23rd Day: Palestine never had a revolution

This article includes some CLASSIFIED materials never published before:

Time to revolt, with a first.

I am not spreading a myth of any sort, and I am not trying to swim against the current for publicity. (I have absolutely no disciples, and I am not even using my real name). But Palestine really never had an uprising that took the shape of a real revolution.

The last time Palestinians went out in masses was in 1936 during what came to be known as the Great Arab Revolt. The revolution was one of three major revolutions that took place under the British Mandate of Palestine, The Arabs of Palestine had revolted in 1920, 1929 and in 1936. The Great Arab revolution is said to have initiated the concept of an independent Palestinian identity. This claim, if true, already dismisses the first two "revolution"- mostly riots that claimed the lives of numerous Arabs as well as local Jews (In 1929, an ancient Jewish community in Hebron was eradicated by ignorants who were never educated about the difference between colonialist Zionists, and their fellow Arabs of Jewish heritage.)

The Great Arab revolution started as diplomatic civil disobedience by an Arab elite committee which consisted mainly of affluent, westernized and privileged Arabs who pursued their demands through civil strikes and "other forms of political protest". According to sources of Wikipedia by "October 1936 this phase had been defeated by the British civil administration using a combination of political concessions, international diplomacy [...] and the threat of martial law."

From that date on, regular Palestinian peasants fully backed by the elites and urban residents carried on a violent resistance movement that targeted British forces and others accused of efforts to swamp in more European Jews who the peasants were convinced were clearly intending to take over their lands. But the revolution was crushed. It is a major disappointment to history to see a nation so eager for independence and self-determination lose ten percent of its male population to either death, injuries or exile due to a brutal British crack down on their most organized form of civil disobedience... and local Arab greed.

If Palestine was to have it's freedom, it was supposed to have happened in 1936, or 1937 at most. 

Arab Palestinian Men and Women joined the Armed Resistence
in 1936-39

In 2011, Egyptians stormed down-towns in defiance of their brutal regime. Within 18 day they toppled their government and are now slowly but surely replacing an outdated and completely rejected government with one that meets their aspirations.

In 1936-1939, Arabs of Palestine led their one and only real revolution which was succumbed with brutality and greed. On Wikipedia, a picture of Palestinian Arab nationalist intellectual Khalil al-Sakakini has a caption which claims that he "called the revolt a 'life-and-death struggle.'" If we assumed he was right, then that revolution may be the reason why until this day we have not gained any of our nationalistic aspirations.

In 2011, Egyptian revolutionaries were scared. As the riot police and the scariest of them all "Amn ad-Dawla"- the State Security Investigations Service were brutally facing the revolution at Tahrir Square and everywhere across Egypt, the young revolutionaries were making it very clear: there was no way for them to back off. It was either life or death. That was not a motto. Egyptians knew that if they backed off they will be tracked down, tortured and even killed. They knew that it would cause the revolution to fade-away and they won't know when it will be rekindled again. They knew their government will do all it could for at least the next half a century to stop any form of civil disobedience and will only grow into a more brutal regime. The choice was simple: You either die as a martyr inside of Tahrir Square and hope that those who remain get a  better future, or you die somewhere underground, tortured and deprived of humanity, while others still live under the same violent system you tried to overcome.

The Arab revolution of 1936 had only one minuscule success: It is attributed to the birth of a Palestinian identity, one that was unique to those who were part of the revolution, and all of us who came afterwards.

But the revolution failed. Thus, the majority of its demands faded as soon as it was gone, and those who won got everything instead.

Go further in history to 1965. The birth of the PLO which was called a revolution. Excuse my language but if everytime its a revolution when a woman gives birth to a baby, we'll all be Che Guevaras without the cigars. The 1965 birth of the self proclaimed representative of the Palestinian people was merely an attempt to evolve the nationalist identity of Palestinians, using guns, high-jacking of airplanes, as well as other forms of terrorist activities. The PLO also embarked on an endless diplomatic cycle to further elaborate on its political aspirations.

Recognized by most Arab countries as the sole representative of the Palestinians, the PLO seesawed its nationalist aspirations according to place and time. Soon after its establishment and out of fear of being ousted by the Jordanian King they proclaimed very revolutionarily that they had no intention of taking over the West Bank, claiming that the West Bank was an integral part of the Jordanian Kingdom, its citizens fully nationalized Jordanians, and that their hopes were merely to take over the lands taken under the Zionist entity!

The revolutionary thought of the PLO did not stop there: In 1970 they attempted a coup against the king of Jordan who exiled all of them to Lebanon. Sometimes I wonder why he did not kill them all? It just looks like a well-organized plan to force Palestinians to lose their longest frontier with their enemy (Jordan has the longest borders with Israel) while keeping an establishing grass-root for a typical Arab dictatorship in a healthy ground to further sprout.

For the next 20 years, the PLO played an endless depletion war that absolutely contributed nothing to the liberation of Palestine for the years following their exile. Becoming a major part of the Lebanese civil war and fighting endlessly the wrong enemy.

Soon they were exiled. 

Sooner, Palestinians began their 1987 uprising in the West Bank and Gaza. The uprising was far from a revolution. Despite having the PLO as its primary leadership, the uprising consisted mainly of stikes, boycott actions and peaceful civil disobedience and sit-ins. The uprising was faced by heavy Israeli response against the infamous Palestinian child carrying a rock in one hand and a peace-sign in the other.

The uprising, known as the First Intifada, had no clear message to the occupier. "End the Occupation" was the vague motto which should not have been our message at that time in history specifically. It only makes me suspect that the PLO had to throw-together a "revolution" quickly before Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza started demanding equal-rights from the Israelis. Palestinians did not just suddenly evolved from demanding their entire historic homeland (which includes Israel) to suddenly demanding that Israel leaves their West Bank and Gaza. 

Why should they? In reality, the PLO was the secret hand behind the Palestinian uprising. It's already established agenda for a two-state solution which were first laid out in the early 1970s by Yasser Arafat, had to finally see the light.

Palestinians were being mocked and tricked into making dangerous demands to "end the occupation", meaning that Israel moves back to it's territories then everyone lives happily ever after.

The PLO, by the time of the 1st intifada, had not given up it's demand to act upon its name: the  Palestine Liberation Organization, was making its first concessions, but with Palestinian blood that they did not see with their own eyes.

Fast forward to post-Oslo agreement. The PLO, now represented by Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, attempted its second uprising: al-Aqsa uprising in 1996, which was a reactionary response to Israel violating the sanctity of the al-Aqsa mosque and threatening its foundations. The aprising claimed tens of lives of Palestinians but was crushed quicker than it started.

Then came Camp David. Arafat was presented with the most Israel could offer. After all, Israel thought the Palestinians were on the defeated side. Israel was the winner and was the one to make the calls.

Arafat refused becasue accepting meant Palestinians could revolt against the PLO. So it was better to delay the process, start a new uprising which demands are still as vague as ever, and waste five more years until he was gone.

In 2011 alone, Palestinian attempted and still will be attempting few "revolutions".

The first was probably the most ridiculous of all. It was a twitter and facebook advocated-for-revolution to: End the Palestinian division between Hamas and Fatah. Meaning if it got violent I'd be killed to have Hamas and Fatah officials make out and stay on their high-seats. The "revolution" also demanded new elections for the PLO's Palestinian National Council (PNC), a cowardly undercover attempt to erase the PLO's ancient status quo without appearing too direct when addressing the issue.

This so-called revolution was mostly a media-run battle that Palestinians were not part of. The few numbered Palestinians, mostly honest individuals who wanted to brainlessly participate, were about the only ones to ever be part of this "revolution". People on the streets walked past the "revolution" and never realized anything was going on.

Soonest than I thought, I met Moeen Koa, a Palestinian who worked at the Palestinian president's media desk. Koa was the least-brightest person I've met in a very long time, and with a Bachelor's and Master's degrees from some of the UK's and the US' top universities, it was shocking to see how little his knowledge in English extended.

Koa was the secret force behind the kidnapped-End the Division Facebook page, one that attracted thousands of online supporters. Later on, I secretly obtained a copy of a draft letter which he had requested its translation from a foreign source.

The document was adressed to the "Dear Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton" 

The DRAFT letter was published without any changes made to it.

"Dear Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton

The Honorable Secretary of State,

The following is our political vision:

Since we are committed to the two-state solution we look forward to restarting direct negotiations concerning the final status immediately. We are fully prepared for the prospect of amending state-borders and swapping lands as required for the interest of the future Palestinian state. We are prepared to negotiating a just solution to the issue of the Palestinian refugees and the affirmation that East Jerusalem will become the capital of the Palestinian state.

We are committed to the principles of democracy such as conducting elections, allowing for a multi-party system and guaranteeing pluralism in politics, among all other.

We are committed to direct negotiations under American auspices and we completely denounce violence.

We are committed to financial transparency through integrity, fighting corruption and the acts of good governance.

We guarantee public freedoms especially the freedom of opinion and expression.

We are committed to, and the protection of, human rights and we abide by the rule of law. Procedures Items: 1- This is a youth-driven trend that has been influenced by transformations taking place across the Arab World and utilizes the same peaceful means. We are ready to jump aboard and get out on the streets to implement peaceful demonstrations and other peaceful activities. 2- We will be working on true influence in decision-making in government institutions and regulatory frameworks. a. Item has to do with Palestinian Authority and its associated institutions

b. Item has to do with the organizational level We are looking forward towards a strategic partnership with the U.S. Administration and to further discuss the details that ensue."

After having read the letter, it was nearly impossible for me to ever trust #Mar26 movement. Plus that was the date of birth to my crazy ex, whom I don't trust either.

On June 5th, another revolution was planned. It was supposed to commemorate the Naksa or the defeat of the 1967 war. The revolution was supposed to bring Palestinians out of their coma. Alas, it failed as most Palestinians were busy with the daily routine which they have grown too used to since Fayyad decided to build an economy based on foreign aid which employs 80 percent of the working force and produces nothing in return.

The latest in these revolutions is the Olive Revolt. Using an olive tree symbol and a shade of pink both of which resemble those used at the Bank of Palestine, the Olive Revolt surely caught my attention. Reading about this revolt I realized how uneducated and what a pseudo-intellect I must be, as I simply did not get it. This time again.

Why was Egypt's revolution so successful? Why are ours so... not.

This brings us to the moral of the story which is quite simple: In Egypt, it was citizens who ran the revolution, despite being those who had access to internet, or those who did not. The motto everyone repeated and understood perfectly was "ash-Sha'b Yureed Isqat Annizam", or the people demand toppling the system.

And that they got, in 18 days. Exactly what we failed to gain in nearly 100 years of struggle, 70 out of which were nationalistic armed and/or diplomatic resistance.

We simply never had a "demand". It was always vague, or at least problematic. If we demanded ending the occupation, we are automatically recognizing the existence of Israel. If we denied Israel's existence, we embark on acts of resistance and terror. We simply never played it right.

At least two other "Revolutions" are coming our way in September. I do not place much hopes on them. One is being planned on-line with Arabs living outside of Palestine, the second will be Sulta's attempt to further-delay the real revolution from happening. Much like they did in 1987 and in 2000.

I do, however, think what we need is a revolution.

Since Palestine gave birth to its Palestinian Arab identity, it failed to produce a real revolution.

What we need now is a real revolution that comes with all the bells and whistles: a new flag, a new anthem, a real simple motto, but most importantly: people who are convinced their lives will not be wasted if they're gone. Real revolutionaries who do not aspire to aid the governing body, and a call that can never be challenged at the international level. Not as vague as previous ones but perhaps as clear as "one man, one vote, Justice an Equality for all", for instance.

24th Day: Compared to other Middle Eastern regimes, the PA ain't much different

There is a saying that Palestinians started using, even those most enthusiastic about the PA, that has become a big open secret: "What the Arabs dispose, we use". It does not sound as lowly in Arabic as it does in English. The saying is not a proverb, but it certainly rhymes in Arabic as it does in English. The saying refers to the entire legal, political and even cultural aspects of the Palestinian Authority. It mostly resembles the English proverb: " One man's trash is another man's treasure".

Long before the Arabs started revolting against their own governments, and way before anyone realized that the archaic regimes of the Middle East have rotten so badly that new trees were ready to replace them, Palestinians, including the most enthusiastic supporters, were already mocking everything about the PA.

From an incompetent legal system, to the hoards of useless police officers smoking and chitchatting on the sideroads as cities were in chaos, and even from the time we lost track of the number of security forces that aided one PA subsidiary or even individual. The first name I recall people using to refer to the PA  was "Salata", meaning Salad, which sounds closest to the word "Sulta" meaning Authority. In reference to its chaotic and disorganized nature.

Coming of age when the Sulta were trying to establish their roles as the sole authority in the land (despite being under occupation) I could see the disappointment everyone was suddenly experiencing towards the same people they welcomed with flowers and rice sprinkles in 1994 following the endorsement of the Oslo Accords. 

The Returnees or "al-Ayedoun" mostly disappointed the Palestinians with their inflated egos and their sudden wealth which was unrightfully and corruptly distributed between each other. One of the confirmed stories that happened at the time was never documented and this may be the first time to be revealed in writing. It happened with Yasser Abed Rabbo, PA official who held several posts following his return to Palestine which was permitted by Israel and who currently serves as an adviser to the head of the PA. The story goes that a Palestinian who has endured much hardships during the first Intifada, and has lost most of his wealth to closures and the shattered economy has had heard enough stories about financial corruption practiced by the PA officials and semi-officials at the time, and has had heard enough repulsive roistering stories about sex, drugs and alcohol in Beirut and Tunisia by his childhood friends who had joined the PLO and were driven out to Tunisia after Israel's invasion of Beirut in 1982 but have returned home following Oslo. 

The narrator of the story, in an effort to assist his friends in trying to gain the acceptance of the local society, told them that Palestine lacks infrastructure, has no hospitals and was segmented due to the lack of paved roads, he urged them to show their decency by beginning to work for the people, and not appear as crises-beneficiaries and war profiteers. 

Ashamed of boastfully recalling their stories and their satisfaction with their current financial corruption, they promised to speak to Yasser Abed Rabbo, who was a prominent cabinet member under Arafat. Few days later one of those friends came back with an answer: "inti 7mara?!" was Abed Rabbo's answer, which literary translates as "Are you a moron (female)?!" Yasser Abed Rabbo continued to serve many posts under Arafat, he is considered to be one of the godfathers of the Geneva Accords which agreed to allowing Israel to determine the number of Palestinian refugees allowed back, and the location to where they will be allowed back into. The priority was given to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, who were suffering the most. The location was close to Israel's major landfill in the Negev Desert in what seemed like a surrealistic depiction of Palestinians being dumped into the ash heap of history.

Abed Rabbo, also responsible for the rise and fall of the satirical TV show Watan ala Watar in 2011 which criticized the PA, the PLO, Hamas, social and cultural aspects of Palestine but was shut down after it remotely touched on the sanctity of Arafat in one of it's episodes, also appeared in one of the infamous propaganda videos as one of the perpetrators of the Geneva Accords, videos accessible if you click here.

This is not Cairo nor Amman (despite similar outfits
riot-bats) these are PA anti-Riot police, "containing a riot"
which appears to consist of a single old man who opposes
the Geneva Accords, in Hebron. - [Agence France Presse]
caption by local PA-run news papers.

The videos, part of the PA's PR/ reach out campaign to improve the PA's image infront of the Israeli society was mocked by a poster which was heavily distributed amongst the youth in Palestine, and was heavily cracked down on its distributers. The poster showed the men appearing in the videos above with their pants down proclaiming "I am your partner, are you my partner?" Some of those accused of posting it on their Facebook accounts were called in for questioning at the offices of the Palestinian Intelligence Services, whose name "al-Muxabarat" now brings shivers to the spines of Palestinians who no longer feel capable of freely speaking under a growing oppressive regime that still does not have an official state. The Services are now an all-time favorite hosting compound to anyone who dares criticizes the PA, its policies, agreements, or even individual official.

Today, I met a veteran who worked at the Palestinian-Israel Coordination and Liaison who recalled a story that  happened to him during the 1990s. His role at the time as a coordinator according to him was to "limit or deny Palestinians on this street or that road" he claimed that the Liaison was integral for the security of Israel and the Palestinians and he has done his role perfectly. The veteran with a strange combination of a very healthy body, decent sense of fashion, and an extremely old face, recalled one time when a young Israeli official at that Liaison office insulted the Palestinian officers by making his orders disrespectfully then walking out in an uncivil way. The narrator of the story goes on to say that he stopped the Israeli officer, humiliated him but in a well-mannered fashion telling him that his young age and lack of "experience and proper home education" has clearly demonstrated themselves in these short moments since he made his entrance. The Palestinian officers then left angry and insulted.

The next day the narrator was called into the office of Yasser Arafat in al-Muqataa headquarters. People were already making speculations that Arafat was going to shoot him in the head (lack of law and security, anyone?). Arafat, however, was very proud of the narrator for making that stand to the Israeli officer. "What I did was the least my patriotism calls for" the officer declared. Arafat gave him one of his infamous kisses, then passed a small envelope that carried five thousand US Dollars. The narrator, proud of Arafat's move yet prouder of his own response, turned down the "gift" saying "It is not my position to refuse for I shall not turn down a king's gift, but I am a patriot and my patriotism has no price". End of story.

Did I hear him say a "king's gift?" I almost laughed at this patriot's lack of knowledge about basics of democratic elections and, oh, corruption. As I was least-shockingly listening to the story, I recalled a TV report that appeared a month after Tunisia ousted it's former president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The report was showing one of his palaces filled with cash that was directly sent to him from the central bank of Tunisia. Millions, maybe billions, the report estimated. The money was everywhere, inside drawers, desks, pantries,   even cup-boards! The report then filmed thousands, if not tens of thousands of envelopes, some of which already had names of people written on them, and most were almost on their way as "bribes" and "illegal benefits" according to the report.

I smiled to myself, the Palestinian officials have seen their share of international corruption, and as the Arab World disposes its corruption, the PA found its treasures there. you know, like the saying goes " One man's trash is another man's treasure".