How the Palestinian Leaders contributed to the disastrous Israeli occupation

The Palestinian leadership continues to support the right of return because they see it as the glue that keeps all Palestinians "united" and as an emotional slogan to rally the people around to serve their own political agenda, giving the refugees a false hope while further prolonging their plight.

Failing to invest in nation-building

The Palestinian leadership on the whole failed to invest in nation-building. Instead of building healthcare facilities, more and better equipped schools, and infrastructure, and attracting foreign investments, they squandered billions on pet projects. In Gaza, Hamas wasted hundreds of millions on building tunnels, procuring weapons, and training tens of thousands of youths for the next battle with Israel. Tens of thousands of young people have been unable to find respectable employment, which kept them deprived of decent wages to support themselves and denied them a dignified life. Just as many cannot pursue higher education because often they are forced to find menial jobs to feed their families.

Thus, they are torn between the ruthless occupation and the lack of any prospect for a better and more productive life. The Palestinian Authority's and Hamas' failure to invest in nation building further aggravated the socio-economic condition of ordinary Palestinians, increased their vulnerability, and made them dependent on Israel's whims.

Public acrimony

The Palestinians' daily acrimonious public narrative against Israel resonates in the minds of especially the young, who have grown increasingly in tune to resistance rather than reconciliation. This state of mind is further bolstered by the media and Israel's continuing occupation.

Moreover, the disunity between extremist groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the Palestinian Authority made it impossible for the latter to moderate its public acrimony against Israel, fearing that it would be accused of appeasing the Israelis. Rather than preparing the public for peaceful coexistence, they are poisoning the political atmosphere while promoting the illusion that only Israel's destruction would end their bondage and allow them to reclaim their land. The net result of this public acrimony only deepened the Israelis' conviction that the Palestinians are bent on delegitimizing their country when in fact, they undermined their legitimate right to establish an independent state to coexist peacefully with Israel.

Indoctrination in schools

The indoctrination of Palestinian youth begins from a very young age in schools, through both the teachers and textbooks. For example, in history books Israel is depicted as an occupying foreign power that has no right to exist.

In geography books, the 'state of Palestine' covers the entire landmass from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River. In the studies of Palestinian refugees, the blame is placed squarely on Israel for causing the catastrophe, al-Nakba.

As Mark Twain observed in his autobiography, "When even the brightest mind in our world has been trained up from childhood in a superstition of any kind, it will never be possible for that mind, in its maturity, to examine sincerely, dispassionately, and conscientiously any evidence or any circumstance which shall seem to cast a doubt upon the validity of that superstition." The misinformation and the selected truth about the conflict with Israel passes from one generation to the next, poisoning their minds and making it extremely difficult to moderate their views, which is totally counterproductive given the inevitability of coexistence.

Exaltation of martyrdom

Many young Palestinians who feel no prospect of enjoying a normal and productive life often search for a greater meaning to their lives and are swayed to believe that they can find salvation only in death. Martyrdom is glorified, especially when the cause for which they sacrifice themselves is presumably for the good of the entire Umma (nation). The Quran makes many references to martyrdom, including: "Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord; They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah…." (3:169).

Thus, for a multitude of young Palestinians, killing Israeli Jews and ridding themselves of the occupation has become a holy mission as if it were sanctioned by God. Many seek martyrdom because they have little left to lose and truly believe that they will rejoice in heaven instead of continue to be humiliated and mortified on earth. The net result, terrorism, has shown its futility as it allowed Israel to intensify the brutality of the occupation in the name of national security.

Where do we go from here?

None of the above suggests that because of the repeated misguidance of their leaders, the Palestinians have lost their right to establish their own independent state, which was enshrined in the same UNSC resolution that granted Israel its right to independence. Nor should the passage of time and Israel's entrenchment in in the occupied territories be allowed to prevent the Palestinians from realizing their national aspiration. What has changed since 1967, however, are realties on the ground, making it impossible to reach a peace agreement without full, comprehensive, and continuing collaboration between the two sides on multiple fronts.

This leads me to believe that given Jordan's proximity, its demographic composition, its shared national security concerns with both Israel and the Palestinians, and its role as the custodian of the holy Muslim shrines in Jerusalem, the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may well rest on the establishment of an Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian confederation.

The third and final segment will offer a framework for such a confederation which may well provide the only practical solution to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.