Cairo dialogue
By
Amr Elchoubaki
Egypt has succeeded in bringing together 13 factions from across the Palestinian political spectrum for talks in Cairo that aim at creating a national frame of reference and an agreement on a basic plan for the course of the Palestinian struggle in the coming phase. This dialogue is important because it emphasises the significance of Palestinian awareness of a higher code of conduct that all Palestinian factions must agree upon -- even if some individuals or fringe groups may diverge from it. In addition, the dialogue highlights resistance as a strategic choice, regardless of the means it is being exercised.
Supreme national Palestinian interests, which are often violated for narrow political gains by various factions, must now be seen as a basis for a Palestinian national agenda, as the people struggle to liberate themselves from the last remaining racist occupying power in the world. The methods of resistance, the only strategy left for the Palestinian people, should vary in order to suit particular circumstances and the degree to which they serve the Palestinian struggle.
It will be a source of pride for the Palestinians if their brand of resistance becomes a model to be emulated by freedom fighters across the globe. It would also be proof that there are still forms of insurgency in the Arab world that abide by humanitarian values and rules of international legitimacy in the face of an opponent that knows only murder, violence and defiance of humanitarian and legitimate rights.
The time has come for the Palestinians to realise that their agreement on this framework is not only a pact among political factions, but also a convergence on supreme values that sends a humanitarian message to the world about liberation, justice and equality.
This week's Soapbox speaker is analyst at Al-Ahram Centre of Political and Strategic Studies.
