subhi Ali, introduced the keynote speaker at this year's conference, UC-Berkeley professor of history, Beshara Doumani. He charted the present course of Palestinian politics. He looked at the contemporary history of the post-Oslo era. The divisions between Fatah and Hamas, the Israeli intention to impose a unilateral solution, and the failure of the United States to take a stand against Israel are key themes defining today’s situation.
Dr. Doumani argued that Hizbullah’s defeat of Israel marked a noted regional development. Along with the turmoil in Iraq, Israeli and American attacks are “yielding less dividends.”
Professor Doumani also put the Oslo period in historical perspective. He sees patterns. External powers put structural constraints on the Palestinians. He called these constraints “iron laws.” They stem from the asymmetry of power between Israel and the Palestinians.
Palestinians are still struggling with representation. Who speaks for the Palestinians, Dr. Doumani charges, is still an open question. There is no body that represents the three segments of the Palestinian population, the occupied territories, the refugees, and those with Israeli citizenship.
Lastly, Dr. Doumani asserted that “the Palestinian community in the United States has a special role to play.” He stated, “we have resources, we have capital and we are in a strategic position” in this country. He contemplated the need to unite the different segments of the Palestinian-American population. For example, he wants to bring together salaried professionals and small business owners. Also, different generations should work together.
Dr. Lisa Taraki, a professor at Birzeit University, discussed changes within Palestinian society. The influx of political elite and the onslaught of economic depression have made Palestine a class conscious place. The gap between rich and poor is increasingly marked by material displays of wealth.
Khaled Hroub, an expert on Hamas, talked about the regional dynamics as they impact Palestine. He saw Abu Mazen and Fatah’s leadership as allying with the “moderate,” or pro-American, states in the region. Hamas, on the other hand, is aligned with resistance.
The panel on the international arena looked at America’s role, European foreign policy, the United Nations, and the impact of the global media. The panel noted an alignment of the European and United Nations positions closer to that of the United States. This means these institutions are moving even closer to America’s unquestioned support for Israel. This, when combined with a global media incapable of telling the Palestinian story, offers little hope in the way of a meaningful negotiated settlement.
In the session on future strategies, several of the speakers agreed that the Palestinian Authority’s mandate collapsed and that the body should dissolve. It was a product of the Oslo peace process. Yet, it has outlasted its reason for existing. Under its leadership, Palestinians have only become worse off. They live under more checkpoints, more direct and indirect rule from Israel, and now face a gigantic apartheid wall the PA was incapable of preventing.
The real reason the PA should no longer exist, they argued, is that it provides a distraction from Israeli crimes. Every time Israel commits an egregious act, violates Palestinian rights, or stalls in implementing any obligations, Israel and the United States find some way to pin blame on the PA. It has become a powerless whipping boy that Israel and the United States prop up in order to avoid accountability
Leading scholars on Palestinian affairs gathered in Washington, DC this week to discuss the direction of events since the Oslo peace process and its demise. The Palestine Center’s annual conference was entitled “The Palestine Question since Oslo: Current Options and Future Strategies.”
With more than 100 attendees, the event brought speakers from around the world. The panels looked at internal Palestinian politics, and regional, as well as international, dynamics. It closed with a discussion about future strategies.
The Palestine Center is the educational component of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. This foundation gives humanitarian and education grants to organizations working in Palestine or on public education about Palestine.
The Jerusalem Fund’s Chairman, Dr. Subhi Ali, introduced the keynote speaker at this year's conference, UC-Berkeley professor of history, Beshara Doumani. He charted the present course of Palestinian politics. He looked at the contemporary history of the post-Oslo era. The divisions between Fatah and Hamas, the Israeli intention to impose a unilateral solution, and the failure of the United States to take a stand against Israel are key themes defining today’s situation.
Dr. Doumani argued that Hizbullah’s defeat of Israel marked a noted regional development. Along with the turmoil in Iraq, Israeli and American attacks are “yielding less dividends.”
Professor Doumani also put the Oslo period in historical perspective. He sees patterns. External powers put structural constraints on the Palestinians. He called these constraints “iron laws.” They stem from the asymmetry of power between Israel and the Palestinians.
Palestinians are still struggling with representation. Who speaks for the Palestinians, Dr. Doumani charges, is still an open question. There is no body that represents the three segments of the Palestinian population, the occupied territories, the refugees, and those with Israeli citizenship.
Lastly, Dr. Doumani asserted that “the Palestinian community in the United States has a special role to play.” He stated, “we have resources, we have capital and we are in a strategic position” in this country. He contemplated the need to unite the different segments of the Palestinian-American population. For example, he wants to bring together salaried professionals and small business owners. Also, different generations should work together.
Dr. Lisa Taraki, a professor at Birzeit University, discussed changes within Palestinian society. The influx of political elite and the onslaught of economic depression have made Palestine a class conscious place. The gap between rich and poor is increasingly marked by material displays of wealth.
Khaled Hroub, an expert on Hamas, talked about the regional dynamics as they impact Palestine. He saw Abu Mazen and Fatah’s leadership as allying with the “moderate,” or pro-American, states in the region. Hamas, on the other hand, is aligned with resistance.
The panel on the international arena looked at America’s role, European foreign policy, the United Nations, and the impact of the global media. The panel noted an alignment of the European and United Nations positions closer to that of the United States. This means these institutions are moving even closer to America’s unquestioned support for Israel. This, when combined with a global media incapable of telling the Palestinian story, offers little hope in the way of a meaningful negotiated settlement.
In the session on future strategies, several of the speakers agreed that the Palestinian Authority’s mandate collapsed and that the body should dissolve. It was a product of the Oslo peace process. Yet, it has outlasted its reason for existing. Under its leadership, Palestinians have only become worse off. They live under more checkpoints, more direct and indirect rule from Israel, and now face a gigantic apartheid wall the PA was incapable of preventing.
The real reason the PA should no longer exist, they argued, is that it provides a distraction from Israeli crimes. Every time Israel commits an egregious act, violates Palestinian rights, or stalls in implementing any obligations, Israel and the United States find some way to pin blame on the PA. It has become a powerless whipping boy that Israel and the United States prop up in order to avoid accountability
posted by AnaMeli at 8:18 PM
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