An hour into Mahmoud Abbas’s address to the 2,000-odd delegates at the Sixth Fatah Congress in Bethlehem, the Palestinian Authority president showed no sign of wrapping things up. The audience, chain-smoking, chatting and occasionally applauding with dubious enthusiasm, seemed to be channeling elements of a Soviet Congress and a Che Guevara fan club reunion. A smiling woman moved around the auditorium, reaching into a huge plastic bag to hand out kaffiyehs decorated with the colors of the Palestinian flag. They bore a label that read, in Hebrew, “Made in China, imported by the Palestinian Authority.”
Turning to an Israeli colleague, I muttered that Abbas’s speech, which seemed to be primarily a detailed history of the Palestine Liberation Organization, was the longest and most tedious I’d ever heard.
“It’s been an hour and he’s only at 1964,” I complained. “Wait,” my colleague said, seemingly without irony. “He’s almost at the 1970s. That’s when it will get interesting.”
The Fatah congress was a big deal. The party had not met to elect new leaders since 1989, when the Palestinian leadership in exile was located in Tunis. Since then, of course, a lot has happened: the Oslo accords, the disastrous Second Intifada, the death of Yasser Arafat and the rise of Hamas. The world was watching as Fatah delegates from all over the Palestinian Diaspora gathered in Bethlehem to try to chart a new course for their flagging movement.
In Israel, the focus was on whether or not the secular, American-backed Fatah party was a partner for peace.
For the Israeli right, the answer was “no.” Likud minister Yuli Edelstein pointed to Abbas’s statement — made during the second hour of his speech — that armed resistance to the Israeli occupation continued to be an option. Edelstein concluded that the congress was “a declaration of war.”
For the Israeli left, the answer was “yes.” The liberal daily Haaretz noted that the congress affirmed Fatah’s support for a two-state solution. It editorialized that the gathering sent Israelis “an unequivocal message: The Palestinian national movement’s strategic choice is still two states for two peoples.”
While Israeli politicians and journalists were parsing the words from the podium, many Palestinians were rolling their eyes. Over in the relatively smoke-free media room on Manger Square, reporters were watching Abbas’s speech on television, drinking coffee as they typed their stories on laptops. A couple of Palestinian colleagues, friends I hadn’t seen in months, greeted me in broken Hebrew. Both were slumped gloomily in their chairs, arms folded across their chests as they watched Abbas’s endless speech. “Look at that,” one of them said in a disgusted tone, as he gestured toward the screen. “The auditorium isn’t even full. That party is dead.”
Neither of my colleagues was a Hamas supporter. They were secular and Western-oriented. They had been stuck for years in the West Bank, forbidden to enter Jerusalem, not earning enough to afford a trip abroad; and they longed for an improvement in their lives. Watching the well-dressed Fatah leaders shuttle in armored black luxury cars between their plush accommodations at the Intercontinental Hotel and the conference auditorium, where they gave irrelevant speeches, my colleagues saw a party that no longer represented them. Yet there was no real alternative.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Fatah was the dominant force in the Palestinian national movement. Today, mired in corruption, nepotism and infighting, it can no longer claim to represent the majority of Palestinians.
In some respects, the rise and fall of Fatah parallels the history of Israel’s Labor party. For nearly three decades, Labor governed Israel without serious challenge. Yet today, Labor is a spent force. Its current leader, Ehud Barak, led the party to a stunning defeat in the last elections, with Labor receiving the lowest number of seats in its history.
The difference, of course, is that Israelis have a state, with attendant democratic institutions. Along with Labor’s loss of popular support, it lost its hold on power. Fatah, on the other hand, lost the 2006 parliamentary elections, but it has managed to retain its control of the West Bank, with American and European backing and the help of some decidedly undemocratic methods of governance.
At the party congress, Abbas was re-confirmed as party chairman, in typical Fatah form with no one challenging him for the position. Some observers did see a silver lining in the election of members of Fatah’s so-called “young guard” to senior leadership positions. It is important to remember, however, that many of these figures are in fact long-established political players who themselves are well-versed in the ways of corruption and nepotism.
At present, for those of us who hope for a negotiated settlement between Palestinians and Israelis, Fatah is the only real option. Hamas, with its militant Islamist ideology and refusal to either renounce violence or accept Israel’s right to exist, cannot be a partner in diplomatic negotiations for a two-state solution. That does not mean, however, that we should harbor any illusions about Fatah.
After Abbas had finished speaking, an Israeli-Arab colleague looked up from his laptop and asked me what I thought of the address. “I think,” I said, “that if this is the way things are going to continue, there will never be a Palestinian state.”
“I think,” he answered, “that you are right.”
Lisa Goldman is a freelance journalist living in Tel Aviv.
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An excellent article Lisa. This is exactly why so many of us are either cynical or hopeless or are abandoning hopes for peace between the politicians and trying the personal, small scale contact. It is the same story happening all over the world, the liberator of the oppressed turns out to be either worse than the oppressor or just as bad or (as in this case) just bloody incompetent and corrupt to run a household, let alone a country.
It seems like women are Israel and Palestine's only hope, but that would leave the men at home with the children and that would screw up the future equally....
what to do: resist militarily the occupation or love america? My choice is: flattery, compliance to and love for US, even mass pal'n conversion to, preferably, southern baptism, catholicism, or joining the communist state of china. anything but armed resistance. Making more babies is also better. it had been grave mistake to have hated america. thus, i had for at least a decade [shld have sooner]advocated a peaceful resistance; s'mwhat like czechs have done against germans. It worked for them. one can always turn to prayer. I pray to my devil, my god, and my owl, and a crow that visits me and which i feed. but to whatever one prays, result appears about the same. Try it, if u don`t trust me. I only lie to my wife! danke, spasibo
words words, do we realy hear.
It is written "Serve G-D with fear"...... "The fear of G-D is the beginning of wisdom."
And so this is were it all starts. Were does one enter the rest of holiness. Is this not found within oneself? Why is it that there is no rest of holiness found or seen in mankind nor in their nation?
Did Aaron come into the holy place??
One can not come into the resting place when they are ---tied---to THEIR MASTERS. Was that not the reason we were taken out of Egypt?
All menkind, must come out of Egypt, so to speak....their masters of what ever nation that holds them back from ----entering the rest of holiness, found withinthem,(Heavenly Kingdom).
What happens when someone rejects his freedom, perferring to stay attached to his master. The blemish of having his ear bored through remains with him or her because they refused to listen.
There is only One G-D of All Mankind. For it is written ....Jeremiah 32...."I am the LORD, the G-D of all mankind. Is anyting too hard for Me?"
Every one of us in every nation are to put G-D as a seal over our hearts. We are told that there are two houses in the heart, and that they are called differently depending on whether one is a master of the law of G-D or not; there are also two courts of the House of G-D, an inner one and an outer one.
"Set Me As A Seal Upon Your Heart"......The seal were the name of our G-D of All Mankind identify, authenticate and protects the contents of documents---the law---written on both sides--that Moses was first given and every generation and every people in every nation have broken. the document and the vessel was not to be the ark, but us.
The ark containd, the document written only on one side. We are to turn.... as it is written in Jer. Those that will not turn their hearts to G-D, are.....Jer 31 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those day-s (every one in every generation is given time, days to turn) saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts; and will be their G-D, and they shall be my people.
Who is Israel and Judah, now today......For it is written....Jer 31...Behold, the day-s come, said the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
Why does mankind make war on each other? make war on sin!
For it is written ...Psalm 51.....Behold, thou desirest Truth in the inward parts: (heart and mind) and in the hidden part (the true temple, the true rock, the foundation of G-D) thou shalt make me to know Wisdom.
The law on the inward part-s, the two sided stone. We then with the seal of authenticate belong only to G-D and His goverment, above as well as below. The law to love everyone as one self.
For the inner part of Malchut is called "Houses of Walled Cities," and the Outer Malchut is called :The House of The Villages Which Have No Wall."
The two courtyards refer to the outer part of the heart , meaning the outer part of Melchut, representing two handles of the heart.
Remember....and make note of the words....."Peace, Peace, both for far and near" And it is as far, form the midst of sin to near from the midst of performing a sin.
A house that G-D does not build will not stand. For it is written....Psalm 118 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Let them know that You, whose name is LORD that You alone are the Most High over all the earth. for it is written Psalm 83
miriam, with respect, "serve 'god' with repect". What does the word "serve" stand for? Some actions? Am i right? wld u please enumerate these actions? EG, do u have to sit in first pew or is it second or even last? Do u serve god by calling another human "rabbi"? how's god served by only men being rabbis [teachers]? Does god speak to u and tell u, Today u must greet and smile at everyone? or is it mostly dead rabbis who command u to revere a rabbi? how do u know that god only spoke to a few hebrews? And how convinient is this for mad rabbis to posit such obvious falsehoods. did u ever think why rabbis [not god, of course] demand u respect shabbat? well priests don't work but need money; so by comming to church u had to tithe them and keep them in good style of living.
do u think that god is that evil that he'd favor any person over another; thus, wld have spoken to all or none and thus wld have been just! go figure. tnx
You cannot have israel and peace. You must choose one or the other. The whole world recognizes that Palestine was stolen and must be returened, or else yu will not have peace
What a great poster of the keffiyad lizard!
Bozhidar Our G-D your's and mine are the same. There is only one G-D and one High Priest, one Rabbi that knows Truth and Wisdom, and I enter no pew first row or even last, to call on any rabbi or any other man or woman. I call on the name of G-D...as it is written for all of us to do....Psalm 140 Surely the righteous will praise Your name and the upright will live ----before----You. Psalm 18....The LORD is my rock, (not a first row pew) my fortress, and my deliverer; (not mankind) my G-D is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation. Psalm 83....Let them know that You, whose name is the LORD that You alone are the Most High over all the earth.
The temple I enter is not defiled by mankind, sin may not enter in nor man nor woman, of flesh. The temple that always was, for it is written.....The Stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118.
Make note...of the words in Ps. 118----marvelous---IN---our eyes. So many have gone there. So were is there? It is written...Psalm 51..Behold, thou desirest Truth in the inward parts (heart and mind): and in the hidden part(Our true foundation for the temple that G-D is building) thou shalt make me to know Wisdom.
For it is written.....Psalm 57 I cry out to G-D Most High, to G-D, who fulfills His purpose for me.
What do you think is your purpose?
Does not G-D tell us "Set Me As A Seal Upon Your Heart"? We were once made in the image of G-D, and that image. Lets think, about a seal. Seals are inscribed with the owner's name, seals were used in the ancient world to identify, authenticate and protect the contents of documents (the inward parts, have the law of G-D written on both sides---the sides being above in the kingdom of G-D and on earth below.) the vessel is us.
For it is written of those who will not willing desire Truth and Wisdom in their inward parts it is said of them........Jeremaiah 31..But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those day-s, ( day-s that G-D gives all in every generation to turn ) ...said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their G-D, and they shall be my people.
Jer. 31...And they shall teach no more every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, form the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
The G-D of truth and wisdom, One G-D. Note this,....Job 33 The Spirit of G-D made me (flesh) but the breath of the Almighty gives me life.(a spirit, everlasting live)
Dust to dust, ashes, to ashes---Spirit to spirit.
It is a Declare Decree to be obeyed by all. Who is all....? For it is written...Jeremiah 32 "Iam the LORD, the G-D of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?" Jeremiah 31....Behold, the day-s come, said the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
Who is a true Jew? A true Jew is a holy child that puts sin out is brought forth by the breath of the Almighty G-D into the family of G-D, in the kingdom of G-D and have the goverment of G-D. A true Jew is above us well as below. The two sides are make now in the mirrow image of G-D. Most seals were carved in reverse. When stampted into the clay, the seal images and inscriptions would appear correctly. There needs to be UNITY above and below.
Psalm 2....I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I brought you forth. (or birth you, or begotten you.) Make note of the Declare Decree.
Bozhisar, does G-D love one more or less....love is the beat of His heart. I would like to see this generation be the generation that turns an wipes away the tears that have fallen so deep within His heart due to our sins. We all are the work of His hands, and it is written.... Psalm 143... For Your name's sake, ( those who put sin out of their lives and desire truth and wisdom in their inner parts and inter in the hidden part to worship on the true foundation of G-D. For it is written... 1 Chronicles ...Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Isaiah 43...For I am the LORD, your G-D, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior....Psalm 5...But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. ....Joel 2 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.
A father loves his children. Many seeds are given man and woman but nevertheless it is only in the Union does a child come forth. WE all are the work of His hands.
Zechariah 14 In that day it shall be--"The LORD is One" and His name one. We will be in unity with our Adoni Ehlohay HaShahmieem. Read Genesis 24: and Psalm 111
miriam, yes, there is one god. However, it appears a mistake to me to solely quote hebrews when talking/thinking about god.
the writers of torah and other books praise g-d and not god. tnus, this alone leads to eternal discord. also why wld god need praise? By people whom he made? So, as u can see, we are already running head on against contradictions and we've hardly began talking. and, in order to avoid contradicting one another or self {as issaiah, et al do]and to obtain peace world-wide and in each person's bodymind, we must accept the bible as the only way to achieve that.
so, why do u think that even followers of mosheic laws are split assunder into hassidim, reform, modern, orthodox, ultraorthodox, haredim, chabadim, lubavitches, et al.
may i tell u why is that so? Why do we have catholics, judaists, protestants of dozens of kinds, mohammedans, + many cults? to obtain an elucidation of why we have splintering, hatred, anger in among pious people, one ought to study implicatory structure of langauge; any language.
there is nothing wrong with us nor pious people. God or nature made us and it did the best it cld for us. One wants more? Well, one is not gonna get it. One got what god apportioned him/her.
so, we are manifestly not the problem nor trouble makers. The problem regarding any ism, and not just mosheism or catholicism, appears the langauge in which their respective ideas, commands, laudation, promises are couched.
in short, any 'promise' [of, what wld politico-priestly class do without making 'promises'] is not a fact but in reality a lie. One does not know future. Why then promise? however, it is quite OK to say to a tyke, I don't know, but i'll do my best to.. now do u see how biblical scribes trick u? With just mere words! tnx
So, balkas b b, what I think, is nothing, it is more important what G-D think and says, is it not?
We can do nothing good in our self, but throw G-D working in us can good come. For G-D is good! Mankind--is sinful.
G-D has said......for it is written in Jeremiah 31.....Behold, the day s come (come in all generations, time only holds mankind, for G-D time is nothing, for he is endless having no beginning or end, is this not true, my balkas b b? )........Jer.31...saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with......the ......seed....of man...and with the seed of beast.
G-D, tells our future.
G-D tells us all ....."SET ME AS A SEAL UPON YOUR HEART"
sorry, my friend, balkas b b, hit the post tap.
The seal, were inscribed with the owner's name----we are to be sealed with G-D on our hearts and minds. Why, did you ask that I hope. To identify, authenticate and protect us and the contents, our hearts and minds----were the law is written, we become the two sided tablets that Moses and all generations have broken, we are the documents and the vessel. We are like the ark that man made for the one sided tablets that Moses gave them.
We are to turn as Jeremiah and others have told us. We are to become a mirrir image of our G-D. What is above is below. Most seals were pressed into wet blobs of clay. Now think signature and symbols and letters were often carved in -----reverse-----. When stampted into the clay, the seal images and inscription would appear correctly. We are that clay, we need to appear correctly, before our G-D of Host. Psalm 80....Restore us, O G-D of Host; Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved. Remember what He said to Abraham.....walk before me blamless.
You will find the desire that G-D has for all of mankind in Psalm 51...Behold, thou desirest Truth in the inward parts (heart and mind): and in the hidden part (the Rock, the Dwelling Place, Strong Fortress, Temple, our true Foundation).....thou shalt make me to know Wisdom .
Truth and Wisdom names of our One True G-D. It is written...Job33 The Spirit of G-D made me.(below,flesh, death ) but the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (above, spirit, eternal life)
The Spirit of Truth will make you know Wisdom, when you enter through the gate, that flesh, may not enter due to sin. You enter in when you are brought forth into the family of G-D, for it is His Declare decree.
for it is written Ps. 2 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day ( a day given all of us to turn) have I brought you forth. ( or begotten you or birth you)
Those who will not -----turn------Jeremizh 31 Behold, the day s come, saith the LORD, that I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Jeremiah 31.....But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those day s, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their heartsl and will be their G-D, and they shall be my people.
My friend, yes there are gods in this world, mankind want control and worship the creature, the god of their making. For mankind have fit their god into their life style. Scripture says.....Psalm 31....Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.
So if The One True G-D of All That Is is your guide, shound you not find you way?