Today is the 6th anniversary of the 2nd Palestinian Intifada.
I started seriously thinking about Palestine only since this intifada, and it is hard for me to imagine what it was like before. For Palestinians to have survived six years of this onslaught, after surviving 50 years of onslaught, is remarkable.
Today is the 6th anniversary of the 2nd Palestinian Intifada.
I started seriously thinking about Palestine only since this intifada, and it is hard for me to imagine what it was like before. For Palestinians to have survived six years of this onslaught, after surviving 50 years of onslaught, is remarkable.
I had an argument once with a certain professor, someone I have considerable respect for, who was very angry and critical of the Palestinian leadership (this was years before the Hamas victory). I mentioned the cards the Palestinians had and he said ‘if you don’t like the cards you’re dealt, don’t be a leader’. I thought that was unfair. When a whole people has been dealt what the Palestinians have been dealt, what’s leadership got to do with it? Isn’t it on everyone to be a leader?
I think that with the forces arrayed against the Palestinians, survival is a victory of sorts. They have managed that much, almost alone. It is on us to protect their survival and to fight for a real victory, the end of apartheid. I’ll be trying to write something on the upcoming CAIA conference in the next few days.
