Palestinians taking to non-violent mode?

By Kesava Menon

MANAMA, AUG. 13. Israel's closure of Orient House and other offices run by the Palestinian Authority in East Jerusalem does provide Mr. Yasser Arafat with a singular opportunity.

The developments have for the first time brought the Palestinian elite living in Jerusalem onto the street and if the Palestinian Authority President provides the right guidance he might be able to channelise his people's protests into the non- violent path and thereby consolidate international opinion in his favour. A general strike in the Arab areas of Jerusalem today could be used as the launch pad for such a switch-over.

For the first time since the uprising erupted over 10 months ago, the imagery of Palestinian protests over the last three days has not been that of masked men carrying assault rifles or youth hurling stones at Israeli soldiers. Instead it has been the sight of well-heeled Arabs from the upper class neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem linking hands in protest outside Orient House or that of Dr. Hanan Ashrawi trying to march through Israeli barricades. This form of protest occurs at a time when the whole world, including Israel's staunchest backer - the U.S. administration - has spoken out against the seizure of the Palestinian offices.

This is a singular moment in the Palestinian struggle where the world is unitedly backing not just their goals but also the methods they are using to achieve them. Even those who believe in the absolute justice of the Palestinian cause, and even those who might try to understand what leads their youth to carry out suicide bomb attacks, cannot tolerate the killing of innocent Israeli citizens. If the Palestinians were now to switch their struggle into a non-violent mode the sheer international relief might just add huge momentum to their efforts.

Over the 10 months of the uprising, the whole issue of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory and the subjugation of the people living there has been etched very starkly. The sort of armed response Israel has resorted to at times, including the use of tanks, helicopters and military aircraft against lightly armed militias has to an extent erased the horror at the suicide bomb attacks. While both sides have equally exasperated the international community by their penchant for violence, there has also emerged a stronger consensus that the confrontation between the two will only come to an end when Israel winds up its occupation.

The seizure of Orient House and the other offices in East Jerusalem and the adjoining village of Abu Dis is a continuance or an intensification of the occupation. No one can doubt that the underlying message in the Israeli action is that they will deal with the Palestinians by progressively depriving them of their rights.

International opinion is no longer willing to condone such a policy because the condemnation of the same becomes muted when such actions are taken in consequence of horrifying attacks on civilians. The only way in which the Palestinians can achieve their goal of national independence is if they can get international opinion behind them. The inability of their Arab brethren to help them in any way is eloquent testimony and the Gandhian way seems to be the best way to achieve independence.

Will Mr. Arafat be able or willing to persuade his people to switch to the non-violent mode.

The official organ of the Palestinian Authority, in an editorial published before the latest developments, had issued a call for a switch over to the non-violence mode. There were credible reports in the Israeli media that even Hamas was preparing to give up violence in the period just before Israel killed two of their leaders in Nablus by firing missiles into their office. But Mr. Arafat has himself so built the myth of the military struggle and the Palestinian youth seem so enamoured of it that the switch to the non-violent mode will require a real effort.

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Section  : International
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