The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle (jihad) against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. […] Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism. …To “oppose Zionism” is to oppose the existence of the very State of Israel. And by “Arab unity”, this means pan-Arabism (modeled on pan-Germanism) and that entails in their view the land of Israel being Judenrein.
Well I see that as mostly propaganda, not pragmatism. Different world now. Pan-Arabism never worked anywhere. Only barely worked in Iraq under an iron hand. Take away the ruler and they descend into civil war. Neither did Pan Americanism. The Guatemalans can’t even get along with the Mexicans and so forth.
Not to say I disagree, that has been the Arabists stated policies. Which makes it all the more difficult for them to contemplate a deal. They have been turning down deals for at least 80 years. But as far as Islamism goes, I don’t see the West Bank people going for Hamas style theocracy writ large.