Thinkpiece

Palestinian National Authority elections 2006

1 February 2006

www.redress.btinternet.co.uk/hlowie5.htm

Henry Lowie notes that Hamas’s electoral victory under Israeli occupation came despite Hamas’s failure to promote a strategy for the liberation of Palestine. He argues that Israel and the imperialists are making demands that belie their commitment to no Israeli concessions. He concludes that the Palestinian left has to rearm politically and rebuild its influence.

One cannot forget the Algerian election of 1991, won by the FIS [Front Islamique du Salut, or Islamic Salvation Front], overthrown by the military and leading to a prolonged civil war characterized by terrorism on all sides.

Despite the extensive Israeli disruption of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) legislative elections, Palestinians under Israeli occupation have shown that they are capable of conducting a disciplined election process to regulate their affairs. This is a source of pride for all Palestinians, and builds the people’s self-confidence.

Clearly, the people registered a popular vote against the Fatah establishment of Oslo and the PNA. Political corruption, self-serving politicians, poverty, unemployment, impotent and humiliating diplomacy ? the Palestinians under Israeli occupation want no more of this.

The Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas has devoted itself to grassroots organizing to serve the people and ease the people’s distress. It presented what appeared as an alternative message, and preferred working among the common people to hobnobbing with international envoys.

Hamas has stated clearly that negotiations with Israel are “not on its agenda”.

Hamas, in its own way, pursues a policy of “separation” from Israel, claiming that it is focused internally on Palestinian affairs. Thus, politically, Hamas does not project an alternative way forward to popular liberation. It has its own way of accommodating the status quo.

In these legislative elections, the two left-wing lists (PFLP and Fida-PPP-DFLP) gained a few seats. In their propaganda, the Palestinian left took a page from the “anti-corruption” campaign, but did not distinguish themselves with a working-class alternative to the thugs and the collaborators.

The Israeli and international media claim that the PNA election results leave no opening for a “peace process”. This is a pack of lies and hypocrisy. Israel has been inciting relentlessly against the Palestinian leadership, claiming “no partner”. At the same time, Israel has been pursuing its own agenda of murder, wall-building and unilateral disengagement ? to consolidate Israeli military domination of all of Palestine without concern for the affairs of the Palestinian people. Leaders and activists of Palestinian political movements are held “peacefully” in Israeli and PNA jails.

Israel and the imperialists accuse Hamas of refusing to recognize the “right” of Israel to exist as a “Jewish state”. Palestinian democrats should renew the demand to recognize the right of the Palestinian people (the entire Palestinian people) to democratic self-determination.

Israel and the imperialists demand that Hamas disarm as a precondition to recognition. The same demand can be sent to the State of Israel.

These issues have been obscured by the politics of “PLO as sole legitimate representative” and by the so-called “two-state solution”.

The Palestinian left must rearm politically and rebuild the influence it had during the years of the “enlightened occupation” that enabled it to lead the Intifada.

A policy of grassroots organization and mobilization for unified defensive action would gain support for the Palestinian left. A clear renunciation of Oslo-Road Map-Geneva would show that the left has its political priorities straight. A clear declaration that the goal is return of the refugees, and not separation, but coexistence, in a secular democratic Palestine would identify the left as the bearer of a strategic vision. Workers unions, women’s groups, farmers committees and refugee committees ? these are the defensive organizations within which the left can gain influence and lead the people to a democratic future.

• Henry Lowi is a Jewish peace activist living in Toronto, Canada.