After the truce
By
Abdel-Qader Yassin
Five Palestinian factions have declared a three-month unilateral truce, after months of prodding by Egypt and the EU. Only Al-Aqsa Brigades, Fatah's military wing, announced a six-month truce -- perhaps Arafat's way of suggesting that, in certain quarters, he still wields more power than Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, though a part of the deal, voiced some reservations. But what does the truce really mean?
The Israelis have acted as if they couldn't care less. This tactical indifference was damaging to Mahmoud Abbas, who tended his resignation from Fatah's Central Committee and cancelled a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Ariel Sharon. Neither Washington nor the EU were pleased by Israel's unwillingness to reciprocate.
So why has Israel acted as if the Palestinian truce did not matter? Simply, because Sharon didn't like the way things were going. He fears that if things calm down his services will no longer be needed. He was elected by a fearful nation and is worried that, in a less tense situation, the Israelis may opt for a more flexible government, perhaps one led by Labour. Sharon, consequently, will do his best to torpedo the truce.
The Palestinians cannot afford to let down their guard. Israel may yet use the truce to escalate its military attacks and make it harder for the Intifada to resume. What the Palestinians must do now is move on and create a collective, national command. The Palestinians have looked into the abyss of civil war and cringed at the prospect. Now they have to capitalise on their new-found unity. The formation of a collective command will help the Palestinians hold their ground and rally international opinion to their cause.
* This week's Soapbox speaker is a Cairo- based Palestinian political activist
