After six decades of occupation Palestinian revolt should not be ruled out
(Op-ed) Ramzy Baroud Thursday 29th March, 2012
• Israeli report says Palestinian uprising unlikely this year
• Palestinians expected to continue efforts to isolate Israel
• Israel continues to dominate political discourse
When will the Palestinians revolt?
The answer, according to an Israeli official: not this year (as quoted by Agency France Press).
An internal Israeli Foreign Ministry report last month also concluded that a third Palestinian intifada or uprising was 'unlikely' this year. According to the unnamed official, "This report, which is more than 100 pages long, judges that an explosion of generalized violence in the form of a third intifada is unlikely."
Instead, it was resolved that Palestinians would "continue to seize all opportunities to isolate Israel on the international stage" (AFP, Feb 28).
After six decades of occupation, Israeli government strategists are yet to realize that the Palestinian people are not a singular body of blind followers who can be easily manipulated and controlled.
The erroneous Israeli perception defines the very fundamentals of Israel's political discourse and subsequent policies towards Palestinians. A famous statement by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in March 2002 signifies Israel's official and reductionist view of the enemy: "The Palestinians must be hit and it must be very painful: we must cause them losses, victims, so that they feel the heavy price" (Znet).
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