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Is Popular resistance the right way to the Palestinian State?
Since the beginning of the Second Intifada many of the Palestinian politicians and leaders have opened a discussion about the right resistance which the [singlepic id=160 w=320 h=240 float=right] Palestinian must choose in order to succeed in creating the Palestinian State. Some criticized the use of violence and considered it a claim which Israel used to embarrass the Palestinians in front of the International community and turn them from freedom fighters into terrorists.
Others defended the armed resistance and considered it a natural reaction to the Israeli violence and occupation of the Palestinian lands. Even those who agreed on the armed resistance did not really agree about the right place and time for using it. Some believed that armed resistance must take place only in the 1967 occupied lands and in certain times to create pressure on Israel. Others believe that armed resistance must take place against any Israeli target when possible.
Even those who still call for armed resistance are not really employing it in the field. Since Hamas took control of Gaza and after the latest Israeli war on the strip most of the Palestinian actions come as reactions inside the 1967 occupied lands. The attacks inside Israel have stopped and one can say that there are no armed attacks at all inside the 1948 lands. Even in the West Bank the Palestinian security forces succeeded in controlling the security situation and preventing any armed attacks against Israeli targets.
Lately the Palestinian leadership in Gaza and the West Bank has realized that a popular resistance must be started in order to create a pressure on Israel. Even though the reasons which made both Hamas and Fatah prevent any armed attacks against Israel are not the same, both of them are calling for a popular resistance in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Not only Palestinians but also increasing numbers of foreign supporters of the Palestinian case are participating in weekly demonstrations against the Israeli occupation and settlements policy.
In the West Bank and Jerusalem the number of daily and weekly demonstrations, strikes and activities made by the people are increasing.
The official leadership is supporting the people movement that Israel is worried about. Israeli officials do not like to see pictures of Palestinian and foreigner activists demonstrating against the separation wall on CNN and BBC since such pictures bring more support for the Palestinian demands and claims and also embarrasses Israel. So what kind of resistance do the Palestinians need now? The Palestinians may differ between them but the current period and the lessons from the past shows one answer and that is a popular resistance which includes the younger and the oldest from the Palestinian people. The resistance needed must have a clear target this time which is to show every Israeli attack and oppression against the Palestinians.
Through the Palestinian journey to achieve the dream of an independent state the Palestinian people did not try the choice of a popular resistance with no other unorganized Palestinian work so why don’t we give it a chance? Even though the Palestinian movements do not agree that it is important to recruit an international support for the Palestinian demands, the latest developments and the lack of any other choice demands from us to work on achieving a real worldwide support in order to create a greater pressure on the current Israeli leadership.
Not only that we will be working according to the rules of the game but we will also do a great favor for our people. Any kind of popular resistance would teach the new generations the importance of the Palestinian case and the duty of continuing the journey until the rights are returned. Our leadership should reconsider its actions in the past and start a real new campaign that serves the interests of the Palestinian people and not the interests of the political parties. Today we still have the chance to avoid making mistakes which we did in the past but tomorrow we may not have a similar chance.
