Who Envies Abu-Mazen?
[Hebrew also attached/ עברית גם מצורף]
Uri Avnery, 15.1.05
Now it’s official: “the First Democracy in the Arab World” or “the Second Democracy in the Middle East” has been born.
The Palestinian elections have impressed the world. Until now, if elections were held in any Arab country at all, there
was only one candidate, and he received 99.62% of the vote. Yet here there were seven candidates, there was a lively
election campaign and the winning candidate got only 62%.
The truth is, of course, that Palestinian democracy existed already. In 1996, the Palestinians held elections for the
presidency and the parliament, monitored by international observers. Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian
struggle for liberation, was not the only one standing; another candidate, Samikha Khalil, a respected woman, did garner
almost 10% of the vote. But because of Arafat’s dominant personality, the insufficient separation between the branches
of government and the relentless Israeli defamation campaign against him, many people around the world did not recognize
the Palestinian democracy.
Now the situation is different. Nobody can deny the near-miracle that has happened: the clean transition from the Arafat
era to the era of his successors, and the fair elections held under strict international supervision. And, most
importantly, democracy was not imposed from the outside, at the whim of a foreign president, but grew from below. And
not under normal conditions, but under a brutal occupation.
The whole world acknowledges the Palestinian democracy. That, by itself, creates a new political situation.
Much now depends on the personality of Abu-Mazen. He is setting out under the shadow of his great predecessor. Those who
succeed a Founding Father always have a problem at the beginning, like the heirs of Bismarck or Ben-Gurion.
Just think of the man who succeeded Gamal Abd-al-Nasser, the founder of modern Egypt and the idol of the entire Arab
world. When Nasser died, I asked my friend, Henry Curiel, what kind of person his almost unknown successor was.
Curiel, who founded the first (mainly Jewish) Egyptian Communist party, had a razor-sharp mind. In Paris he had set up a
kind of international center of assistance for liberation movements the world over, while maintaining close ties to his
homeland. His answer was short and sharp: “Sadat is a simpleton.”
He was not alone in this view. Egyptians used to tell a joke about the dark spot on Sadat’s brow: “At every meeting of
the Free Officers Committee (that was then ruling the country), Nasser would ask his colleagues to express their
opinion. One after the other they stood up and spoke. At the end, Sadat too would get up to speak. Nasser would put his
finger on his brow and gently push him back into his chair, saying: Oh, sit down, Anwar!”
Yet upon assuming the presidency, Sadat astounded the world. He sent his army across the Suez Canal, achieving the first
significant military victory ever over the Israeli army. His visit to Jerusalem was a brilliant act without precedent in
history. Never before had a leader visited the capital of the enemy while still in a state of war.
Abu-Mazen has lived all his life in the shadow of Arafat. He was not a military leader, unlike the adored Abu-Jihad, who
was murdered by Israel. He was not in command of the security apparatus, unlike Abu-Iyad, who was murdered by Abu-Nidal.
Since 1974, he was closely associated with Arafat’s historic efforts to achieve a political settlement with Israel, and
in charge of the contacts with the Israeli peace forces. I myself met him for the first time in Tunis, in 1983.
I shall not be surprised if Abu Mazen, as the president of the Palestinian State-in-the-Making, exhibits talents and
attributes that did not find their proper expression during the Arafat era. He may yet become the Palestinian Sadat.
Of course, Abu-Mazen is very different from Sadat. The Egyptian leader had a dramatic flair (like Menachem Begin), he
loved big gestures (like Arafat). Abu-Mazen’s style is the very opposite.
And another huge difference: Sadat was in absolute control of a big country. He could afford to ignore different views.
Abu-Mazen does not enjoy this luxury.
He brings with him to his job a valuable dowry: his relationship with the President of the United States.
George Bush is a simple fellow. He likes some people and hates others, and this decides the policy of the greatest power
on earth. He likes Ariel Sharon and fawns on him. Since he has never been in battle, he admires the combat-rich Israeli
general. Sharon personifies for him the American myth – the annihilation of the Indians and the conquest of the
territories. Arafat, on the other hand, reminded him of an Indian chief, whose language is unintelligible and whose
ploys are satanic.
When Bush saw Abu-Mazen in Aqaba, a respectable person in a business suit, without beard or keffiyeh, he liked him on
sight. That’s why he congratulated him this week and invited him to the White House. The question is whether Abu-Mazen
can translate this attitude quickly into political achievements.
The situation presents Sharon with a difficult dilemma. His natural inclination is to do unto Abu-Mazen what he did so
successfully to Arafat: demonize him and cut his ties with America. Already he is muttering darkly about Abu-Mazen’s
unwillingness to destroy the “terrorist organizations”.
But Sharon knows that he must behave with the utmost care, so as not to make Bush angry. As long as Bush thinks that
Abu-Mazen is O.K., Sharon must not be seen to undermine him. This, too, gives Abu-Mazen a chance.
So what can he do?
His first task is to come to terms with the refusal-organizations. No leader can conduct national policy with armed
factions firing in the opposite direction.
Ben-Gurion was in a similar situation before the foundation of Israel, when faced with the Irgun and the Stern Group who
acted independently. Once he tried to integrate them into a unified “Hebrew Revolt Movement”, at another time he handed
their fighters over to the British police. But it is essential to remember: Ben-Gurion started the decisive
confrontation – by shelling the Irgun ship Altalena - only after the State of Israel had already come into being. Then
the two organizations were incorporated into the new Israeli army.
Anyone who says that Abu-Mazen is ready or able to start a civil war against Hamas does not know what he is talking
about. Palestinian public opinion would not stand for it. Most Palestinians believe that without the armed struggle,
Sharon would not be talking of withdrawing from Gaza. They are ready for a cease-fire in order to give Abu-Mazen a
chance. But they do not want the liquidation of the fighting organizations, because it may be necessary to renew the
armed struggle if Abu-Mazen can’t convince the Americans and the Israelis to enable the Palestinians to realize their
national aims.
In his dealings with Hamas, Abu-Mazen, like Arafat, will prefer a combination of negotiations, political pressure and
mobilizing public opinion. He will have to convince the armed factions to accept the national strategy that is adopted
by the leadership. In return, he will have to welcome Hamas into the political system, the PLO and the parliament.
The attack at the Karni crossing this week was a demonstration of power by the armed factions. It was a classic guerilla
action, much as the recent destruction of an army post on the “Philadelphi Axis”. The organizations want to prove that
they have not been vanquished, but rather that they have achieved a draw with the Israeli army. If a cease-fire is
arranged, it will not be a sign of weakness on their part. In the same way, the Yom Kippur attack preceded the
Egyptian-Israeli peace, and the Hizbullah guerilla war preceded the withdrawal from Lebanon.
If Abu-Mazen achieves such a cease-fire, he will be able to address his main task: to win over Israeli and international
public opinion and to change the policy of the United States.
Sadat succeeded in both. But Sadat was dealing with Menachem Begin, who was willing to relinquish Egyptian territory in
order to continue his struggle against the Palestinians and prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. Sharon, too,
opposes the creation of a Palestinian state in all of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with its capital in East
Jerusalem. But Abu-Mazen, like Arafat, cannot and will not be satisfied with anything less than what is now a sanctified
aim.
That is another huge difference between Sadat and Abu-Mazen: Sadat came to Jerusalem only after he was secretly assured
that Begin was ready to give back all of Sinai. Sharon, on the other hand, is promising Abu-Mazen nothing at all.
Abu-Mazen was sworn in today. Many hope for his success, very few envy him.
#
Truth against Truth - reconciliating opposite views on the history of the conflict in 101 steps
Hebrew / עברית
http://www.gush-shalom.org/Docs/Truth_Heb.pdf
English
http://www.gush-shalom.org/Docs/Truth_Eng.pdf
Russian
http://www.gush-shalom.org/russian/book_web.pdf
Contacts where to obtain a translation into Spanish, Dutch or German [and please tell us about more!] via
#
#
Boycott List of Settlement Products (newly updated)
Now also with list of settlements
Hebrew / עברית
http://gush-shalom.org/Boycott/boycheb.htm
English
http://gush-shalom.org/Boycott/boyceng.htm
#
#
Palestinian olive oil, new harvest - contact Hava Keller
!שמן זית איכותי
מיוצר באזור חברון. המחיר, לשני ליטר - 50 שקלים
(תרומה נוספת תתקבל בברכה)
חווה קלר - 03-5227124
High quality olive oil!
Produced in the Hebron area. Two liters - 50 Sheqels
(additional donations appreciated)
Hava Keller - 03-5227124
#
#
Weekly updates from the peacenewsletter The Other Israel (TOI-Billboard):
To get them by email: write to otherisr@actcom.co.il (Adam & Beate)
You will be receiving peace camp information complementary to the Gush Shalom mail)
See also:
Billboard for Israeli peace activist speakers abroad
--you would like to make a speaking tour?
--you need an Israeli speaker for your peace organization?
--your itinerary is final?
Send your ad and find the right contacts - especially for joint invitations
http://www.geocities.com/keller_adam/TheOtherIsrael_speakers.html
#
--
http://www.gush-shalom.org/ (עברית/Hebrew)
http://www.gush-shalom.org/english/index.html (English)
http://www.gush-shalom.org/arabic/index.html (selected articles in Arabic)
http://www.gush-shalom.org/russian/ (Russian site started with flash presentation)
with
\\photos of recent actions
\\the weekly Gush Shalom ad
\\the columns of Uri Avnery
\\Gush Shalom's history & action chronicle
\\position papers & analysis (in "documents")
\\and a lot more
N.B.:
On the Gush Shalom website links for
Articles and documents in German, French and Spanish
In order to receive Gush Shalom's Hebrew-language
press releases mail to:
pressheb-subscribe@gush-shalom.org
Archive of email reports:
https://mailman.gush-shalom.org/pipermail/gush-shalom-intl/2004/thread.html#start
If you want to support Gush Shalom's activities you can
send a cheque or cash, wrapped well in an extra piece
of paper to:
Gush Shalom
pob 3322
Tel-Aviv 61033
Israel
or ask us for charities in your country which receive
donations on behalf of Gush Shalom
Please, add your email address where to send our
confirmation of receipt. More official receipts at
request only.
àåøé àáðøé
15.1.05
îé î÷ðà áàáå-îàæï?
òëùéå æä øùîé: ÷îä "äãîå÷øèéä äøàùåðä áòåìí äòøáé" àå "äãîå÷øèéä äùðéä áîæøç äúéëåï".
äáçéøåú äôìñèéðéåú äøùéîå àú äòåìí. òã òëùéå, ëàùø ðòøëåú áëìì áçéøåú áîãéðä òøáéú ëìùäé, îåôéò áäï îåòîã éçéã, äî÷áì
99.62% ùì ä÷åìåú. åäðä ðòøëå áçéøåú ùáäï äúîåããå ùáòä îåòîãéí, äééúä îòøëú-áçéøåú òøä åäîåòîã äîðöç æëä á62%- áìáã.
äàîú äéà, ëîåáï, ùäãîå÷øèéä äôìñèéðéú äééúä ÷ééîú âí ÷åãí ìëï. ëáø á1996- ðòøëå áçéøåú ìðùéàåú åìôøìîðè, úçú ôé÷åç
áéðìàåîé äãå÷. éàñø òøôàú, îðäéâ îìçîú-äùçøåø, ìà äéä îåòîã éçéã, îåìå äúééöáä îåòîãú øàåéä, ñîéçä çìéì, ùæëúä ëîòè
á10%- ùì ä÷åìåú. àáì áâìì àéùéåúå äãåîéððèéú ùì òøôàú åàé-äôøãä øàåéä áéï äøùåéåú, ðåñó òì îòøëú-ääñúä äéùøàìéú ðâãå, ìà
äëéøå øáéí áòåìí òã ëä áãîå÷øèéä äôìñèéðéú.
òëùéå äîöá ùåðä. àéù àéðå éëåì ìäëçéù àú äëîòè-ðñ ù÷øä: äîòáø äçì÷ îòéãï òøôàú ìòéãï éåøùéå å÷éåí áçéøåú äåâðåú úçú
ôé÷åç öîåã. åáòé÷ø: äãîå÷øèéä äæàú ìà ðëôúä îáçåõ, ëúëúéá ùì ðùéà æø, àìà öîçä îìîèä. åìà áúðàéí ðåøîìééí, àìà áúðàéí ùì
ëéáåù àëæøé.
äòåìí ëåìå îëéø áãîå÷øèéä äôìñèéðéú. æä ëùìòöîå éåöø îöá îãéðé çãù.
äøáä úìåé òëùéå áàéùéåúå ùì àáå-îàæï. äåà îúçéì àú ãøëå áöì ÷åãîå äâãåì. ìéåøù ùì îééñã-îãéðä éù úîéã áòéä ÷ùä áöòãéå
äøàùåðéí. ëê ÷øä, ìîùì, ìéåøùéäí ùì áéñîàø÷ åáï-âåøéåï.
ëãàé ìæëåø áîéåçã àú éåøùå ùì âîàì òáã-àì-ðàöø, îééñã îöøééí äçãùä åàìéì äòåìí äòøáé ëåìå. àçøé îåúå, ëàùø ðáçø àðååø
àì-ñàãàú, ùàìúé àú éãéãé, àðøé ÷åøéàì, îä èéáå ùì äàéù, ùòã àæ äéä ëîòè áìúé-éãåò.
÷åøéàì, äéäåãé ùä÷éí àú äúðåòä ä÷åîåðéñèéú äîöøéú, äéä áòì îåç çã ëúòø. äåà ÷ééí áôàøéñ ëòéï îøëæ òåìîé ìñéåò
ìúðåòåú-ùçøåø, àê ùîø òì ÷ùøéí äãå÷éí òí îåìãúå. ôñ÷-ãéðå äéä ðçøõ: "ñàãàú äåà èîáì."
äåà ìà äéä äéçéã ùçùá ëê. áàåúí äéîéí äúáãçå áîöøééí òì î÷åøå òì äëúí äëää áîöçå ùì ñàãàú. àîøå ùáëì éùéáä ùì îåòöú
ä÷öéðéí äçåôùééí (ùðéäìä àæ àú îöøééí) áé÷ù ðàöø àú äçáøéí ìäáéò àú ãòúí. äí ÷îå àçã-àçã åãéáøå, åáñåó ÷í âí ñàãàú ìãáø.
ðàöø äéä îöîéã àöáò àì îöçå, ãåçó àåúå áòãéðåú çæøä ìëñà åàåîø: "ùá, àðååø, ùá!"
åäðä, ñàãàú äãäéí àú äòåìí. äåà ùìç àú öáàå ìöìåç àú äúòìä áéåí-ëéôåø åäðçéì ìöä"ì àú äúáåñä äâãåìä äøàùåðä ùìå
áùãä-ä÷øá. áé÷åøå áéøåùìéí äéä îòùä îáøé÷ ùàéï ìå àç åøò áäéñèåøéä. îòåìí ìà ÷øä ÷åãí ìëï ùîðäéâ éá÷ø àú áéøú äàåéá áîöá
ùì îìçîä.
àáå-îàæï çé îøáéú çééå áöìå ùì òøôàú. äåà ìà äéä îðäéâ öáàé, ëîå àáå-â'éäàã äðòøõ, ùðøöç áéãé éùøàì. äåà âí ìà ùìè
áîðâðåðé-áéèçåï, ëîå àáå-àéàã, ùðøöç áéãé àáå-ðéãàì. îàæ 1974 äéä ùåúó ôòéì ìîàîöå ääéñèåøé ùì òøôàú ìäâéò ìéãé äñãø òí
éùøàì, åèéôì áéçñéí òí ëåçåú-ùìåí éùøàìééí. àðé òöîé äëøúé àåúå ìøàùåðä áúåðéñ, á1983-.
ìà àåôúò àí àáå-îàæï, ëðùéà äîãéðä äôìñèéðéú áãøê, éâìä ëéùåøéí åúëåðåú ùìà éëìå ìáåà ìéãé áéèåé áú÷åôú-òøôàú. äåà òùåé
ìäéåú ñàãàú äôìñèéðé.
àîðí, àáå-îàæï ùåðä îàåã îñàãàú. äîðäéâ äîöøé äéä áòì ðèééä ãøîèéú (ëîå îðçí áâéï), äåà àäá îçååú âãåìåú (ëîå òøôàú).
äñâðåï ùì àáå-îàæï äôåê.
åéù òåã äáãì òöåí: ñàãàú ùìè ùìèåï îåçìè áîãéðä âãåìä. äåà éëåì äéä ìäøùåú ìòöîå ìöôöó òì ãòåú àçøåú. ìàáï-îàæï àéï
ìå÷ñåñ ëæä.
äåà îáéà òîå ìúô÷éã ðãåðéä çùåáä: éçñéå òí ðùéà àøöåú-äáøéú.
â'åøâ' áåù äåà àéù ôùåè. äåà àåäá àå ùåðà îéùäå, åòì ôé æä ð÷áòú îãéðéåú äîòöîä äâãåìä áòåìí. äåà àåäá àú àøéàì ùøåï,
åîîù îúáèì áôðéå. ëîé ùìà äéä îòåìí á÷øá, îòåøø áå äîöáéà äéùøàìé äòøöä. ùøåï âí îæëéø ìå àú äîéúåñ äàîøé÷àé ä÷éåîé –
äùîãú äàéðãéàðéí åëéáåù äùèçéí. åàéìå òøôàú äæëéø ìå ö'éó àéðãéàðé, ùùôúå áìúé-îåáðú åèëñéñéå ùèðééí.
ëàùø ôâù áåù áò÷áä àú àáå-îàæï øê-äãéáåø, áçìéôä ñåìéãéú åôðéí îâåìçåú, ääôê îäñèøàåèéô ùì äòøáé ä÷ðàé, äåà îöà çï
áòéðéå. ìëï áéøê àåúå äùáåò òí äéáçøå åäæîéï àåúå îéã ìáéú äìáï. äùàìä äéà àí àáå-îàæï éëåì ìúøâí éçñ æä ìäéùâéí îãéðééí
îäéøéí.
äîöá îòîéã àú ùøåï áôðé áøéøä ÷ùä. ðèééúå äèáòéú äéà ìòùåú ìàáå-îàæï àú îä ùòùä áäöìçä ìòøôàú: ìäôåê àåúå ìùèï åìðú÷
àåúå îàøöåú-äáøéú. äåà ëáø äúçéì ìäùîéò øîæéí ÷åãøéí òì àé-øöåðå ùì àáå-îàæï ìçñì àú "àøâåðé äèøåø".
àáì ùøåï éåãò ùòìéå ìðäåâ áæäéøåú îéøáéú, ùîà éøâéæ àú áåù. ëì òåã àáå-îàæï äåà àå-÷éé áòéðé áåù, àñåø ìùøåï ìäéøàåú ëîé
ùîúðëì ìå, åâí æä ðåúï ìàáå-îàæï äæãîðåú.
îä äåà éëåì ìòùåú?
îùéîúå äøàùåðä äéà ìäñúãø òí àøâåðé-äñéøåá. ùåí îðäéâ àéðå îñåâì ìðäì îãéðéåú ìàåîéú ëàùø ñéòåú çîåùåú ôåòìåú áëéååï
ääôåê ìùìå. áï-âåøéåï òîã áîöá ãåîä ëùàö"ì åìç"é ðéäìå ôòåìåú òöîàéåú. ôòí ðéñä ìùìá àåúí á"úðåòú äîøé äòáøé", ôòí îñø
àåúí ìáøéèéí. àáì ëãàé ìæëåø: àú ääúîåããåú äîëøòú òøê áï-âåøéåï áôøùú "àìèìéðä" ø÷ àçøé ùîãéðú-éùøàì ëáø ÷îä. åàæ ùéìá
àú àðùé àö"ì åìç"é áöä"ì äçãù.
îé ùàåîø ùàáå-îàæï îåëï àå îñåâì ìôúåç áîìçîú-àçéí ðâã äçîàñ àéðå éåãò îä äåà ùç. ãòú-ä÷äì äôìñèéðéú ìà úøùä æàú. øåá
äôìñèéðéí îàîéðéí ùìåìà äîàá÷ äçîåù ìà äéä ùøåï îãáø òì ðñéâä îòæä. äí îåëðéí ìäôñ÷ú-àù ëãé ìúú ö'àðñ ìàáå-îàæï. àê äí
ìà øåöéí áôéøå÷ äàøâåðéí, ùîà éöèøëå ìçãù àú äîàá÷ äîæåéï áî÷øä ùàáå-îàæï ìà éùéâ îàîøé÷ä åîéùøàì àú îéîåù äéòã äìàåîé.
áéçñéå òí çîàñ éòãéó àáå-îàæï, ëîå òøôàú, ùéìåá ùì ùéëðåò, ìçõ ôåìéèé åâéåñ ãòú-ä÷äì. éäéä òìéå ìùëðò àú äàøâåðéí
äçîåùéí ì÷áì àú äàñèøèâéä äìàåîéú äð÷áòú òì-éãé äîðäéâåú. áúîåøä éäéä òìéå ìùúó àú äçîàñ áîòøëú äôåìéèéú, áàù"ó åááçéøåú
ìôøìîðè.
äôéâåò áîñåó ÷øðé äùáåò ìà äéä àìà äôâðú-ëåç ùì äàøâåðéí äçîåùéí. æàú äééúä ôòåìú-âøéìä ÷ìàñéú, ëîå äôòåìä ùáä äåùîã ìà
îëáø äîåöá á"öéø ôéìãìôé". äàøâåðéí øåöéí ìäåëéç ùäí ìà ðåöçå, àìà äùéâå îåì öä"ì îöá ùì úé÷å. àí úåùâ äôñ÷ú-àù, äéà ìà
úáèà çåìùä, ëùí ùîìçîú éåí-ëéôåø ÷ãîä ìùìåí äéùøàìé-îöøé, åäâøéìä ùì äçéæáàììä ÷ãîä ìéöéàä îìáðåï.
àí éùéâ àáå-îàæï äôñ÷ú-àù ëæàú, äåà éåëì ìâùú ìîùéîúå äòé÷øéú: ääñúòøåú òì ãòú-ä÷äì äéùøàìéú åäòåìîéú åäîàîõ äãéôìåîèé
ìùéðåé òîãú àøöåú-äáøéú.
ñàãàú äöìéç áëê. àáì ìñàãàú äéä òñ÷ òí îðçí áâéï, ùäéä îåëï ìååúø òì ùèç îöøé ëãé ìäîùéê áîàá÷ áôìñèéðéí åìîðåò àú ä÷îúä
ùì îãéðä ôìñèéðéú. âí ùøåï îúðâã áëì îàåãå ìä÷îú îãéðä ôìñèéðéú áëì äâãä åäøöåòä, ùáéøúä úäéä îæøç éøåùìéí. åàéìå
àáå-îàæï, ëîå òøôàú ìôðéå, ìà éåëì åìà éøöä ìååúø òì îèøä ÷ãåùä æå.
éù òåã äáãì òöåí áîöáí ùì ñàãàú åàáå-îàæï: ñàãàú áà ìéøåùìéí ø÷ àçøé ùäåáèç ìå, áùéçåú çùàéåú, ùáâéï éçæéø ìå àú ëì
ñéðé. åàéìå ùøåï àéðå îáèéç ìàáå-îàæï ãáø åçöé-ãáø.
ëùàáå-îàæï éåöà äéåí ìãøëå, øáéí îééçìéí ìäöìçúå àê àéù àéðå î÷ðà áå.