Position Paper regarding the tragic events in the OPT
Agricultural Development Association (PARC)
June 17, 2007
PARC is extremely sad and
outrageous at the latest deadly violence and bloody clashes
between the two Palestinian factions in Gaza; Fatah and Hamas.
More than six hundred Palestinians including civilians, mainly
women and children, were killed and wounded. And a scene of
full-scale chaos and looting the Palestinian institutions and
private properties prevails in vigorous violation of the
Palestinian moral values and principles which prohibit fighting
among the brothers.
In our
opinion, what happened in Gaza was a disgusting and appalling
crime against the innocent civilians that both factions have to
be held responsible for. We strongly condemn the irresponsible
behavior of both factions that has placed the Palestinian
national project in immense jeopardy.
On top of that, we are over
concerned about the coming period especially after Hamas seized
control in Gaza and President Mahmoud Abbas announced the state
of emergency and the formation of a Palestinian national
Authority’s emergency government in a “preemptive” reaction.
This may result in having two governments in the already
separate parts of the Palestinian territories. This will
eventually complete Israel’s process started since Oslo to
disintegrate the OPT and create two separate entities. As such,
the longed for Palestinian independent state with territorial
continuity will turn to an illusion.
We admit that these tragic events are the
direct and indirect consequences of the Israeli long- standing
policy of siege and closure which led to high rocketing poverty
and unemployment rates as well as devastated trading
opportunities since Israel
has strictly limited Palestinian travel between Gaza and the
West Bank in the 1990s.
The
international community is also blamed for exacerbating the
Palestinians’ distress and agony by the imposition of the
political sanctions and economic blockade on our people since
2006.
Hamas was
outrageous at the behavior of the international community which
lifted legitimacy and immunity off the democratically elected
government and terminated its four year term of rule. Hamas
described this as an offensive coup against its government. This
thing stimulated more anger and feeling of retaliation among
their brigades turning them to an incendiary bomb which
eventually exploded against their own people.
We also admit that the state of disgusting corruption in the
Palestinian institutions and the lack of measures to remedy this
situation by introducing substantial reforms has also generated
tension and hostilities among the various sectors of the people
particularly between the elite PNA and factions’ leaderships and
the poor. Moreover, the mutual accusation between the two
factions of being agents manipulated by foreign policies and
interests, and the huge bi-polarization of the Palestinian
society has aggravated and complicated the internal arena and as
a result Palestinian people lost hope and trust in their
political leadership. In brief, external and internal factors
have turned the Palestinians to a pressure saucepan.
Undoubtedly,
these bloody events will have long term reflection on every
aspect of the people's life on one hand, and on the future of
the Palestinian cause on the other. For five consecutive days,
people in Gaza were confined to their homes. Employees were
unable to reach their work places. Vital services and projects
provided by international and local organizations were halted
because of lack of security and inability to reach their offices
as the roads were broken up by militias' barricades and by
sporadic shootings. In this regard, we strongly condemn the
murdering of two UNRWA's personnel while trying to carry out
their job. Consequently, UNRWA halted their relief operations in
Gaza. Fortunately, UNRWA decided later on to resume their
operations to prevent a humanitarian crisis from happening.
Further on, no
one can predict the upcoming situation, and its ramification on
the whole Strip and on the future of the secular civil society
organizations and political parties. No one can tell what
measures and policies will Hamas adopt in Gaza if it remains
under its full control. What will happen to the previous
achievements in regard to the individual and public freedoms as
well as women's rights under the state of emergency and the
control of Hamas.
What we can say
is that we are over concerned concerning four matters: (1) the
intense bi-polarization and militarization of the Palestinian
society, (2) the de facto two governments for the Palestinian
people under occupation, (3) the prolongation of the state of
emergency by PNA in the West Bank and overtaking power by Hamas
in Gaza Strip, and (4) a wide-scale humanitarian crisis in
Gaza Strip if Israel implements its threats to cut off vital
services and supplies such as electricity, oil and water.
Based on our
analysis and concerns, we wish to put the following
recommendations:
-
The resumption of the international aid to the Palestinian
people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. And the halt of the
imposed unjust blockade.
-
These incidents should not deter the international NGOs and
solidarity movements from continuing their political and
financial support to the Palestinian people through their
partners and counterpart Palestinian organizations. This
crisis should encourage more and intensive cooperation
between the international community and the Palestinian
people.
-
The Palestinian political parties have to formulate a
position that is independent from the two factions and
reactivate their role in resolving this crisis. They have to
do their utmost effort to regain the trust of the
Palestinian street through introducing serious reforms in
their parties and exerting pressure on the PNA to remedy the
state of corruption. Now, it is time to pronounce a clear
cut position supported by practical measures against
militarization and polarization. It is time to embark on
nation building process of a real secular, democratic and
modern state based on civil laws.
-
The Palestinian NGOs should also assume their role in
fostering sustainable development process, reviewing their
policies and agendas, and building more flexible and
democratic structures and means that can encourage critical
thinking, openness, and transparency. As such, they can
maximize their influence among their target communities and
grassroots, which they serve on one hand, and build a public
opinion supportive of a democratic and secular state on the
other hand.
-
The international NGOs are requested to consolidate their
emergency interventions and projects so as to alleviate the
suffering of the Palestinian people particularly in Gaza.
And to increase their financial support to local NGOs to
enable them meet the emergency situation resulted from the
long-standing Israeli and international siege.
Top
