Viewpoint

Dear Peace; when will you be around?

Student union elections were held in Bir Zeit University a month ago, after a two years interval imposed due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Five groups competed for the 51 seats. Pro Hamas Wafaa Islamic Union won the elections with quite a majority. While they won 28 of the 51 seats, Fatah inclined Martyr Yasser Arafat bloc placed second with 18 seats, leaving third contender Democratic Progressive group with 5 seats only. (In the previous elections in 2019, these two leading blocs shared 23 seats each). Rector Dr. Doumani expressed his satisfaction with the free and democratic atmosphere that prevailed during the elections and the relatively high rate of participation, (78%).

Bir Zeit University which started as a girls college about 100 years ago, is considered today the most prestigious university in the West Bank.

“So what?” might be a possible question by my impatient reader at this stage.

Let me try to elaborate:

Our region’s future will be determined by, first and foremost, Israeli and Arab youth. Excluding an extremist right wing minority, the highly pro peace stance of the Jewish young generation is well known to us all.

Unfortunately and very sadly, the same cannot be said when it comes to the Arab young generation.

One would expect from Bir Zeit students, who are relatively educated, intellectually developed, and looking forward to a prosperous future as their age would demand, not to support Hamas, an organization that refuses Israel’s right to exist and consequently far from being a partner for peace.

By the way, PA leader Abbas has postponed general elections several times for more than ten years; the reason being his fear of losing them. Bir Zeit student union election results proved him right.

Just as you need two sides to dance a tango, you do need the same for an Israeli – Palestinian peace.

Israel has two possible partners for the tango:

Either the PA led by Mr. Abbas or the Hamas.

In spite of the fact that the PA, -theoretically at least-, seems open to dialogue, the fact that their rule has been too corrupted and also inefficient, has caused them lose ground to Hamas supporters among the Arab population.

On the other hand, thanks to the moderate(!) PA rulers’ and media’s constant brain washing campaigns promoting hatred, revenge and hate against Israeli Jews, recent polls show that 75 % of the Palestinian population is against peace talks; and only 42% is in favor of a two state solution.

And now coming back to Hamas:

The Hamas manifesto claims that Israel will continue to exist only until Islam will annihilate it. Hamas’s target is building a homeland on the ruins of the State of Israel and Jewish corpses. Not exactly what you would call a peace partner.

Unfortunately the common denominator that unites the PA, (Fatah), and Hamas supporters is the establishment of a Palestinian State on Israeli land and its replacement, and not coexistence side by side with it.

The sooner the world understands these facts, the better.

The sooner the world contributes to the formation of an Arab population wanting/aiming coexistence with a Jewish state and prospering together, (and not instead of), the higher the chances of a peace process that will prevail in the region. (hopefully with the help and support of the Abraham Accords)

For the time being Israel is here. No intention to go anywhere.

So,

Dear Peace: when do you think you will be around?

Yazarın tüm yazıları için tıklayınız