United in Disunity
Well, it's done, although no one can hazard a guess that this represents a permanent geographic and political schism. On balance, it's just possible that the separation between Hamas and Fatah will present a needed opportunity for Israel and the Palestinians to finally arrive at a workable agreement for peace and security resulting in two separate neighbour-states.
That's all well and good for the West Bank and the disposition of its population's ambitions to statehood.
But it leaves Gaza the festering sore it has always been, and more so, governed by Islamist Hamas, defiantly aggressive and determined to continue its war of attrition with Israel. Until death does it in. Or it accepts the feasibility of compromise. Gazans with their tradition of tribal and clan enmities, its closer adherence to Islam, and eschewing of Western influence, may find itself accepting of Hamas rule, but it will gain nothing in economic advancement under a continued embargo of foreign aid.
What's festering now will become outright gangrenous and may require amputation. Alone, embattled, shunned and poverty-stricken. An unlikely prescription for fulfilment or future advancement as a society, as a culture, as an economic and political entity. But they will be secure in their faith in Allah.
Relations between West Bank and Gaza Palestinians appear to be like the country cousin and the urbane city dweller, the educated and the uneducated, the practical and the incapacitated. Secular Palestinians likely feel little companionability with their more religious counterparts. But surely even they must feel some compassion for the plight of Gaza Palestinians, bereft of hope for the future.
Beyond the sterility of a fundamentalist Hamas Islamist governance. One which will continue to deny the settling effects of accommodation with a neighbour, itself resulting in international disinterest in providing needed funding, condemning Gazans to a continuation of their lives of deprivation. But then material goods aren't everything, one supposes.
The choice, sad though it may be, may become slight resources for future fulfilment and social progress, along with economic stability. Do they have a choice? Do they deliberately choose to disempower women and eschew opportunities for a good education for their young in favour of total obedience to Allah? Is this what Allah, indeed, demands of them?
"Security of the citizen is the priority on the basis of the sovereignty of the law", intones Salam Fayyed, economist-cum-prime minister of the Palestinian Authority. Israel says it can do business with the new Fatah-led government of the PA. As does the United States, the European Union, and Canada. Among others.
Ban Ki Moon would be happiest if everyone behaved and got along with everyone else. Disunity is, however, the order of the day.
Two enclaves, two adversaries, one 'occupier' willing to take on the simple mantle of neighbour-state.
That's all well and good for the West Bank and the disposition of its population's ambitions to statehood.
But it leaves Gaza the festering sore it has always been, and more so, governed by Islamist Hamas, defiantly aggressive and determined to continue its war of attrition with Israel. Until death does it in. Or it accepts the feasibility of compromise. Gazans with their tradition of tribal and clan enmities, its closer adherence to Islam, and eschewing of Western influence, may find itself accepting of Hamas rule, but it will gain nothing in economic advancement under a continued embargo of foreign aid.
What's festering now will become outright gangrenous and may require amputation. Alone, embattled, shunned and poverty-stricken. An unlikely prescription for fulfilment or future advancement as a society, as a culture, as an economic and political entity. But they will be secure in their faith in Allah.
Relations between West Bank and Gaza Palestinians appear to be like the country cousin and the urbane city dweller, the educated and the uneducated, the practical and the incapacitated. Secular Palestinians likely feel little companionability with their more religious counterparts. But surely even they must feel some compassion for the plight of Gaza Palestinians, bereft of hope for the future.
Beyond the sterility of a fundamentalist Hamas Islamist governance. One which will continue to deny the settling effects of accommodation with a neighbour, itself resulting in international disinterest in providing needed funding, condemning Gazans to a continuation of their lives of deprivation. But then material goods aren't everything, one supposes.
The choice, sad though it may be, may become slight resources for future fulfilment and social progress, along with economic stability. Do they have a choice? Do they deliberately choose to disempower women and eschew opportunities for a good education for their young in favour of total obedience to Allah? Is this what Allah, indeed, demands of them?
"Security of the citizen is the priority on the basis of the sovereignty of the law", intones Salam Fayyed, economist-cum-prime minister of the Palestinian Authority. Israel says it can do business with the new Fatah-led government of the PA. As does the United States, the European Union, and Canada. Among others.
Ban Ki Moon would be happiest if everyone behaved and got along with everyone else. Disunity is, however, the order of the day.
Two enclaves, two adversaries, one 'occupier' willing to take on the simple mantle of neighbour-state.
posted by Pieface | 6:09 PM
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