Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was to speak as this column went to press to “explain what happened in Gaza.” About time. The fact that all parties but the Palestinian presidency have utilized the media to “explain” is a major shortcoming on the part of the Palestinian leadership. The world does not “understand” by default.

A short surf on the net is enough to realize how powerful the Islamist propaganda machine is and how effective is its influence on Islamic and Arab public opinion, including that of the “secularists” and “democrats” who have the impression that the Hamas sacked government was elected and now removed despite the “will of the people!”

Many have been made to believe that Hamas that had declared a unilateral “hudna” (seize-fire) with Israel for over two years are the “mujahideen” and Fateh whose freedom fighters are killed by Israel on a daily basis are the “agents of Israel and the USA!”

In this day and age communications can turn the devil into angel and beat the angel to a pulp. Under the hammer of a heavy propaganda machine supported by international networks even “legitimacy” becomes so elastic that it is no longer visible!

As lame as that would be, Abbas would do some good if he was to explain the basics of the Palestinian constitution. Under the constitution, and whereas the Palestinian Authority is a presidential system, he is the elected leader of the Palestinian people. He is the one who appointed the first Hamas government and the second unity government and has the constitutional right to sack “his” governments as he sees fit.

No party in Palestine has the right to pick and chose what it likes of the law and reject what it doesn’t. Hamas could have chosen to stay in the Legislative Council were it won its seats in elections, and had it been honest, it should have refused the offer to form a government when it had no plan to abide by the directives of the President or to respect the law of the Authority. They could have also chosen to honor the Makkah agreement or accept Abass’s offers to run presidential elections instead of plunging into murder and mayhem to seize Gaza by force.

Abbas needs to explain that according to the legitimate law of the authority, its security establishments are under the leadership of the presidency. When “his” supposed government demanded to take control of the security apparatuses, it was an attempt to take over the presidency. When “his” supposed government created an illegal brutal force that takes its orders from Khaled Meshaal in Damascus and built it to the hilt until it was ready then carried out a coup d'état in Gaza, he sacked it.

He needs to explain to the world that he is the president of all Palestinians and therefore he will work to bring to justice the brutal gangs that murdered those good men who Israel has been trying to kill for decades. Those who destroyed the security establishments and pillaged homes including the President’s, that of the late Yasser Arafat and the home of the late Khalil Al Wazir are outlaws that will face justice.

But justice under occupation is not easy to achieve. Reigning in the traitors in Gaza who replaced the flags of Palestine on official institutions with the colors of their gangs is unfortunately in the hands of Israel that occupies Gaza and the West Bank.

The water, food and of course monies and what monies can buy in addition to people and vehicles that enter Gaza or the West Bank are allowed or blocked by the Israeli occupation forces as the Israeli government sees fit.

While the Authority was under a harsh financial boycott since January, all PA employees including the members of the security apparatuses ran dry of income and went out of ammunition and weapons.

During the same period Hamas personalities went on world tours with Israeli security permits only to cross back into Gaza with suitcases packed with hundreds of millions of dollars part of which was collected by the members of their extended Islamist network, and the remainder paid by foreign governments in return for a say. They also brought in advance telecommunications technology and whatever else they needed to carry out their coup.

The cash that Israel allowed Hamas to bring into Gaza was used to well-arm and dress up the “executive” gangs and to feed their supporters; the only ones who were enjoying substantial aid under the international boycott that starved the rest of the Palestinian population.

With the illegal take-over of Gaza, Ariel Sharon’s “Bandustan” plan is now complete. Sharon believed that the failed attempt of the fallen regime of apartheid in South Africa in which blacks were limited to self-rule cantons could work on Palestine.

He and his Ehud Olmert designed the political severance of the West Bank from Gaza and divided the West Bank into four territories through the Wall of Separation and building of settlements in key and strategic locations.

The only way Gaza can be separated from the West Bank was through empowering Hamas in Gaza and giving it the opportunity to steal power. Israel knew that Hamas would do it, only if it could.

Sharon believed that by dividing Palestine into cantons it will become much more difficult to push Israel into a political settlement on the pretext that there is no such thing as a unified Palestinian leadership to negotiate with, and of course a divided Palestine becomes much easier to manage under occupation; long term.

Olmert has been loyally implementing his mentor’s plan which includes the building of 20,000 more settlement units inside Jerusalem; a step already in action that would make it more difficult to return the eastern part of the city back to its lawful owners. Why would Olmert allow Abbas to reign in the criminals in Gaza?

Olmert was full of joy in Washington D.C. as he declared that Israel will now support the new Palestinian government since Hamas is no longer part of it, and of course he promised not starve the Palestinians in Gaza too! Hadn’t Sharon been in a coma today he would be throwing a party in celebration of Hamas and its “victory.”
Now after the scheme is implemented, the world will lift the financial boycott that weakened Abbas and the legitimate authorities and allowed Hamas to steal Gaza where they are now playing Talban.

The criminals must have mistaken the Statue of The Unknown Soldier that represents the fallen during decades of armed struggle against occupation as a heretical “sanam” for them to uproot it and drag it in a disgusting show of disrespect for the martyrs of Palestine who are still falling.

Unfortunately for Palestine, Hamas that is confident Israel will not dismantle its newly found rein also enjoys the support of Iran and Syria that have managed to secure a valuable negotiations card from Khalid Meshaal who put the card up for sale and closed the deal with the highest bidder.

Unfortunately for Meshaal and his thugs, his likes have always lost in the end. Every group that turned against Palestine at the service of others, like Abu Mussa, Abu Khaled el amleh and Abu Nidal before them, found themselves in the dust bins of history.

Iran and Syria now may have say power over any future solution of the Middle East crisis, and they will nurture and nourish the new state of affairs in Gaza to keep that playing card in their hands.

Israel will allow it to happen because it serves its purposes for Palestine to be hostage to the standoff between Iran/Syria and the USA, just like Lebanon and Iraq are. But the “great victory” of Israel in which Palestine lost this bout is temporary.
Just like the Bandustan project of South Africa failed miserably in keeping the state of apartheid alive, Israel’s scheme will also fail because at the end of the day Palestine will naturally cleanse itself from those who chose treason and turned their guns against the legitimate leadership.

Meanwhile, with the lack of military power in the face of occupation and those who sold the cause in return for cash, Abbas must engage decent communications to reach out for public support in the face of Israel’s designs.

Mr. President, good intentions are not enough. For the truth to prevail, it needs to be communicated!