"The Truth the Palestinians are Afraid to Tell You" (video) plus Bassam Eid speech (update) ~ Elder Of Ziyon

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

"The Truth the Palestinians are Afraid to Tell You" (video) plus Bassam Eid speech (update)

This remarkable video was released by an organization called "Palestine Informer."

Here is how this organization describes itself on Facebook:

Our mission is to bring you accurate and uncensored information about the Palestinian Authority. Due to the suppression of freedom of expression in Palestine, which is frequently enforced by police brutality and summary executions, most Palestinians are reticent to talk about the truth. The painful truth is that the Palestinian leaders who are purporting to represent that interests of the Palestinian people, many times act with ulterior motives. We offer a forum whereby anyone can submit articles, video clips and news feeds, with complete anonymity for the protection of their lives and wellbeing. Our hope is that the freedom of expression guarantied on this site will ensure that accurate information reaches supporters of the Palestinian people both inside and outside of Palestine, until truth and justice prevails on their behalf.

They also have a website with very interesting articles about women's rights and torture under PA and Hamas controlled areas.

Human rights activist Bassem Eid was asked via email about whether they are legitimate, and he said that it rings true although it doesn't seem that he had heard of them before.

(UPDATE: A number of readers pointed out that the photo of the person on the right is Yahya Hassan, who is not likely to have been involved in this project. I don't know if the photo was meant to be illustrative or if this is a little less than honest.)

A speech by Eid with similar points was synopsized in Times of Israel yesterday. Excerpts:

We Palestinians still deserve a state through a two-state solution, but it now looks as if the Palestinians are demanding a three-state solution for two peoples. Hamas is fighting for its own Islamic Emirate in the Gaza Strip, and Fatah, including President Mahmoud Abbas, is fighting for its own empire in the West Bank. The Israelis and the Palestinian people are upset about the status quo, but the Palestinian leaders seem satisfied.

I do not believe that Fatah or Hamas really want reconciliation or unity. Disunity keeps Palestinian society weak in the face of any future peace talks or peace initiatives. If Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met Abbas tomorrow, the first question from Netanyahu would be, “Whom are you representing Mr. President? The Gaza Strip? The West Bank? The Palestinian diaspora?” In my opinion, Abbas right now represents only his two sons and his wife.

Palestinians do not support Abbas’ fight at the UN or at the International Criminal Court. If you ask ordinary Palestinians, “What are the three priorities you are seeking?” they would say, “a job to survive, an education system, and a health system for my children”. Nobody mentions the settlements, the security fence, or even the Palestinian State.

Most Palestinians are seeking dignity rather than identity. I have no problem with my identity, wherever I go, I say I am a Palestinian, and people understand that. But if I say I come from Abu Dhabi, people ask, “Is it far away from Turkey? Is that where the President is killing his people? Is it in Asia or in Africa?” Nobody knows where Abu Dhabi is, but everybody knows what it means to be Palestinian. So I do not have a problem with my identity. I have a problem with dignity.

Palestinians are anxious about their future. In my opinion, dignity can come only via economic prosperity. The international community should put aside political issues and peace negotiations. Ordinary Palestinians are fed up with that. It is time to start focussing much more on economic prosperity in the drive towards peace.

Economic prosperity can pave the way towards a lasting resolution for Israelis and Palestinians. Economic prosperity should not involve only Israelis and Palestinians. I would love to see Jordanians, Egyptians, and Saudis involved. They should all be involved in joint projects with the Palestinians and the Israelis. This could help us Palestinians reach a resolution with Israel within a few years.

..Both the international community and the Palestinians know that the Palestinian leadership is corrupt. Abbas is the Robert Mugabe of the Middle East. This is my fight right now. The Palestinians do not want an exit from the occupation. What they want is to get rid of their own leadership.

When I say to my fellow Palestinians, imagine that tomorrow morning you woke up and the IDF had left the West Bank, what would happen? People say, “Oh, my God, we would starve.” No one wants that.

Palestinians feel that they are alone. Nobody supports them. There is no benefit for Palestinians in a boycott of Israel. There are 92,000 Palestinian workers in the West Bank who carry Israeli work permits. Every day, in the early morning, they cross the checkpoints, going to work inside Israel. So when I see the 92,000 Palestinian workers entering Israel every day, it is clear why there is no Palestinian boycott of Israel. In the markets of Palestinian towns, the thousands of boxes and cartons of vegetables and fruits come from Israel.

Palestinian people want to survive. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS movement) benefits from the suffering of the Palestinians. Who authorised the BDS movement to speak on my behalf? I want to know. These people are trying to kill our economy.

(h/t Elchanan, Richard)

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