In Jeff Halper’s September update, he reflects on the history of the Palestinian people that has seen them time and again being marginalised without a patron or other institutional support to stand with them in their struggle to resist the Zionists who have sought Palestinian displacement and claimed their land. Jeff highlights three historic moments when the Palestinians were left on their own to fight their cause – around the time of the Balfour Declaration, during the Great Arab Revolt and then during the Oslo Peace Process. He contrasts this with the support that Israel has had from Britain, Arab nations and then the United States. Yet, despite the heavy cost, Palestinians have been able to keep their struggle alive.
Israel has believed that it could achieve its objectives using military might to overcome those it deems its enemies. However, with what has unfolded with Iran, this has backfired on Israel. The Gulf states are withdrawing their support for the Abraham Accords because Israel’s military actions have destabilised the Middle East. Instead, they are turning to China and the STEP project that involves Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, thus isolating Israel.
There can be no normalisation between Israel and the Arab States without resolving the Palestinian issue and this time round, internationals can play a role so that the Palestinians no longer feel marginalised. Jeff presents some ideas.
Stay connected to Palestinian partners on the ground whom you already know so they do not feel marginalised.
Widen your circle of Palestinian contacts to include voices of those who are not currently being heard.
Facilitate strategic links between professional organisations, i.e. Palestinian farmers with farmers unions from different countries.
Provide safe spaces where Palestinians, now so fragmented from one another, can gather to get to meet and dialogue about what they want.
Jeff ends by asking that we campaign to get a UN Protection Force put into place as soon as possible.