While the war in Gaza is challenging to endure, it also provokes a different kind of reflection from the traditionally more detached academic responses. Numerous voices now assert the right to speak on behalf of the Palestinians and seek to influence their future and direct the course of this new phase. But what about the Palestinians themselves? Aren’t they the rightful architects of their own political destiny?

As the war persists, statements like those by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the two-state solution and restructuring the PA to govern both Gaza and the West Bank require further discussion.

Since the Oslo Accords were signed in the mid-1990s, Palestinians have faced geographic division. Initially, the accords formalized the various Palestinian groups in the region and created a hierarchy between those living in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem and those officially residing in Israel, often referred to as the “1948 Arabs.” Furthermore, the agreements prompted the neoliberalization of the Palestinian economy, leading to significant income disparities in a region that was previously more egalitarian. Palestinian unity was fragmented, resulting in a divide between political elites and olive growers, and, crucially, between idealists and pragmatists in the face of Israel’s aggressive expansion.

Thus, the complexity of Palestinian governance and sovereignty is evident. Initially, the PLO served as a comprehensive representative for the Palestinians, including those in the diaspora and those in the territories. The establishment of the PA, aimed at representing Palestinians in the territories, added a new layer to this framework. However, since its inception, the PA’s individual leadership has overshadowed its institutional development. This trend has failed to provide the necessary stability or clarity for effective Palestinian self-governance, a reality highlighted by the uncertainty surrounding Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s succession and the instability in legislative processes since the Palestinian Legislative Council was dissolved in 2018.

Therefore, the floating proposals to empower a new Palestinian prime minister as part of a restructuring of the PA raises questions about the authority’s efficacy, given its limited success in Palestine previously. Contemplating the day after the current war may seem premature because of the unpredictability of events, but if discussions turn toward restructuring the Palestinian institutions, a critical evaluation of their suitability and effectiveness in a complex context is essential.

العنوان

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

الناشر

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

بلد الناشر

الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية

نوع المنشور

إلكتروني فقط

المجلد

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السنة

2024

الصفحات

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