Publication
Omar Shaban Ismail · Sama News Agency · 2020
Omar Shaban argues that the erosion of the Palestinian cause's standing did not come suddenly but began gradually years ago, and that history cannot be stopped, only adapted to in order to limit losses. He warns that losing the support of peoples is more dangerous than losing alliances with regimes and that attacking the peoples of the Gulf is harmful and futile, not least because hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live there. Expecting further shocking steps, he calls for rebuilding strength from within through political unity, balanced development, a stronger role for the diaspora and the inclusion of young people and skilled professionals in decision-making.
Omar Shaban, September 2020: the answer to normalisation is not attacking Gulf peoples but regaining the initiative from within through unity.
The course of history is not like lightning bolts that come suddenly; rather, it is a cumulative chain of small and large events. The erosion that has afflicted the position of the Palestinian cause began gradually many years ago, and it had very clear indicators and signs visible to all.
The wheel of history and development cannot be stopped, but there are those who shape events by possessing resources, wisdom, shrewdness, and flexibility, and there are those whom fate manipulates as it wishes. The process of history is too powerful to be resisted. We must think seriously about how to benefit from the opportunities that the movement of history may offer, or how to adapt and adjust, especially if you are weak, in order to reduce losses and damage as much as possible.
More dangerous than losing the alliance with regimes is losing the love and support of peoples. No people, whatever the circumstances, accepts insult or accusations of treason, nor does it accept incitement against its regime by individuals or external regimes, especially if these do not represent a model to emulate. Attacking the peoples of the Gulf is very harmful and of no use. It is true that we had a major role in educating these peoples, but that was in return for enormous material returns that contributed greatly to strengthening the resilience of Palestinian society through remittances and cultural and intellectual exchange. We must never forget that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still live there and play a very important role in keeping the cause a matter of concern. They are ambassadors of the cause and a source of support for society here.
With the absence of a value system, replaced in recent decades by a system of interests and interdependence, any regime or people has the right to seek its interests, even if they are illusory or short-term. We must not appoint ourselves guardians and arbiters over others.
It must be noted that this deterioration has not yet reached its end. We should expect other steps that may be shocking to us, but are consistent with the context. Thus the major challenge remains: how do we preserve ourselves and our cause in the midst of this stormy sea? Wailing, ranting, shouting, and populism in discourse will not enable us to survive.
Building the elements of strength, regaining the initiative, and repositioning begin from within. Consolidating the effects of strength through political unity, balanced development, strengthening the role of the Palestinian diaspora, and integrating youth and qualified professionals into decision-making are necessary to achieve that. They are possible if the will is present.
We are already very late, but to begin today is better than tomorrow.
Topic: Regional & International Politics — Arab-Israeli normalisation · Gulf states · Palestinian strategy · diaspora — Text © Sama News Agency — archived here with attribution to the source. — Original source