The most recent Israeli-Palestinian clash which has remarkably instigated over the course of the very last days of the holy month of Ramadan—and, remains ongoing at present—sprung solely from partisan—if not personal—political agendas pursued within the interior of both sides.
Alas! The crowd is yet ignorant!
Here are the underlying facts (those, people on social media have miraculously managed to turn a blind eye to):
On 29 April 2021, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas postponed both parliamentary and presidential elections,
“He blamed Israel for uncertainty about whether it would allow the elections to proceed in East Jerusalem as well as in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.” (Reuters, Al-mughrabi, Sawafta, & Ayyub)
Meanwhile, Abbas has been under tremendous pressure, as his grip of power over his own party, Fatah, is petering—due to the growing power and influence of younger partisans (Reuters, Al-mughrabi, Sawafta, & Ayyub).
Thus, it was more of a fear of losing his foothold within his own party under the heat of electoral excitement—which in rerum natura brews the clouds of change at all levels—than a fear of Fatah losing parliamentary control to Hamas, or Israeli obstruction of the voting process inside Jerusalem.
Simultaneously, on the other side, in Israel, the acting Prime Minister is struggling to form a government—whereas the opposition seems to be making more progress towards that end (Amanpour). Simply put, he could lose his premiership.
As such, the Palestinian President and the Israeli Prime Minister found themselves cornered next to each other.
It should be thus sensus communis to the observer that, the political leadership on both sides has had ulterior motives for stirring up the current confrontation—leveraging their current political standing—whilst harnessing political capital in the process.
The emotional appeal is surely heartbreaking and BEYOND ANY CONTESTATION! Men, women, and children—the elderly and the young alike—are being butchered [Note: disproportionately, one has to admit]; and, for what?
For two men clinging onto power by all means and at all cost!
My sincere apologies, but the truth has to be said. The truth of the matter is this:
This particular escalation (i.e. the one at Sheikh Jarrah and its repercussions), feud/clash, confrontation, or whatever you wish to name it [that doesn’t matter, anyways] is not, and never was, about forceful occupation; nor religious extremism/intolerance; neither resistance. In fine, it is a mere choreography—simulating political bankruptcy [with emphasis]—performed by the Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestinian President.
Unfortunately! Like cattle, the ‘common’ (i.e. politically illiterate) crowd is being led to death on both sides: with no machination of any sophistication beyond clichéd suggestion and symbolism. They are set on a path of assuming a double paradoxical identity: that of simultaneously being the murdered and the murderer.
There are moderate voices in both Palestine and Israel. These are the voices the international community—namely, the two superpowers i.e. the United States and the Russian Federation—ought to recognize and support. Notwithstanding, under the aegis of the ignorant crowd, radicals are kept in power on both sides.
Reference
“Christiane Amanpour on Facebook Watch.” Facebook Watch, 12 May 2021, www.facebook.com/camanpour/posts/316956203131000.
Reuters, Al-mughrabi, Sawafta &. Ayyub. “Palestinian Leader Delays Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, Blaming Israel.” Reuters, 29 Apr. 2021, www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-elections-delayed-says-president-mahmoud-abbas-2021-04-29/.
