By Suleiman Bisharaat
2011-03-30 11:03:19
Courtesy Of "IslamOnline.net"
Ramallah
Palestinian observers expressed their optimism to the attention Palestine is receiving at a popular and official level in light of the current drastic changes witnessed by the Arab world.
Observers stated in an exclusive statement to Islam Online that even though the attention of global media is directed mainly at the changes taking place in the Arab arena, these changes at a political, logical, and cultural level are sufficient enough to shed positive light on the Palestinian issue especially when the internal affairs of these countries are stable.
Observers cited the warning directed to the Israeli occupation forces by the new Egyptian External Affairs Council with regards to initiating another attack on Gaza following the military escalation witnessed in the past several days, resulting in a number of casualties.
Possibilities
Dr. Ibrahim Abu Jaber, Chairman of Contemporary Studies in Umm Al-Fahim said to Islam Online that “the popular Arab reforms will have a positive impact on the Palestinian issue, particularly after these countries select Parliamentary representatives that will implement the will of the Arab and Muslim people that feel strongly about the Palestinian issue.”
“It’s true that the impact is not yet obvious, because the countries that witnessed revolutions are not yet stable, but the issue will be addressed by future governments. These governments might shut down Israeli embassies and businesses in Arab countries, especially those neighboring Palestine,” he added.
Abu Jaber did not rule out the possibility that these countries, especially Jordan and Egypt, may revoke the peace treaties established between them and Israel, as well as the possibility of the Palestinian authorities revoking the Oslo Agreement.”
Abu Jaber believed in the possibility of “Arab foreign policy amendments with regards to Israel’s attitude towards the Palestinian issue. This is what was portrayed when the Egyptian Foreign Affairs Council warned Israel about the consequences of initiating any attacks against Gaza in the meantime.”
Abu Jaber warned: “Israel is currently taking advantage of time to establish all that is necessary to impose its stance, especially on the West Bank.”
Internal and external impact
Dr. Samir Awad, International Affairs Professor at Birzeit University in the West Bank, stated that the Arab revolutions will have an internal and external impact on Palestine.
Awad explained to Islam Online that on an internal level, the “Palestinian people will gain their power for change from the Arab people, regardless of their nature or the nature of their regimes. This is particularly what we witnessed with the Palestinian youth on March 15th. This will in turn compel the Palestinian authorities to take a step towards addressing the people’s demands.”
The other internal impact according to Awad is evident in the “peaceful revolutions towards the Israeli occupation, which will definitely differ from the two previous uprisings. This will in return gain the support on an international level, which will grant legitimacy to their activities and demands to end the occupation and its practices.”
With regards to altering the international stance and Israeli support, especially Washington’s, concerning the Palestinian issue, Awad stated: “I believe that the countries that adopted Western policies will display relevant change. However, we need the major countries that play major roles in the Palestinian situation, especially Egypt, to develop a strategy…Things will change someday.”
Reducing U.S. influence
Dr. Ekrima Sabri, President of the Supreme Islamic Council in Palestine states that “despite international preoccupation of the media with regards to the events taking place in the Arab world, I believe that the results will reflect positively on the Palestinian issue and especially that of Jerusalem.”
He elaborated to Islam Online that “if we thoroughly inspect the results of the revolutions, we can come to the conclusion that it will reflect positively God willing, because the changes that are taking place, would result in the reduction of Western and American influences in these countries. Therefore, there is a possibility of a renaissance awakening and alteration of reality. This will in return bring to the realization of the Arab people the reality of occupation and the events taking place in Palestine.”
“The Arab revolutions will work to bring awareness to average citizens. As a result, there will be greater political, cultural, and logical awareness, thus extenuating internationally to support and back the Palestinian issue.” Sabri did not rule out the possibility of “an Arab youth uprising especially in Jerusalem in retaliation to the Judaizing schemes taking place.”
Akiva Eldar, Israeli Journalist and author wrote in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on its March 28th issue that “what is happening in Arab countries will compel us to raise several questions with regards to our future relations with the new regimes, and the vision of these new regimes to the political solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict.”
He added: “Today is the ninth anniversary of the approval of the Arab League Peace Initiative. Back then, all the Arab states, including Syria, followed by all member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, offered Israel the best deal… Meanwhile, the Arab League initiative is still sitting on the shelf. If Israel had a prime minister who wasn't busy doing an advanced degree in survival studies, he would not have lent a hand to the criminal act of missing the Arab peace initiative - an initiative that might not be offered again.”
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