Too Many Chiefs, Not Enough Indians

Late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat used to tell a story that sums up the Palestinian situation today. The story was about a Palestinian man who moved to India and became a popular god.

One day, the Palestinian man and Arafat met in India and had the following exchange:  

Palestinian man in India:  "Mr. Arafat, ever since I moved from Palestine to India, I became a god, and now I have a following of six million loyal and dedicated people."

Arafat looks the man in the eyes and says: "My brother, you are a god to six million people in India, but I am a president to six million gods in Palestine."

In short, Arafat always reminded his guests that he is ruling in a place where there are too many chiefs but not enough Indians.

Hamas answered President Abbas' call for elections on January 24 by announcing that they also might hold presidential elections in Gaza on the same day. This would mean two Palestinian presidents, two parliaments, and eventually two Palestinian states. 

What would Arafat have done if Hamas took over Gaza while he was alive? Arafat would have travelled to Gaza, kissed and made up with Hamas' leadership on television, and called them brothers and announced that the Palestinian blood would never become water.  On the same night, he would have ordered the arrest of all their men, and crippled their ability to ever challenge his authority again.   

President Abbas could never do what Arafat might have done. That is why when the Palestinians elected Abbas, they thought of him as a transition figure; not as a new leader with a new style of leadership that would replace Arafat's era.

 Abbas gets upset, takes matters personally, and sends delegations to talk to Hamas in Cairo.  This is exactly what Hamas wants: to be seen as a legitimate and equal partner in governance, so that they eventually could control both the West Bank and Gaza.

So far, President Abbas has failed as a transition figure. Whether or not he is fully to blame for the failure is a different question. The fact remains that he has not introduced a new style of leadership and vision that would lead the Palestinians to a better future.

For example, Abbas is yet to even appoint a deputy president, or pursue corrupt figures. I know of a story where someone tried to bribe Abbas himself, and all what Abbas did was to get upset, refuse the bribe, and stop talking to the person. What happened to the rule of law? Why isn't that person in jail, Mr. President?

In my opinion, Abbas should do the following:  as the Palestinian president he should rise above Fatah and Hamas, and decide not to seek re-election. 

He should set precedent by appointing a capable person like the current Prime Minister Salam Fayyad as his deputy, and declare his support for independent personalities that could benefit the Palestinian people. Fayyad has done a marvelous job in building Palestinian institutions that will form the foundation for a future Palestinian state.   What we need, Mr. President is more Indians and less chiefs.

 

Comments

[S1m0n]

Fatah lost a fair election to Hamas, and then refused to step down. Hamas didn't 'take over' Gaza; Gaza is the place where the Abbas-lead Fatah's coup failed.

[alysheba 3]

Abbas is not the Palestinian President. Abbas was not re-elected.

"On January 25, 2006, elections were held for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), the legislature of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Notwithstanding the 2005 municipal elections and the January 9, 2005 presidential election, this was the first election to the PLC since 1996; subsequent elections had been repeatedly postponed due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian voters in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank including East Jerusalem were eligible to participate in the election.

Final results show that Hamas won the election, with 74 seats to the ruling-Fatah's 45, providing Hamas with the majority of the 132 available seats and the ability to form a majority government on their own.

Of the Electoral Lists, Hamas received 44.45% and Fatah 41.43%[1] and of the Electoral Districts, Hamas party candidates received 41.73% and Fatah party candidates received 36.96%.[2]"

The fact that the US and Israel decided that Abbas would remain President does not , DEMOCRATICALLY, make it so.

[MosheDayanHero]

"Late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat used to tell a story that sums up the Palestinian situation today."

Even this story Mr. Arafat borrowed from Jewish folklore.
I heard this joke about Israeli PM while growing up in Central Europe.
Just like Arafats' attempt to deny Jewish heritage by telling Clinton at Camp Daviid that Jewish Temple is somewhere near Jericho or Nablus...

[mommadona]

Male domination and good ol boy system has never done well - politically or socially.
Democracy means EVERYONE is equal - U know - those 52% of the feminine sort...
Now, THAT is scary to both Palestine and Israel.

"War I Peace" has failed. Miserably.
Turn it over to your women.

[anyoneoutthere]

Is it really possible for a people who never had a democratic tradition to emerge as a democracy while not even having a state of their own? And not only as a democracy, but as a mature democracy that rejects demagogues and violence?

If the Palestinian people can pull it off, they will indeed be a shining beacon for all of humanity.
Yet, nothing less is demanded of them. They need to reject violence even as violence is done to them.

There was one such example in the 20th century. There is no Gandhi today, but that's as it should be. Nowadays, any movement that depends on a single person is doomed. The peaceful revolution must come from the hearts of many.

[Fadi Elsalameen - Huffpost Blogger]

I believe the palestinians already have the foundations of a democratic governance system. What they don't have are individuals in power today that could use this system to make it serve the people. Having elections alone does not mean full democracy.

[BusGreg]

I agree with your insights, but I believe that until Israel agrees to and unconditionally recognizes the 1967 borders peace in the region can not and will not happen.

[alysheba 3]

Palestine has a democracy. However you are correct, having elections alone is not about democracy. The US and Israel, not democracy, put Abbas in charge.