Analysis: Does Arafat speak for his people?

Yasser Arafat has again called for an end to Palestinian suicide attacks on Israeli civilians because they have "nothing to do with our national rights to resist Israeli occupation and the settlement danger". A high-sounding sentiment in some eyes, perhaps, but it's sharply at odds with how most Palestinians regard the uprising which erupted at the end of September 2000.

A poll last month by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre showed that a large majority - nearly seven out of 10 people - supported the suicide operations, about 60% of those expressing their "strong" support.

The Palestinian view appears to be that, while their people - whether involved in the uprising or not - are being killed by Israeli forces, there is no reason why Israeli civilians should be exempt from the suffering.

That feeling apparently becomes stronger as Israel's counter-terror operations - and some would argue its collective punishment of Palestinians - have become harsher.

On the other hand, the support is less in the West Bank, where Palestinians have felt Israel's military might at first hand over the past few months, than in Gaza.

Another aspect of the increased radicalisation observed by JMCC is that, as the intifada progresses, Palestinians are increasingly demanding the liberation, not just of the West Bank and Gaza, but of all historic Palestine.

The proportion wanting a return to pre-1948 borders - in effect, the removal of Israel from the map - has risen to 51% from 44% since December 2001, while those merely seeking an end of the 1967 occupation has fallen from 48% to 43%.

This jars somewhat with Yasser Arafat's vision of the Palestinian struggle since the late 1980s, focusing on a "two state solution" through negotiating Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza.

In other words, the aspirations of many Palestinians have widened since engaging with Israel through the intifada.

Palestinian casualties may be far higher than Israel's, standards of living may have fallen far lower, but the population is finding that it can exchange body blows with the regional superpower and many believe that is the way to achieve their national goals.

Unfortunately for the Palestinians, what they see as their most potent weapon - the indiscriminate human bomb - is seen by almost everybody else as illegitimate terrorism, especially in a post-11 September world where the "war on terror" has become a universal clarion call.

A group of Palestinian liberal intellectuals has come out to say that suicide attacks are an obstacle to the achievement of legitimate goals enshrined by United Nations resolutions.

They are aware that attacks directed at the Israeli army would be more likely to garner international support, as many people around the world view Israel's occupation as illegal and unjust.

But increasingly, the broader population has set its sights on something more than ending the occupation - however unrealistic that might seem.

Mr Sharon, with his latest "territory for terror" policy which threatens to reoccupy a chunk of Palestinian-controlled land for every attack, hopes to shake the Palestinians back into the real world.

It is Israel that has the power - with Washington's backing - to call the shots in this struggle, and it is not going away.

He probably also hopes to give up less territory in a final settlement if suicide attacks continue and his policy comes into force.

So the Palestinians are pursuing a high risk strategy but, to paraphrase a certain Mrs Blair, maybe they feel they have no hope but to do that.

"The suicide bombers of today are the noble successors of their noble predecessors...the Lebanese suicide bombers, who taught the US Marines a tough lesson in [Lebanon]... These suicide bombers are the salt of the earth, the engines of history...They are the most honorable [people] among us..." [Al Hayat Al Jadida (official Palestinian news organization) Sept. 11, 2001].

BBC soft peddling on Arafat, kicking and screaming that they have to even write an article like this. The article is essentially juvenile in the current media environment, like the BBC had to write something to keep and legitimacy in a wizening up world.

Still the blame Sharon angle, and what the Palestinian view "appears to be." A poll last month by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre showed that a large majority - nearly seven out of 10 people - supported the suicide operations, about 60% of those expressing their "strong" support. The Palestinian view appears to be that, while their people - whether involved in the uprising or not - are being killed by Israeli forces, there is no reason why Israeli civilians should be exempt from the suffering.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.