Reply #34: They learned a lot [View All]

[ProgressiveMuslim]

That they could join together, be successful, build democratic institutions and work together for the justice they deserve.

Things did fall apart when Araft and the gang came to town. People were hopeful and exhausted after years of struggling. It was great to the see IDF go. But as we saw, Arafat's commitment was to himself and his patronage network. He did not have the tools to build a nation.

Few nations have been fortunate to have nation builders at the helm during their founding -- the US and Israel are two lucky examples. That, plus the world's single superpower working against you at every turn, makes the struggle very difficult indeed.

These are without a doubt dark days for Palestine. But I do have hope that people will once again unite for the cause of national liberation. One thing is for sure, they will never meekly comply with Israeli tyranny.

Criticize them all you want. Still being alive and holding the banner after 60 years is itself a small victory. The larger victory of independence and self-determination is yet to be achieved.