The following is research published today from the MEMRI Palestinian Media Studies Project for more, visit http://www.memri.org/palestinianmediastudies. Inquiry and Analysis No. 784—Palestinians By: L. Barkan* At the December 9 opening ceremony of the 2011 Pan-Arab Games in Doha, a map was presented depicting a Palestinian state limited to the West Bank and Gaza– namely a state on the 1967 borders (see image below). Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud 'Abbas, who was present at the ceremony, did not react to the map. The incident sparked a public debate among the Palestinians regarding the borders of Palestine. This debate reflects a controversy among the Palestinians regarding their aspirations for statehood and their dealings vis-à-vis Israel and the international community. Specifically, the debate underscores the reluctance among many Palestinians – including PA supporters – to accept the 1967 borders and relinquish the dream of "historical Palestine," notwithstanding the Oslo Accords, the PLO's recognition of Israel, the Palestinian leadership's avowed commitment to a two-state solution, and this leadership's recent bid for UN membership for the Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. The debate also brought to the fore the differences between the PA's and Hamas's understanding of the notion of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. Though both assert that such a state constitutes the basis for their joint political program, the PA considers it part of a two-state solution and a comprehensive permanent agreement with Israel, including a resolution of the refugee issue (which the PA has presented ambiguously in two versions: "a just and agreed-upon solution" and "the refugees' right to return to their pre-1948 homes"). Senior Hamas officials, on the other hand, stress that, though they accept a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, they refuse to recognize Israel, relinquish the full right of return for refugees, or renounce armed resistance. The Arab and Palestinian media reported on the public outrage in response to the map presented in Doha. For instance, it was reported that a heated debate broke out among spectators at the opening ceremony of the Pan-Arab Games, and that Arab youth called for their countries' delegations to the games to withdraw and return home. Daoud Mutawalli, head of the Palestinian delegation, demanded a clarification from the Arab Games Organizing Committee (AGOC). Gaza's labor unions, which took part in organizing the games, demanded an apology for the map and called on the Arab League to investigate the matter and demand an account from those responsible. According to the union, the map was unacceptable, as it represented a clear recognition of the "Zionist entity" and submission to American plans for a new Middle East. Palestinian youth launched a Facebook page called "No Partition of Palestine, Qatar." Jordanian activists staged demonstrations outside the Qatari embassy in Amman, while at another demonstration in Jordan, Palestinians burned pictures of the Qatari emir. The Islamic Jihad student movement organized a demonstration in Gaza calling to boycott Qatar and recall the Palestinian ambassador from Doha unless Qatar apologized for the map. The protestors, who numbered in the hundreds, demanded not to relinquish historical Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. As mentioned, the matter sparked a public debate over the borders of the Palestinian state and the proper way for the Palestinians to conduct their affairs vis-à-vis Israel. The press and websites belonging to the PA, Hamas, and independent Palestinian bodies fervently discussed the matter, with reactions falling into two categories: on the one hand, attacks on Qatar, accusing it of presenting a distorted and partial map of Palestine, and even of being party to a Western plot against the Arabs and Muslims; and on the other hand, calls for the Palestinians to recognize that the borders shown in the Qatari map are the very ones they themselves are demanding. Palestinian officials, from both the PA and Hamas, avoided joining the public debate. Their silence led a number of writers to question why the PLO had not voiced any official protest to the map, and if this indicated that Palestinian officials had relinquished the dream of historical Palestine. To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5987.htm. Special Dispatch No. 4415—Hamas/Palestinians/Tunisia/Jihad & Terrorism Studies Project/Lantos Archives on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial Following are excerpts from footage of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya's visit to Tunisia, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV and was posted on the Internet on January 5-10, 2012. To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/3257.htm. Crowd: "The people want the liberation of Palestine. "The people want the liberation of Palestine." Crowd member: "Killing the Jews…" Crowd: "…is a duty." Crowd member: "Killing the Jews…" Crowd: "…is a duty." Crowd member: "Driving out the Jews…" Crowd: "…is a duty." Crowd member: "Driving out the Jews…" Crowd: "…is a duty." Crowd member: "Crushing the Jews…" Crowd: "…is a duty." Crowd member: "Crushing the Jews…" Crowd: "…is a duty." […] To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5986.htm Special Dispatch No. 4416—Palestinians/Lantos Archives on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial Following are excerpts from a Friday sermon in Al-Bireh, the West Bank, which aired on Palestinian Authority TV on January 6, 2012. To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/3258.htm. Preacher: "Oh servants of Allah, every evil and catastrophe on the land of Palestine – moreover, in the whole world – is caused by the Jews." To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5985.htm. MEMRI Daily:
Internal Palestinian Debate over 67 Borders; Hamas PM in Tunisia Vows to not Relinquish Palestine as Crowd Chants: 'Killing the Jews is a Duty';
PA Sermon in the West Bank: 'Every Evil and Catastrophe' in World 'Is Caused by Jews'
Internal Palestinian Debate over 1967 Borders
The map of Palestine (marked yellow) presented at the opening ceremony of Pan-Arab Games in DohaHamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, in Visit to Tunisia: We Shall Not Relinquish Palestine from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River; Crowd Chants: 'Killing the Jews Is A Duty'
Palestinian Authority Sermon in the West Bank: 'Every Evil and Catastrophe' in the Whole World 'Is Caused by the Jews'
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Posts
