How will Israel -- particularly Israeli settlers -- react if Abbas is successful at the UN and a Palestinian state is admitted on 1967 borders, asks Saleh Al-Naami Although Palestinian flags are flying over shops, homes and cars in most towns in the West Bank, the Palestinian public does not seem very interested in the event that has ignited an unprecedented diplomatic battle between the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the one hand, and Israel and the US on the other. There is no consensus among Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as in the Gaza Strip, regarding Abbas's plan. Jamal Youssef, a shop owner on Omar Al-Mokhtar Street in Gaza City, and his neighbour Samir Suleiman are in the minority in caring about what is happening. They spend long hours debating the repercussions of Abbas's strategy. Youssef believes that the move "is wise and a stroke of genius; a practical and critical response to Israel's conduct", citing the "hysteria by Israeli officials about the Palestinian move". Suleiman counters that Abbas's actions is "a leap of faith that will not advance the national Palestinian cause, but instead undermine it". He agrees with the concerns of some Palestinian factions and circles that warn against going to the UN because it could mean a moratorium on Palestinian demands to uphold the right of return for Palestinian refugees. Other than in the West Bank, there are no signs or public activities in support of Abbas's move because of strong disagreement among Palestinian factions in Gaza on the plan. Fatah's position in supported by leftists factions within the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), while Hamas and the Islamic Jihad strongly disagree. Jamil Al-Majdalawi, member of the politburo of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), called on Palestinian factions across the spectrum to support the upcoming September move. "Irrespective of concerns about the September commitment or some of its unclear aspects or what policies will follow, it would be a mistake to undermine ourselves by our own hands," Al-Majdalawi argued. "National duty requires that unity overrides differences amongst ourselves as we battle our Israeli enemy that is supported by the US, and others who support them at every turn." Al-Majdalawi insisted that supporting this move "does not necessarily mean agreement or towing the official PA (Palestinian Authority) line, especially that it insists that negotiations are its first, second and third choice, before and after the UN [move]." Khaleda Jarara, Al-Majdalawi's colleague in the PFLP politburo, agrees that Abbas's position should be supported, but emphasised that her group approves of the UN move, as long as it is an alternative to continuing "farce" negotiations. Meanwhile, Hamas escalated its criticism of Abbas's plan. While in the past it allowed some mid-level group leaders to express their apprehensions about the move, it is now throwing its weight behind stripping Abbas's proposal of national legitimacy. Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh described the step as a "unilateral" move, declaring that his government rejects the PA taking unilateral decisions about the destiny of the Palestinian cause. Haniyeh slammed the PA's plan to go to the UN to request recognition for Palestinian statehood without consulting all active Palestinian factions, describing the move as a "political farce". Haniyeh described the UN move as "a lifeline for Israel and the US after the Arab revolutions", asserting "we should have waited for the Arab revolution and upheaval in Arab societies to strengthen the Palestinian position and protect Palestinian rights." Nemr Hammad, Abbas's political adviser, rejected Hamas's criticism and described the UN plan as a necessary step in light of Israel's refusal to present the Palestinian side with any tangible offer that would permanently freeze settlement building, and return to the negotiating table based on clear parameters and a specific timeline. Hammad is suspicious of the reasons behind the criticism of Abbas: "There is no reason to object to going to the UN unless you support Israel's position which claims that this land is disputed territory." Responding to Palestinian claims that the UN plan entails recognition of the Jewish character of Israel, Hammad countered: "The Palestinians definitively refuse to recognise Israel as a Jewish state." He emphasised that there is no prospect of negotiating with Netanyahu's government since it adopts an extremist position. As for the possibility that Palestine would only be accepted as an observer in the General Assembly, and not granted full membership and the powers of other states, Hammad noted: "The significance of observer status is that the state would be a full-fledged member of all UN organisations such as UNESCO, FAO and WHO, and would be able to initiate procedures with the International Criminal Court. That is why the Americans do not want us to go to the General Assembly." As part of a media campaign to promote Abbas's mission, Hammad strongly attacked Washington's opposition to going to the UN. "When Washington asks us not to go to the UN, we respond by asking in return for what?" he told Palestinian reporters. "Then they begin to say that Quartet envoy Tony Blair is drafting a declaration to re-launch talks. When Blair is asked about the content of this declaration, he simply responds: We want to combine your positions and Israel's. Our positions are clear and comply with international law and signed agreements, based on complete Israeli withdrawal from our territories occupied in 1967 and the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Meanwhile, Israel's position, through its actions, is to continue the Judaisation of Jerusalem and expanding settlements in the West Bank, Jerusalem and using negotiations to waste time and impose a de facto reality." Hammad indirectly accused US President Barack Obama of prioritising his re-election over solving the Palestinian problem. "Our cause will not be held hostage to the US elections," he retorted. "If this administration wants to prove its credibility in supporting the goals of the Arab revolutions for freedom, it should do so by supporting liberation, independence and sovereignty for the Palestinian people who are subjected to the cruellest form of occupation." But Palestinians are most concerned right now that Jewish settlers will use the September move to launch mass attacks against Palestinian cities, towns and villages, especially in the West Bank. Hence, Palestinian youth have organised themselves into groups to confront settlers. One such group announced the creation of an operations room to confront attacks by settlers.
