Palestinian annus horribilis
By
Abdel-Qader Yassin
The year 2002 was the Palestinians' most painful, as they suffered an unprecedented escalation in Israeli military operations against unarmed civilians in the West Bank and Gaza. In response to this ferocity, the Palestinians increased the frequency of suicide operations. Meanwhile, the siege on Arafat continued, and Palestinian intelligence and security apparatuses arrested activists and agreed to hand over persons wanted by Israel.
Although the Intifada proceeded without a united Palestinian front, various factions were able in August to reach a consensus on a national plan of action; however, at the last minute Hamas and Fatah refused to sign it. Despite opposition, Arafat was able to narrowly secure a vote of confidence the second time he presented his new cabinet to the Palestinian Legislative Council in late October.
The following month, Cairo hosted talks between Hamas and Fatah, but when the meetings did not produce results, further talks were scheduled between Jihad, the PFLP and the DFLP to revise the national plan. Arafat, however, attempted to undermine the Cairo talks by requesting that marginal groups be included in the meetings.
The US administration continued to boycott Arafat, on the basis that it was waiting for him to create the post of prime minister. Meanwhile, the European and Russian positions remained ambiguous and the Security Council issued several resolutions critical of Israel. The occupying power, however, continued to defy this expression of international will, heavily relying on American support so as to maintain its intransigent ways.
This week's Soapbox speaker is a Cairo-based Palestinian political activist.
