| Violence-Diplomacy strategy |
Palestinian leaders from both Fatah and Hamas argue that terror -- including suicide terror against Israel, which they call “resistance” or “armed struggle” -- is as a valid political tool, and should be combined with diplomacy. They refer to violence as “seeding,” which is followed by diplomacy; i.e. stopping terror in order to let diplomacy reap the fruits of the terror. Palestinians have argued that in recent years this tactic has proven to be a successful strategy.
Fatah say that Yasser Arafat represents the model, the “expert on the timing of seeding the [armed] struggle and reaping diplomacy.” [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 9, 2006]. Hamas argues that it has succeeded: “Praise to Allah, we [Hamas] have demonstrated glowing success in combining diplomacy and resistance.” [Hamas representative Ayman Taha, Al-Rissala, May 17, 2007].
Most importantly, the use of Palestinian terror is seen as a function of its profitability and the PA’s capabilities. As former Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei (Abu Alaa) said in August 2010 when asked if the Palestinians should be using armed “resistance”:
"I see and analyze. And if it [resistance] gives me [benefit] without costing me, yes." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 5, 2010].
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has expressed this sentiment as well: "Now (in 2008) we are against armed conflict because we are unable. In the future stages, things may be different. I was honored to be the one to shoot the first bullet in 1965 [Fatah terror against Israel began in 1965], and having taught resistance to many in this area and around the world, defining it and when it is beneficial and when it is not... we had the honor of leading the resistance. We taught everyone what resistance is, including the Hezbollah, who were trained in our [Fatah] camps." [Al-Dustur, Jordan, Feb. 28, 2008]
Palestinians across the political spectrum state that “armed resistance” is a valid tool. Moreover, if after the current stage of negotiations the Palestinians feel that they have not achieved their political demands, they will return to violence -- as soon as it is beneficial and they are able. |
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