Independents will play decisive role in next Palestinian elections

A new poll by Dr. Nader Said confirms that Palestinians are disenchanted with those who govern them.  Even though Palestinians are traditionally very loyal to one political faction or another, they are fed up with corruption and destruction and are increasingly favor independent technocrats.  Below are some of the highlights from the poll:

  • A vast majority (82 percent) support an immediate PLC election.
  • Two thirds of Palestinians support the position of Fayyad Government to hold local election in July.
  • 37 percent in the West bank and 27 percent in Gaza feel that corruption is on the increase.
  • 57 percent of Gazans view negatively the performance of the Haniyeh Government in improving the economy.
  • 51 percent of Gazans negatively evaluate the performance of the Haniyeh Government in respecting personal and civil freedoms; while 38 percent of West Bank respondents feel the same way about the Fayyad Government.
  • Gazans are much more critical of the Haniyeh Government than West Bank respondents; while the Fayyad Government receives lower evaluation in the West Bank than in Gaza.
  • 73 percent support the appointment of a woman (Dr. Laila Ghannam) as Governor.
  • Only 8 percent feel that Mr. Obama is serious about establishing a Palestinian state.
  • A PLO list will win over an Islamist one in an upcoming PLC election.
  • Abbas, Fayyad, and Mustafa Barghouti win over Haniyeh in an upcoming presidential election.
  • Independents will play a decisive role in local and national elections.
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Truth in the eye of the beholder

I have noticed over the years that every incident, every data point, every fact, and certainly every news story is interpreted differently by Israelis and Palestinians, each time suspecting bias against them.  Here is a study that explains the psychology behind the perceived partisan bias towards the other side.

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Conflicts Do End

To those who wonder if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will ever end and who think it is truly “intractable”, I thought I’d share a note from my colleague John Lyndon, Executive Director of OneVoice Europe:

I know that this is off-topic, but just thought I’d draw people’s attention to a not-entirely-unrelated news story: The ‘final piece in the jigsaw’ was put into place in Belfast, Ireland last night, with the finalising of twenty year long process of negotiations, for a seven hundred year long conflict. The DUP and Sinn Féin (the two most extremist political parties in modern Irish history) have agreed the last details of a power sharing agreement.

Strong, patriotic and at one time violent leaders of both communities sat down and thrashed out a deal that looks like putting to bed most of the grievances that resulted in decades of violence and thousands of deaths. Conflicts do end, the wishes of the moderate majority bear fruit, and extremists eventually come into the political mainstream.

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Bono and OneVoice

Bono just wrote an opinion piece advocating, among other things for 2010:

  • A Festival of Abraham where artists celebrate Muslim, Jewish and Christian traditions (similarities to OneVoice’s OneMillionVoices campaign)
  • The World Cup as tool for political change (similar sentiment to OneVoice’s Goal2018 Campaign)
  • People Power, in line with the What Are You Willing to Do To End the Conflict campaign
  • Non-violent revolution (in tune with why OneVoice was created)

So it seems OneVoice should invite Bono to join its Honorary Board, alongside music and change icons like Sir Paul McCartney.

Article pasted below…

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Netanyahu: Strategic overture or tactical bluff?

Interesting article by IPF’s Roberta Fahn Schoffman on recent moves by Prime Minister Netanyahu to enforce restrictions against Settlement building. 

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The Mofaz Plan

Interesting IPF discussion with Gen. Shaul Mofaz about his new peace proposal…

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Senator Lugar, Jason Alexander and OneVoice!

Last week, Sen. Richard Lugar met with Jason Alexander and OneVoice youth leaders. Photos were featured on Roll Call website and on Reuters.
Actor Jason Alexander (R) is greeted by Senator Richard Lugar ...

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Assessing the Peace Process

Dave Halperin wrote an excellent column reacting to Tom Friedman’s frustration with the failed peace process and his resulting recommendation to give up trying.

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If Abbas resigns…

There are doubts whether Mahmoud Abbas will truly resign, as he has claimed he will.  He has threatened to do so several times before, but he does seem exhausted by lack of momentum and a partner – on the Israeli side and among his own people.  This could strengthen him as his people start to appreciate him more and the international community and Israel do more to strengthen his course for peaceful negotiations.

If he does resign, analysis ranges from:

· A return to a third intifadah as Fatah resorts to violent or non-violent popular resistance

· Disbandment of the Palestinian Authority amidst a power struggle within Palestinian leadership, with serious repercussions for Palestinians and Israelis

· A major democratic step as a key Palestinian leader institutes an orderly election from a democratically elected successor

· Release of Marwan Barghouti, who claims the leadership mantle

· Introspective evaluation about how Israelis, Palestinians and the international community take the “peace process” for granted

· Emboldened Hamas momentum, amidst lack of leadership within Fatah

[Read more →]

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Rep. Wexler to be Director of Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation

Rep. Robert Wexler of Florida is going to lead the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation, where our Honorary Board of Advisors member Ms. Toni Verstandig is a senior policy advisor (and one of three staff members). Very exciting.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1281623.html

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