The Palestinian election and nonviolent resistance -Jan 18, 2005

by Art Gish

The recent election is a major topic of discussion among the Palestinians I know. I hear everything from excitement to cynicism, everything from how great Mahmoud Abbas (commonly known as Abu Mazen) is, to comments that he is a tool of the Israelis and the Americans.

In spite of Abu Mazen's 62 percent of the vote, only 45 percent of the eligible voters voted. Therefore, about 30 percent of the Palestinian electorate actually voted for Abu Mazen. These statistics they say, are hardly a mandate.

Additionally, some Palestinians tell me that Abu Mazen has no real power. Israelis and the Americans have the power. Abu Mazen can get from the Israelis only what they want to give him. Palestinians doubt that the Israelis are willing to give much. In fact, the Israelis keep taking more Palestinian land every day.

Many Palestinians believe the role the Americans and Israelis intend for Abu Mazen is that of an enforcer, keeping the Palestinian people under control, so that American and Israeli interests will prevail.

That scenario doesn't have to happen. Abu Mazen and the Palestinian people can define their own roles and reframe the whole discussion. Abu Mazen's role could be leading the Palestinian nonviolent resistance and working to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

Now is a critical moment for Israel and Palestine. Hopes are high throughout the world. With new Palestinian leadership and a new coalition government in Israel, people hope for new opportunities to make peace.

If that hope is misplaced, however, the resulting disappointment could be an aid to building international support for a massive nonviolent campaign to end the Israeli occupation sooner. If Israel and America reject this opening for peace, then the Palestinian resistance will seem reasonable.

I hear people in Palestine hoping that Abu Mazen will emerge as a leader of the Palestinian movement and bring focus to a new phase of nonviolent resistance that will have the support of the international community. That type of resistance could change everything.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, and Quakers) with support and membership from a range of Catholic and Protestant denominations. Supporting violence-reduction efforts around the world is its mandate.

Article reproduced with the kind permission of Christian Peacemaker Teams