FRESH AIR

UPDATES

Welcome to electioneering… Palestinian-style

Aug 12, 2016 | Gareth Narunsky

Welcome to electioneering… Palestinian-style
A still from the Hamas video

For many of us, elections evoke images of big promises, political attack ads, leaders debates and corny images of politicians kissing babies.

In the Palestinian Authority, however, where Fatah and Hamas are due to contest municipal elections on October 8, campaigning works a little differently.

One example is political parties listing their achievements. A very normal part of a campaign – indeed, prior to Australia’s recent election, the government boasted about various successes – real or embellished – in border security, trade and other matters.

Fatah is boasting about its achievements too. But it’s not boasting about improving the lives of West Bank Palestinians or the infrastructure they rely on.

No, the so-called “moderate” Fatah organisation boasted on its Facebook page last week that it has killed 11,000 Israelis. It also boasted of sacrificing 170,000 martyrs and being the first Palestinian group to carry out acts of violence in both the first and second intifadas. In the culture of hate Fatah has helped to create, this is what it thinks will win it votes.

While the number of Israelis killed is fortunately grossly exaggerated, such a Facebook post should be very sobering to anyone who thinks of Fatah as moderate, or insists Mahmoud Abbas – who, 11 years into a four year presidential term is yet to face fresh elections himself – is willing and able to be Israel’s peace partner for a genuine two-state resolution of the sort most international observers envision.

The Islamist terror group Hamas, which rules Gaza with an iron fist after coming to power in a mini-coup, is also boasting. What is surprising though, for an organisation whose charter welcomes the death of Jews, is that a key boast it’s making has nothing to do with murdering Israelis or achieving “martyrdom”. Well, maybe a little.

As part of its social media campaign, Hamas has released a video portraying Gaza as a paradise. It features beautiful mosques, modern apartment buildings and shopping centres, glittering beaches and smiling Palestinians holding placards that read #ThankyouHamas in Arabic. Amongst that footage, a rocket monument pays tribute to Hamas’ deadly intent to murder Israelis.

Aside from the fact that the video contradicts Hamas’ message to the world – so easily believed by anti-Zionists in the West – that Israel’s actions have turned Gaza into an impoverished open-air prison – Hamas’ claim to be a positive force making Gaza a paradise for its residents is just absurd. Far from building infrastructure and looking after the citizens of Gaza, Hamas diverts cement and other building materials meant for civilian projects to its military infrastructure and terror attack tunnels, and currently faces fresh allegations of diverting international aid money into its own coffers.

This is in addition to the regime’s systematic human rights violations since it violently seized totalitarian control of Gaza in 2007, such as suppressing free speech, executing citizens suspected of “collaborating” with Israel and using Palestinians as human shields. #ThankyouHamas for exactly what?

The fierce rivalry between Fatah and Hamas, who have accused each other of trying to sabotage the elections, shows no signs of abating, and the losers will be the Palestinian people themselves. Even the terrorist group Islamic Jihad has spoken out and is demanding the two heavyweights reconcile for the good of the Palestinian people.

Indeed, the municipal elections come at a time when the hopelessly corrupt Palestinian Authority is struggling to even maintain its authority over parts of the West Bank. With no succession plan in place for the 81-year-old Abbas, should he exit the picture any time soon – with infighting and anarchy almost certain to ensue – the forthcoming municipal elections may end up not meaning much at all.

Gareth Narunsky

 

Tags:

RELATED ARTICLES


Palestinian Islamic Jihad (image: Shutterstock/Anas-Mohammed)

Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the shell game in Gaza

May 12, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Anti-Houthi demonstrations in Taiz, Yemen, 2014

Yemen’s Future: Partition, Hezbollisation or Talibanisation?

May 5, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Cyber

No increased Iranian cyberthreat to Israel

May 3, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR
China Iran

China won’t and can’t help Israel with Iran

Apr 28, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Parade Of IRGC Tank Transporters

Iran’s ongoing strategic success across a mercurial Middle East

Apr 20, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot from a video of the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on April 15, 2023 (Credit: Twitter)

Local reports on Holy Sepulchre flare-up omit key information

Apr 19, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Screenshot from a tiktok video showing Palestinian Islamic Jihad rockets being launched at Israel from amidst civilians in a heavily populated area of Gaza

“Shield and Arrow”: Yet another Gaza conflict

May 12, 2023 | Update
Israelis celebrating Independence Day (Yom  Ha'atzmaut) in Tel Aviv (Photo: Shutterstock, Orlov Sergei)

Reflections on Israel’s 75th Birthday

May 3, 2023 | Update
Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu announces a pause in his Government's judicial reform plans in a televised address on Monday, March 27  (Image: Youtube screenshot)

Israel’s controversial judicial reforms put on hold

Mar 29, 2023 | Update
Image: Shutterstock

The implications of the Iran-Saudi deal

Mar 17, 2023 | Update
A joint air force drill during the Israel-US "Juniper Oak" military exercises in January, which were widely interpreted as sending a signal to Iran (Image: Pentagon)

New diplomatic strategies with Iran for 2023

Mar 10, 2023 | Update
Screenshot from a video showing radical Israeli rioters torching Palestinian homes in the West Bank town of Huwara (Image: Twitter)

West Bank unrest escalates following violent riots by Jewish protesters in Huwara

Mar 1, 2023 | Update

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

Senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders attend a meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader in Teheran, Iran (Image via Iran’s Supreme Leader’s website)

Essay: A New Multifront Strategy?

Erdogan vs. Kilicdaroglu: The former looks all but guaranteed to win a second round on May 29 (Image: Tolga Ildun/ Shutterstock)

What does Turkey’s election mean for Israel?

Netanyahu (right), with Defence Minister Gallant (top left), IDF Chief of Staff Halevi (bottom left) and other security officials (Image: GPO/ Flickr)

Israeli politics after “Shield and Arrow”

Biblio File: A Bob One Way

A scene from the movie BlacKkKlansman, which recalls an era of Blacks and Jews making common cause

Europa Europa: Antisemitism is its own thing

Senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders attend a meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader in Teheran, Iran (Image via Iran’s Supreme Leader’s website)

Essay: A New Multifront Strategy?

Erdogan vs. Kilicdaroglu: The former looks all but guaranteed to win a second round on May 29 (Image: Tolga Ildun/ Shutterstock)

What does Turkey’s election mean for Israel?

Netanyahu (right), with Defence Minister Gallant (top left), IDF Chief of Staff Halevi (bottom left) and other security officials (Image: GPO/ Flickr)

Israeli politics after “Shield and Arrow”

Biblio File: A Bob One Way

A scene from the movie BlacKkKlansman, which recalls an era of Blacks and Jews making common cause

Europa Europa: Antisemitism is its own thing

SORT BY TOPICS