MidEast Reality

Submitted by Arye Shamir (United States), Mar 11, 2010 at 10:11

Even Mr Pipes forgets that the conflict between Israel and the Falasteenians is existential for the Arabs involved. Israel will survive whatever its borders, with or without enclaves in the West Bank, with or without a Jerusalem the size of the current municipality. What is in question is the long term survival of the Falasteenian entity. In the territory of WeBaG a Falasteen will soon become a failed State, if only because it will always depend on others for much of what a State normally can do for itself.

Even such basics as sewage treatment and water resources and energy, let alone the elements of the modern technology civilization. Even money. Can they earn their living by exports? If absent own products, what industry will employ an expensive and insufficiently skilled workforce? Even if some do wish to create schools and begin to rival Israel in innovation and intellectual achievements, how can they - riven as they are by the paucity of real drive, real modern thinking, real entrepreneurship other than in tangible merchanting? Oh, yes, riven by a frustration released solely by violence? Even if mitigated by Mr Netanyahu's and Mr Blair's economic improvements, will that fill the necessary bill?

Even if Mr Fayyad is completely successful, will the sheer minute area feed and house all the Falasteenians? Hence for the Falasteenians the question is survival as a nation. As a nation it is of recent establishment, a modern-born people, whose roots are a kernel of 150,000 Arabs of Palestine (or "South Syrians") as of the early 19th Cent estimate, having become the current number mainly by late 19th and early 20th Cent'y accretions from other Moslem areas near and far (including Bosnia, Cherkessia, Persia, North Africa, etc). Israel's policies have been to minimize the chances of their long term survival. From Israel's point of view, this is common sense. For the Falasteenians this is a harsh sentence. For the US this is an opportunity to be involved and maintain influential sway. For the leaders of the Falasteenians the conflict is the cornerstone to their standing within their society. It seems everybody but the Falla'h, the simple Falasteenian, has a vested interest in the continuation of the conflict - simmering mostly, hot at times.

Should anyone wish a real solution, there is one: let the Hashemite family take the initiative and initiate influence among the Falasteenians, offering Mr Fayyed organizational assistance. Eventually this may lead to WeBa & perhaps Gaza to become cantons within a federated Kingdom of Jordan, kept intact by the Royal House, asunder without it. Even the Hashemite family might go for that least-of-threats to its own physical survival.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".