Their Own Worst Foe

Jun 21, 06:20 AM

Current Headlines: If I could talk to the Palestinian people, and particularly to their warring leaders, I would remind them of what so many oppressed people learned too late: They have become their own worst enemy.

If I had the opportunity to speak _ even for a moment _ to my Palestinian brothers and sisters, with whom I have sympathized for decades, I would try my best to explain to them how they are becoming saboteurs of their own struggle.

Although I've never claimed to understand the centuries-old conflicts in the Middle East, there is one principle of domination that has always worked with a subjugated people, no matter how cruel or benevolent the person or government in power.

You see, it's an age-old tenet and tactic used by masters over slaves. As a descendant of slaves in America, and one who has studied plantation politics before and after emancipation, I see quite clearly that the best way for a ruling minority to control a downtrodden majority is to keep it divided.

I dare say it is the greatest weapon in an oppressor's arsenal. If the oppressed are busy fighting one another, they don't have time to plan, organize or fight for their own liberation.

And that brings us to the current Palestinian dilemma.

During the past several years, there have been many glimmers of hope that the Palestinians and the Israelis would finally stop killing each other and find a way to live in peace on that small parcel of land they both claim as home. But every time hope shows its face, someone whose power is rooted in conflict rather than peace finds a way to create more turmoil rather than tranquility.

It certainly didn't help that the current administration in Washington chose from the beginning not to engage the Palestinian leadership because our president didn't like or trust Yasser Arafat, the head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization at the time.

Even after Arafat's death, this country basically remained disengaged but all the while it was adamant about having truly democratic elections in the Palestinian territories. The only problem was that American leaders didn't foresee that Palestinians voting in the parliamentary elections would choose a majority of leaders from the militant Hamas organization, which still refuses to recognize Israel and obviously still believes in violence.

So we cut off aid to the Palestinian people. Europe followed suit, and Israel refused to release hundreds of millions of tax and duty dollars that rightfully belonged to the Palestinians.

Although I thought that was a mistake because it brought even more hardship to a suffering people, I could not have foreseen that Hamas and its rival Fatah (the more moderate group favored by the West) would go to war.

Now, after weeks of bloody battles, Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. Fatah's head, Mahmoud Abbas, has dissolved the old government and formed a new one on the West Bank.

The Bush administration, the Israeli government and many in the European Union have applauded Abbas' actions, and they have announced that financial aid will began to flow again to the Palestinians _ at least to half of them.

What about the more than 1 million Palestinians under Hamas control in Gaza? How do you get aid to those who are sure to suffer food shortages in a matter of weeks, if not days?

Once again, the Palestinians' leadership has failed them.

I know it is only wishful thinking, but somehow Hamas and Fatah must declare a lasting truce and figure out how they can work together for all the people. And, of course, the Hamas militants must abandon their violent tactics toward the Israelis.

I have long supported a two-state solution _ but I certainly was not thinking of two Palestinian states.

For years I have criticized Israeli leaders for building settlements on occupied land, for assassinating Palestinian leaders and for what I considered to be too many harsh overreactions to violence by a handful of radicals. I've also praised Israeli leaders who on occasion made overtures toward peace.

Now I reserve my harshest criticism for the Palestinian people who are tolerating a leadership bent on destroying all hope _ about the only thing they have left.

If I could speak to them, I would tell them that they must once again unite _ that they have nothing to gain by fighting one another but, rather, everything to lose, including the support of many around the world who have stood by them in some of their darkest days.

And if I could speak to leaders of the United States and Israel, I would tell them ... oh, never mind. They wouldn't listen anyway.

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ABOUT THE WRITER

Bob Ray Sanders is a columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Readers may write to him at: 400 W. 7th Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, or via e-mail at bobray@star-telegram.com.

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