Michael Warschawski for the Alternative Information Center (AIC)
The recent announcement that Israel is revoking Palestinian Authority President Mahmous Abbas VIP status, which allows him to move more freely than most Palestinians, reminds that the Israeli occupation controls everything and everyone, even the most obedient of Palestinian politicans. But there is one thing Israel cannot take from the Palestinian people--their dignity.
We learned yesterday thatIsrael Israel Israel
But Mahmoud Abbas is not entirely blameless here. He erred. For years he waited with endless patience by the door of Israeli prime ministers, in accordance with the suggestions (read: orders) of the heads of the international community. When this led nowhere, he demonstrated initiative and courage and turned to the United Nations. When the UN Security Council brushed him off, he acted like a cultured man-- he didn’t raise his voice or upturn tables, but said “excuse me” and returned home.
However, for the colonial master, this was too much. “What is this unilateral initiative?” he asked, “it was possible to discuss this together, to coordinate positions…” And the truth lies with the master: in colonialism, the right to unilateralism is the sole possession of the colonial regime, not of the occupied.
Israel
Confiscation of lands, theft of water, closing of territories, deportation, moving of population, home demolitions, settlers and settlements – all these are an integral part of the colonial regime at various stages in Palestine since the beginning of Zionist colonialism and through today. It involves violence and force, control and violation of rights.
It also involves humiliation of the one supposed to represent and lead the occupied population.
However, this aspect of the colonial regime is different from the others in one important way: even in the most terrible power relations, the occupied population has the ability to refuse to cooperate. Through a civil or armed struggle, in diplomatic actions or popular mobilization in the streets, actively or passively – all in accordance with the peoples’ will.
It is possible to take away the lands, liberty, and lives of an occupied people. But not their dignity. And even if their leaders are willing to relinquish their dignity, they cannot, for it does not belong to them but to their people.
The Qalandia checkpoint, which Abu Mazen might find himself subject to now that Israel has stripped him of his VIP status (photo: flickr/rguha)
We learned yesterday that
But Mahmoud Abbas is not entirely blameless here. He erred. For years he waited with endless patience by the door of Israeli prime ministers, in accordance with the suggestions (read: orders) of the heads of the international community. When this led nowhere, he demonstrated initiative and courage and turned to the United Nations. When the UN Security Council brushed him off, he acted like a cultured man-- he didn’t raise his voice or upturn tables, but said “excuse me” and returned home.
However, for the colonial master, this was too much. “What is this unilateral initiative?” he asked, “it was possible to discuss this together, to coordinate positions…” And the truth lies with the master: in colonialism, the right to unilateralism is the sole possession of the colonial regime, not of the occupied.
Confiscation of lands, theft of water, closing of territories, deportation, moving of population, home demolitions, settlers and settlements – all these are an integral part of the colonial regime at various stages in Palestine since the beginning of Zionist colonialism and through today. It involves violence and force, control and violation of rights.
It also involves humiliation of the one supposed to represent and lead the occupied population.
However, this aspect of the colonial regime is different from the others in one important way: even in the most terrible power relations, the occupied population has the ability to refuse to cooperate. Through a civil or armed struggle, in diplomatic actions or popular mobilization in the streets, actively or passively – all in accordance with the peoples’ will.
It is possible to take away the lands, liberty, and lives of an occupied people. But not their dignity. And even if their leaders are willing to relinquish their dignity, they cannot, for it does not belong to them but to their people.
Uprooted Palestinian The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!
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