Palestinian unity

I read with interest the article “Re-victimizing the victim” (March 7) by Jamal Doumani. It is indeed sad that the oppressor and the oppressed are treated in the same fashion. The verdict of the US court is a blot on the American judicial system. Having said that it is high time we changed ourselves before criticizing others. Palestinians are a divided people. I find it strange that instead of fighting a common enemy, they fight each other without realizing that their enemy feeds off this disunity.

Every Palestinian group appears to be at odds with the other. These differences are not tactical but ideological. With the same goal, these ideological differences make no sense. A leadership crisis is also a major issue facing the Palestinians. They need a dynamic personality capable of unifying all the opposing forces to achieve a common goal. I do share the writer’s optimism that one day Israel will have to pay for its crimes. But till then, the Palestinians need to forge unity among their ranks and set aside their petty differences. The unity deal between Hamas and Fatah came as a huge sigh of relief but its effects are yet to trickle down.

All Palestinian factions should agree on a comprehensive plan with one end in mind: Liberation from the cowardly occupation of the Zionists. To achieve this goal, they have to shun their differences and devise a strategy to work in tandem at the domestic and the international levels. The world would never take a divided people seriously. Palestinians need to halt attacks in the occupied territories. Although it is easier said than done but to achieve something big, they have to offer some sacrifice. tray its failure as a success. Such quick fixes don’t work in the long run and when it comes to a country like Iraq, which is a mosaic of different cultures and ideologies, only a concrete plan can work. Unfortunately, it is too late for that and the entire region is facing unprecedented sectarianism.

Saudi Arabia is playing a huge role in restoring peace in Iraq. Riyadh is undoubtedly the leader of the Muslims across the world. We are very confident that Saudi Arabia will use its influence in the western capitals to contain the flames of sectarianism in the region.