The deal to release hunger striker Khader Adnan came about because he had embarrassed Israeli authorities, because of international attention, and because of Palestinian demonstrations in solidarity (as experts from the Institute for Middle East Understanding explained yesterday).
Last week in Palestine I went to one of those demonstrations, outside Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank. It was chaotic. Soldiers fired tear gas and rubber bullets, ambulances flew up to the front lines and back to pick up young people stunned by rubber bullets, young women led thrilling chants, and young men threw rocks and burned tires.
The video I made above of an interview with Doraed Hassona, 21, a student at Bir Zeit University, is probably the most important piece I will bring back from Israel and Palestine this visit. As I’m sure you will agree, this young man is the very best that comes out of his society– or any other society. He is polite, genuine, and highly articulate. His face is filled with sweetness.
Having just heard women leading a chant that repeatedly called for “Thawra,” I asked Hassona what this word means, and he explains that it is revolution. We are “sick of Israeli policies” and sick of occupation, he says, and want revolutionary change.
Why would a young man of such promise endorse revolution? Be sure to go to minute 5 when I ask Hassona, who is from Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, if he has ever been to the sea, nine miles away.
Then watch his face as I ask him if any of his brothers and sisters have ever been to the sea, or to Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
This post is not an endorsement of revolution. I am for a peaceful transition in Israel and Palestine. But this video is important because Hassona is only reflecting widespread desperation among Palestinians. Everywhere I went I met people who had hoped that the peace process would produce a normal society for them. And all the peace process has done is to extend and prolong frightening and insulting conditions (of apartheid and ethnic cleansing that I will document in days to come). It is no wonder that even Sari Nusseibeh has declared that the two-state solution is a fantasy.
Look at this young man’s face when he tells you he has never been to the sea or to the Al-Aqsa mosque and then recall Obama’s words in Cairo three years ago–“Let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own”–and then ask yourself what we have done to fulfill that promise.
Thank you so much Phil for sharing this interview. Doraed Hassona not allowed to worship in Jerusalem or visit the beach in his own homeland!
wow.
Hillary Leverett and Michael Rubin discussed US-Iran relations here
Leverett said Iranians are always willing to negotiate; Rubin said, “But they are not capable of negotiating like Westerners because they didn’t have the Enlightenment,” and “businessmen negotiate to get to yes; Iranians negotiate to get to maybe,” and, “Iranians are willing to talk but never willing to do what we want.”
Leverett said, “That’s right, Iranians don’t want to be dominated by US hegemon.”
Palestinians have been patient but they don’t want to be dominated, either.
Israelis — like Rubin — just don’t get it.
PS. the notion that Rubin is the exemplar of Enlightenment thinking makes me wanna holler.
Re Rubin’s Enlightenment comment, I would recommend people seeing the Iranian film “A Separation” on this subject. It’s great cinema, an interesting view of contemporary Teheran, and a direct look at “negotiation” Iranian-style.
Or perhaps the director did it as agit-prop, to counter racist slander like Rubin’s.
Phil: I think the word is transliterated “thawra,” meaning revolt or revolution.
The important question is whether the Palestinians (in whole or in part) will surrender to despair (in violent revolution or in abject abandonment of their rights) BEFORE the world sees their situation, understands, finds its voice and honor and bravery, and stands up to the USA/Israeli bulldozer.
The world could do it. By why should they? Why not work on some other (insoluble?) problem, such as climate change? Or go to the beach, instead? Why work at any problem? Isn’t merely earning a living (or getting rich) a sufficient occupation? Who needs a Palestinian occupation?
I think I am getting quite close.