Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' lamely back Tunisian revolution

On Saturday afternoon, after it was all over, after Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had fled to Saudi Arabia (probably the only country that could have accepted him without causing domestic problems), the PLO came out in favor of the Tunisian revolution.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization expressed support for the people of Tunisia in their uprising against the regime in Tunis. A statement released by the PLO commended "the surprising courage of the people of Tunisia and their heroism in achieving their demands".

Hamas and Islamic Jihad also expressed their support, and some 50 Palestinians held a ceremony in honor of the uprising in Ramallah Saturday.

Curiously, the 'Palestinian Authority,' which is not synonymous with the PLO, is silent, throwing its lot in with the Arab regimes.

In the Palestinian territories, many Palestinians also welcomed the removal of Bin Ali’s regime from power.

The Palestinian Authority, which had strong ties with the Tunisian regime, did not comment on the dramatic developments. Tunisia played host to the PLO after the organization was expelled from Lebanon in the early 1980’s. Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas had their offices and homes in Tunis for nearly a decade before they moved to the Palestinian territories after the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993.

Hamas, for its part, warned that the PA leadership in the West Bank was likely to meet the same fate of Bin Ali.

“Mahmoud Abbas and his sons are among the wealthiest Palestinians,” Hamas said on Saturday. “Fatah leaders in the West Bank are very corrupt. “All indications are that the residents of the West Bank, who live under a tyrannical regime, are close to toppling the regime there. The people of the West Bank can no longer accept humiliation.”

Hamas is right about how the 'Palestinians' probably feel about the 'Palestinian Authority,' although somehow I doubt they want Hamas to be the replacement.

If Arab governments fall in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Libya, will their people continue to back the 'Palestinians'? Somehow, I doubt the 'Palestinians' will be much of a priority to them. And if Jordan gets rid of its monarchy, it could even become the 'Palestinian state.'

Labels: Palestinians, Tunisia

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:30 AM